I was watching Namibia play their 4th Test match against yet another very tough opponent in only 14 days (17 days from Rugby World Cup kick-off), in their run on 15 for this match there are only 6 players making a living on rugby, and the only player that can be seen playing for a truly professional high quality outfit is Jacques Burger the Namibian captain.
The truth is that a minnow team such as Namibia, who has only been established in 1990 and with roughly a 1000 amateur rugby players in the country realistically has no chance of beating any teams in their pool, the fact that they beat Tunisia for the first time in their history to qualify for the Africa 1 qualifying spot is testament to the challenges they face.The truth is that Namibia does not have the resources to finance professional rugby as more than 50% of the population are unemployed and an even larger number lives off the land and informal businesses.I think it is only appropriate that we don our caps to this team who has not once complained about their schedule, but was only too happy to be involved in this world cup.
It took Fiji 40 minutes to get their bonus point try against Namibia in their first outing,Namibia scored 25 points against Fiji scoring 2 tries of their own, and kept Fiji to scoring only 2 tries in the second half.
By the time Namibia had to face Samoa only 4 days later, it took Samoa 54 minutes before they could secure their bonus point try, and once again Namibia showed their guts and determination to score two tries in the last twenty minutes.
Even though Namibia had 8 days before their clash with the springboks it was clear that as a mainly amateur team, 3 matches on 13 days would simply be too much for them.
Today only 4 days after the routing by South Africa, Namibia stood tall in their encounter with a Welsh team who saw 11 changes, but were still able to rack up 12 tries. In the first half Wales were their own worst enemy with every forward more interested in getting ball in hand, rather than stick to structured rugby by securing the breakdowns before running the ball. This doesn’t take away from the fact that Namibia competed at every breakdown with gusto. It took Wales 46 minutes to score their bonus point try, and during the last 20 when Namibia was playing with 14 men most of the time due to a yellow card and then due to injury Wales managed to run in the rest of their tries scoring 6 tries during this time. Namibia also socred a beautiful try from an intercept.
Here are the details of the run-on 15 of today’s match.
Chrysander Antonio Botha – Club: Kudu’s Namibia
Danie van Wyk – Club: unknown
Willem Petrus van Zyl – Clubs: Bourgoin-Jallieu, Free State, Namibia
Darryl Pierce de la Harpe – Club: Western Suburbs Namibia
Hendrik Daniel Petrus Dames – Clubs: Leopards, South Africa
Theuns Andries Willem Kotze – Clubs: unknown
Eugene Anthony Jantjies – Club: Romanian side Farul Constanţa
Johannes Hermanus Redelinghuys – Clubs: unknown
Hugo Horn – Club: Rotherham Titans, England
Johannes Albertus du Toit – Clubs: Boland Cavaliers, South Africa
Heinz Koll – Club: Wanderers, Namibia
Nico Esterhuize – Club: unknown
Tinus du Plessis – Current club: Wanderers, Namibia
Jacques Burger – Clubs: Saracens, England
Jacques Nieuwenhuis – Clubs: unknown
Yes the sad fact is that Namibia cannot compete with these teams, but rather than looking at the score lines of these one sided affairs, it is notable that they played with honour, guts and determination, showing us all why we do play and love this game so much.
So for all those naysayers that is advocating less teams in the pool rounds, wake up and respect these minnow nations, if not for their competitiveness, but then at least for their love of the game and the honour it is for them to represent their countries on the biggest stage of world rugby.
Good article, Biltongbek. Even though we do get cricket scores when the minnows play, we have also seen them being competitive to a degree in the first few rounds of the pool stages. 4 Years ago, Argentina were the surprise package of the tournament, but also lacking the resources that the big European 6 and SH 3 have.
Put a couple these Namibians in a couple of clubs and provinces abroad, and see what they do in the next WC. Could be interesting
Agree – nice article. The 1 thing that is pissing me off a bit, is that the “smaller/lesser” teams def. seem to have a tougher “draw” in that they seem to have much shorter breaks between games! Surely, they should get more time?
@ GoBokkeAndIreland:
Well i think the IRB gets the message loud and clear now. What is also true is that a lot is talked after a event like this but soon everything said is forgotten. After the match in the interviews Naas, Lessing and others said that these guys must play in the development tournaments but believe me the EP Kings will rather be playing there because it is in your OWN intrest to keep all opportunities for yourself.
