The Namibia Welwitschias have welcomed the services of Tiaan de Klerk and Jay-Cee Nel ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Africa Cup final against Zimbabwe Sables.
The Airlink Pumas duo of Lock and Wing, respectively, come in at a time when the Welwitschias haven’t been struggling in those departments, with wingers like Jurgen Meyer making a case for themselves in that blue jersey.
The vast experience that the Namibians playing in South Africa and the diaspora bring to the squad is going to be a major factor in the final.
Cliven Loubser, the fullback from Anthem Rugby in the USA’s Major League Rugby, put 16 points past the Algerians in the semifinal, while Le Roux Malan, who put on a man of the match performance in that game, is based at the New England Free Jacks alongside loosie, Wian Conradie.
Having participated in 7 consecutive Rugby World Cup tournaments since 1999 as the best team in Africa bar for South Africa, the Namibians haven’t made a strong case for themselves at that stage. They have played 26 games, lost 26 times and managed 1 single draw that came as a result of a natural disaster during the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup.
If they are to go past the Zimbabwe Sables on Saturday, then Director of Rugby, Jacques Burger, has a lot to think about in his squad.
Starting XV: Otja Auala, Louis van der Westhuizen, Aranos Coetzee, Adriaan Ludick, Tiaan De Klerk, Prince !Gaoseb (Captain), Wian Conradie, Richard Hardwick, Jacques Theron, Andre van der Berg, Jurgen Meyer, Danco Burger, Le Roux Malan, Jay-Cee Nel, Cliven Loubser.
Substitutes: Armand Combrinck, Jason Benade, Haitembu Shikufa, Johan Retief, Max Katjijeko, AJ Kearns, Tian Swanepoel, Adriaan Booysen.