Rugby

The Welwitschias will play their final warmup match before the World Cup qualifiers in Senegal next month, when they take on a strong South African Presidents XV in Windhoek on Saturday.

Welwitschias coach Danie Vermeulen has selected a strong team that will feature Namibia’s top foreign based players for the first time this season.

Fullback Chrysander Botha, who has been in great form for the Lions and helped them to win the Vodacom Cup, returns to the team at fullback, while right wing Danie Dames joins the team from the Leopards.

Namibia’s national Under 20 rugby team beat Boland U20 36-17 in a friendly match in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

Namibia led 12-0 at halftime and scored six tries in total.

Eighthman Wian Conradie and centre Handre Bezuidenhout each scored two tries while right wing Riekert van der Merwe and fullback Denver Murorua each scored one try.

Murorua added three conversions for a personal tally of 11 points.

Boland scored three tries and one conversion in the second half.

Team manager Gabriel Tjombe said it was a fine all round performance.

Defending champions Western Suburbs got off to a winning start in the Namibian Rugby Premier League with a narrow 24-21 victory against Rehoboth on Saturday.

The sides were level at 21-all with five minutes remaining but Suburbs substitute Shaun Kaizemi clinched the victory with a penalty in injury time.

In a close encounter, the teams were level at 6-6 after two penalties apiece by Suburbs flyhalf Justin Nel and Rehoboth centre McGeechan Christiaans, before Suburbs took the lead after a try by hooker Rathony Becker, who went over in the corner from a quick tap penalty.

Defending champions Western Suburbs start their campaign in the 2013 Rugby Premier League on Saturday with a tough match against last year’s beaten finalists, Rehoboth Rugby Club.

Last year’s final was a close affair as Suburbs overcame a halftime deficit to win 27-22 and Saturday’s match at Suburbs Park should once again be evenly balanced.

Both teams like to run the ball and traditionally play fast, attacking rugby and an exciting match can be expected.

The Namibian Under 20 rugby team was given a worthy farewell on Wednesday evening before it leaves for Chile later this month to compete in the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy competition for the first time in four years.

Zimbabwe had represented Africa for the past three years, but Namibia reclaimed their position as Africa’s best country after South Africa when they beat Zimbabwe in the African qualifying final last year to book their ticket to Chile.

The president of the Namibia Rugby Union, Bradley Basson called on the players to give their best for their country.

The International Rugby Board has confirmed the four venues that will host matches at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2013, which will take place in Temuco, Chile, from May 28 to June 9.
 

Hosts Chile, Canada, Japan, Italy, Namibia, Portugal, Tonga and Uruguay will contest the sixth edition of this prestigious Under 20 tournament as it returns to the country which hosted the inaugural tournament back in 2008.
 

Namibian rugby coach Danie Vermeulen was very upset about the performance of the Welwitschias on Saturday, when they lost 92-27 against South Afria U20, saying it was a disgrace.

“It was pathetic. This was not what we planned or prepared and what we expected on the field, and to be honest, its a disgrace for the jersey,” he said.

“The team will definitely be a lot stronger when we go to Dakar in Senegal, but we expect more pride on the defence because that is character and attitude and today the players didnt show any of that on the defence,” he added.

The Welwitchias crashed to a 92-27 defeat against South Africa U20 in Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.

The SA side was just too fast and slick as they ran in 14 tries after building up a 40-6 lead at halftime.

Namibia made a bit of a comeback in the second half but by then the result was beyond doubt, as the South Africans finished with a canter.

The South Africans played with high intensity and pace and breached the Welwitchias’ defence with ease.

The SA Under-20 side to face the Welwitschias on Saturday in Stellenbosch was announced on Wednesday in Cape Town.

Kick off time is 14h50 at the Paul Roos Markötter Stadium and the match will be played after the traditional Cape schoolboy derby between Paul Roos and Paarl Gymnasium.

Although several players will miss the clash because of injury, Vodacom Blue Bulls flanker Ruan Steenkamp will still lead a starting fifteen that includes the exciting attacking talents of Robert du Preez (flyhalf) Seabelo Senatla (wing), Justin Geduld (centre) and Cheslin Kolbe (fullback).

Welwitschias coach Danie Vermeulen has made six changes to the side that lost 50-39 against the South African Universities last weekend, for their upcoming practise match against South Africa U20 in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

Vermeulen said that he was still experimenting and wanted to give everyone a chance to prove themselves.

“I’m using a rotation policy and I want to give everyone in the squad a chance to prove themselves. We have called up some players who were on the bench last Saturday, with the others moving to the bench,” he said.