Win lifts Namibia
After their 12-9 victory over Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday Namibia will face Tunisia with greater confidence next Saturday.
A pretty victory it was not - four kicks against three kicks and lots of errors but the Welwitschias rarely play together and the chance to do so was invaluable in view of the two World Cup qualifiers this month. They play Tunisia in Tunis and then in Windhoek to decide which of the two sides will go into Pool D at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand without having to go through the process of répechage.
Not only has it been a confidence boost for the Biltongboere, but it has also lifted them two places on the rankings, above Chile and Korea to 23 place, still two places below Portugal whom they have beaten on the previous three occasions the teams have met, twice in Lisbon.
The boot of 30-year-old flyhalf Emile Wessels did it for Namibia with four penalty goals.
After the match, Sarel Losper, the great Namibian flank who is now the vice-president of the union, said: "The victory over Portugal really is a boost and takes on the road to Tunis with great self-confidence.
"Victory is always sweet. We have learnt from this worthwhile Test and have a clearer picture of where we stand. I am not worried about the finishing touches we need to make to combinations. I believe we have enough firepower to beat the catty kings. All we need is that bit of glue to bind the team together." [The reference to catty kings concerns the unpleasant use of hand-held catapults to attack opponents in Tunis, as the Namibians have experienced before.]
Kees Lensing, who plays for Castres, and Jacques Nieuwenhuis, who plays for Aurillac, have now joined the squad.
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.
Referee: Chris White (England)