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Phil Davies has named Namibia’s team for their opening World Cup fixtures against New Zealand on Thursday. The Welwitschias will ride a four-test win streak into the tournament, including two convincing wins over Russia in Windhoek during July.
The lineup appears to be largely first choice, with Cheetahs hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, Brive second row Tjiuee Uanivi, and Saracens star Jacques Burger all present. There are some surprises, in particular the presence Sharks no8 Renaldo Bothma and Exeter Chiefs fullback Chrysander Botha on the bench.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides. Namibia has appeared in each of the last four World Cups, and have yet to taste victory. Their closest match to date has been a 32-17 loss to Ireland in 2007. In 2011 they went 0-4, scoring five tries over the four games.
NAMIBIA
1 Jaco Engels 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld 3 Aranos Coetzee 4 Tjiuee Uanivi 5 PJ van Lill 6 Jacques Burger (capt.) 7 Tinus du Plessis 8 Leneve Damens 9 Eugene Jantjies 10 Theuns Kotzé 11 Conrad Marais 12 Johan Deysel 13 JC Greyling 14 David Philander 15 Johann Tromp
16 Louis van der Westhuizen 17 Casper Viviers 18 Raoul Larson 19 Renaldo Bothma 20 Janco Venter 21 Rohan Kitshoff 22 Eneill Buitendag 23 Chrysander Botha