Another problem is that the Clubs where some of these players earn a living ignores the Namibian Rugby boards requests to release them for minor competitions. SA must try and help them.
I think they should be very proud of themselves. Is there no way the IRB can play a bigger role in not only their development but also the other minnows? I think that little flyhalf of theirs is a gem, and I wonder who he’ll be playing for in the CC next year.
@ superBul:
Let’s hope so. The gap between the tiers has also def. narrowed imo. Think everyone just wants a fair chance.
I think these guys embody the true spirit of the sport. The announcer, when I was watching here in the UK, said that xxx player had taken unpaid leave from his construction company so he could play in the world cup. I thought to myself, I wish I had the money to sponsor these guys as I am sure with a proper structure Namibia could turn out a world beating side. The people are hardy stock that live an outdoor life in the toughest of climatic conditions. Just like the Bulls are strong because their feeder systems bring players from the Bushveld and Western Transvaal and WP players coming from the Karoo hinterland….youngsters growing up in the same kind of conditions but with better facilities and training. Good article and I agree I think world rugby should be putting lots of money into Namibia, Tonga, Fiji, Romania, Georgia where the will is there and the human raw resources are also there.
@ 4man:
6
If we could get the Unions in SA who uses their players (there must be some) to pay transfer fees into a well administered fund to help these players we might get a few of them that can play the same role as the Islanders in New Zealand rugby. Somehow they must get MONEY.
I really feel for Namibia. Think their first game was on the 14th could have been the 12th. Even so 12 days or 14 days to play 4 rugby games is just mental. The schedule for the minnows was not fair at all.
Also can’t be great to lose by 80 points no fun in that at all.
Not only did Namibia play all 4 Pool matches in 14 days, whilst some other teams like Canada, Georgia and Italy have only played 2 games in the same period, but they were also included in the so-called “Pool Of Death”, Pool D, which is by far the most ruthless Pool in the tournament.
Some of their star players like Theuns Kotze (flyhalf) this year still played Varsity Cup rugby.
Some others are merely Club players somewhere in the South African Club ranks.
They showed grit and determination, did not play negative rugby and were willing to throw the ball around!
Well done Namibia!
@ grootblousmile:9 – Yes felt for Namibia having to play in such a strong pool and to play all their games in 14 days was complete insane to have to play to a schedule like that.
They were like whipping boys for Boks/Wales and Samoa. They did give Fiji bit of a game at the start.
My honest opinion I really think we should have a seperate tourney within a tourney for the minnows to play in. The top 10 ranked rugby countries should play for the world cup. The number 11 to 20 should play for the plate. That way the minnows get to play against their own strength and so do the top countries playing for the cup.
For me it would make for a better world cup for the teams playing for the cup and the plate.
I would have it played on the old S14 format where we play each other once. So we play 9 games each. Then the top 4 play in a semi and the last two a final. That way we would have real world cup winners. Would be a long world cup but would be worth seeing strength against strength. Far more interesting. Also the minnows would enjoy it far more to play against similar strength to their own and not to be humiliated.
Anyhow that would be my dream world cup format.
GBS, which channel is announcing our Bokke Squad? Is it Supersport one?
Tonga – Population: 122,600
Samoa – Population: 192,000
Fiji- Population: 957,800
Namibia – Population: 2,128,500
New Zealand – Population: 4,252,300
Australia – Population: 21,515,800
South Africa – Population: 49,109,100
England – Population: 51,456,400
Wales – Population: 3,004,600
Ireland – Population: 4,250,200 (Republic of Ireland)
1,775,000 (Northern Ireland)
Scotland – Population: 5,168,000
France – Population: 62,814,200
Matfield to captain Springbok team against Samoa
September 26, 2011
Victor Matfield will captain the Springbok team to play Samoa in the deciding Rugby World Cup Pool D clash at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Friday.
Matfield returns from a hamstring strain – after a two-match absence – as one of seven changes to the team that defeated Namibia 87-0 at the same venue on Thursday.
He assumes the captaincy in place of John Smit, who drops to the bench, in a pre-planned move to allow Bismarck du Plessis to start his first match of the tournament.
The Springboks need at least one point from the match to be sure of qualifying for the quarterfinals.
