Preview: Portugal vs Namibia
Namibia have named their starting team to play Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon on Saturday, and coach John Williams has named a new captain.
The match is part of Namibia's preparations to play Tunis away and at home for a place in the 20011 World Cup in New Zealand. These three matches - against Portugal and then against Tunisia in Tunis and Windhoek - will be Williams's swansong before he goes back to the Valke whence he came.
Williams has named 26-year-old Jacques Burger as his captain against Namibia while he rests usual captain Kees Lensing who has been playing for Castres in the tough French Top 14. Burger has been playing on the flank for the Blue Bulls.
Williams said of the Lisbon match: "I believe that the match against Portugal is the right preparation for the qualifying match against Tunisia in Tunis on 14 November.
"In the Test against Portugal we'll look at our readiness and any problem areas where changes should be made. Some of the players won't play against Portugal but will be available for the thriller against Tunisia. We pout in a lot of hard work in the past month with our local, amateur players, both in the guy and on the practice field.
"This weekend presents us with a big challenge. Portugal are a few places above us on the IRB's ranking. [Portugal 20th, Namibia 25th] If we win not only will we shift up a few places but also travel the road to Tunis with so much more self-confidence. And then we shall have to do the same in Windhoek on 28 November.
"For me and my team it's make or break. We have had a good season with several highlights but for me personally qualifying for the World Cup would be my best parting gift.
"With all the professional players available, no injuries and a positive spirit in the camp, I have no doubt about the result."
Williams also said that a match against Russia early in January is in the pipeline and in June Italy could also play a Test in Namibia in preparation for their tour to South Africa.
The Namibians - Welwitschias - will stay on in Lisbon to the Thursday when they will fly south to Tunis.
Portugal - Lobos - is a mixture of experience and new blood. Four of the players are new caps - prop Hugo Valente, who is 21, prop Thomaz Da Costa, scrumhalf Emmanuel Rebelo and wing Frederico Oliveira while another five players have fewer than 10 caps. At the other end of the scale there are those with many caps. the most capped with 64 is Diogo Mateus. His twin brother David has 31 caps while Vasco Uva, who was one of the stars at the 2007 World Cup has 55 caps and fullback António Aguilar 51. Hooker João Correia, lock Gonçalo Uva and flyhalf Cardoso Pinto are in their forties.
Previous Results
The teams have met three times before. Namibia have always been comfortable winners.
1998: Namibia won 36-19 in Lisbon
1991: Namibia won 34-12 in Lisbon
1990: Namibia won 88-18 in Windhoek
Prediction: Portugal to win by 10 or more.
Teams:
Portugal: 15 António Aguilar, 14 David Mateus, 13 Pedro Silva, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Gonçalo Foro, 10 Cardoso Pinto, 9 Pedro Leal, 8 Juan Severino, 7 Salvador Palha, 6 Vasco Uva, 5 Gonçalo Uva, 4 Eduardo Acosta, 3 Thomas da Costa, 2 João Correia (captain), 1 Jorge Segurado
Replacements: 16 João Junior, 17 Nuno Taful, 18 Sebastião Cunha, 19 Tiago Girão, 20 Emmanuel Rebelo, 21 Pedro Cabral, 22 Francisco Serra
Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Bradley Langenhoven, 13 Piet van Zyl, 12 David Philander, 11 Mcgrath van Wyk, 10 Emile Wessels, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Burger (captain), 5 Nico Esterhuysen, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Jané du Toit, 2 Shaun Esterhuysen, 1 Johnny Redelinghuys.
Replacements: 16 Brendon Walters, 17 Marius Visser, 18 Heinz Koll, 19 Jurie van Tonder, 20 Tinus Venter, 21 Robbert Herridge, 22 Heini Bock.
Date: 7 November 2009
Kick-off: 16.30 (local time)
Venue: Estádio Universitário in Lisbon
Expected weather conditions: Celear with a high of 19°C, dropping to 14°C and a northwester of 32 km/h dropping.
Referee: Chris White (England)