adminNAMIBIA are busy putting plans in place to ensure they are much more competitive at next year’s Rugby World Cup. In four previous tournament appearances Namibia failed to win a single match, conceding just under 1 000 points in the process. Improving significantly on that record will be a tough task, given they have been drawn in a tough pool containing reigning world champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia.
However, the African Nations champions – at both senior and Under-19 level – are determined to give themselves the best possible chance of making a favourable impression in England, as Namibian Rugby Union president Bradley Basson explains to Total Rugby.
“Without planning, you are heading for disaster. This is why this time around we are working towards strategic workshop sessions,” Basson said. “We’re getting all the stakeholders together – players, coaches, and we also want to get our sponsors and our corporate sectors out there – to make sure we fully give our backing to this team.
“We must get behind our boys, we must show them that we believe in them. If they believe in themselves I’m positive the whole world will be in for a big surprise in this Rugby World Cup.”
A longer lead-up to the tournament will assist Namibia’s preparations, but, for back-row forward Tinus du Plessis, the Welwitchias’ opening match against the All Blacks cannot come soon enough.
Once an All Black himself – of the Cornish variety, du Plessis is hoping to make it to his third Rugby World Cup. “To qualify for any World Cup is always a special occasion, and this one being my third is going to be the extra icing on the cake.
“For any young rugby player that isn’t part of the big five set-up, if I can say that, it’s always a big dream to play a side like New Zealand and it’s also a good benchmark to measure yourself against some of the best players in the world.
“For me personally, playing against New Zealand has always been part of my big dreams. If everything goes well and I keep injury free and the coaches are happy, hopefully I will be able to run out on 24 September in the Olympic Stadium.” — Online.
Online Reporter