There are five changes in the pack as Du Plessis is partnered with the returning Tendai Mtawarira and brother Jannie du Plessis in an all-Sharks front row. The final change among the forwards sees the return of Heinrich Brüssow to the back row.
Bakkies Botha was unavailable for selection after injuring a hamstring against Namibia but the remaining four forwards (Smit, CJ van der Linde, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Willem Alberts) all drop to the bench.
JP Pietersen and Fourie du Preez return to the starting line-up among the back division while the versatile Francois Hougaard drops to the bench where he is joined by the fit-again Jean de Villiers as the two backline replacements in a 5/2 split on the bench.
Friday’s match kicks off at 20h30 (09h30 SA time).
South Africa v Samoa, 30 September 2011, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
15 Pat Lambie (KwaZulu-Natal) – 9 caps, 2 RWC caps
14 JP Pietersen (KwaZulu-Natal) – 40, 9
13 Jaque Fourie (Western Province) – 67, 13
12 Frans Steyn (Racing Metro, France) – 46, 10
11 Bryan Habana (Western Province) – 72, 9
10 Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls) – 32, 3
9 Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls) – 60, 9
8 Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls) – 45, 3
7 Schalk Burger (Western Province) – 66, 11
6 Heinrich Brüssow (Free State) – 18, 3
5 Victor Matfield (captain, Blue Bulls) – 108, 12
4 Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls) – 61, 13
3 Jannie du Plessis (KwaZulu-Natal) – 28, 4
2 Bismarck du Plessis (KwaZulu-Natal) – 40, 7
1 Tendai Mtawarira (KwaZulu-Natal) – 31, 3
Replacements
16 John Smit (KwaZulu-Natal) – 109, 15
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls) – 36, 5
18 CJ van der Linde (Golden Lions) – 73, 7
19 Willem Alberts (KwaZulu-Natal) – 7, 3
20 Francois Louw (Bath, England) – 9, 2
21 Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls) – 13, 3
22 Jean de Villiers (Western Province) – 70, 2
@ superBul:Super12 – Super only one surprise. Thought Guthro would start. Other than that no surprises.
Super, that rugby programme I watched last night is being repeated tonight on SuperSport 1 at 9pm and on HD 171 channel. I got the name wrong. Its called ‘Master Plan NZ’ Watch it. There is Garth, A. Coetzee, John Mitchell, H. Meyer and Stransky. I especially enjoyed the views of Mitchell and Meyer. Great rugby brains amongst that lot. Take note of Mitchell when he keeps referring to South Africa (Boks) as us….hehehe. Good show it normally comes on every Sunday at 5pm.
@ Puma:
Thanks will watch , i like the program, watched it before and even then JM talked of us.
This surely then will be our starting team against Oz in the quarter. Well think it will be. From here on we probably will start with the same team each week and keep the momentum going. As long as we stay in the tourney.
Well the same players will start unless of injury, or really if the coach feels a player must start ahead of another. For now looks like this is our starting team for the rest of this tourney. Also that will be our bench it looks like. Unless Bakkies comes back.
@ Puma:
What is the people of Voldy saying about JS vs BduP and what is your feeling, answer me on the 4th article here
@ superBul:14 – Yes it is a great show. Especially enjoyed the views of Mitchell and Meyer. Two of the finest coaches around. So great to have both on at the same time.
Okay going to watch Toks and Chops…..hehehe. I really enjoy that show. My afrikaans is not good at all but I do understand a bit and it is a fun show. Brings the geez…hehehe. Hope that is correct ‘gees’ anyhow you know what I mean Super.
Hope your garden work is going great. I need to work on my garden here sometime. Had a superb garden I started from sctrach in Joburg, but have sold that house now. This one really needs some work. Probably like to pull out most of what is here and start it from scratch too.
Good night Super. Catch up tomorrow.
@ superBul:16 – Everyone has different views on keo Super.
What was interesting was Mitchells view, though he never could come straight out with it, but especially Meyers view. His view seems we need our captain. Well that is the way I picked it up. Watch that show and there you get a better prospective from those two coaches. More so than bloggers.
Okay now going to watch Toks and Chops. Heck feel hungry watching the braais there…lol.
Cheers Super. Catch up tomorrow.
@ Puma:
Cheers Puma
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