Namibia's 20 years of World Cup misery could change this weekend against old foe
Namibia appeared in their first Rugby World Cup back in 1999.
They were comprehensively outplayed in all three of their matches, ending their campaign with an average score of 14-62.
Since then, Namibia have competed in a further five tournaments, courtesy of being easily the second-best side in Africa – but they’re still yet to record even a sole win in 22 attempts.
That could all be about to change this Sunday, when Namibia travel to Kamaishi to take on Canada.
Namibia entered the 2019 World Cup with the goal of winning just one game.
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That’s a fairly lofty goal when your pool includes three tier one sides (New Zealand, South Africa and Italy) as you have just one opportunity to get things right.
No offence intended to Namibia, but they were never going to threaten the big teams in their group (though they certainly pushed the All Blacks for a good portion of their fixture).
That means Namibia’s chances all boil down to what happens on the final day of the regular competition – and coach Phil Davies couldn’t be happier about it.
“We talked before the World Cup about the process of preparing rather than the outcome of winning,” Davies said in the lead up to the match.
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“That’s what the focus must be. That in itself can take a little bit of pressure off.
“We’ve wanted to be in this position, to try to achieve a win. We tried to achieve it at the last World Cup. A lot of New Zealand players talk about pressure. It’s about embracing it and enjoying it. We want to be in this position and we just have to go and enjoy it as best we can.”
No team have had a bigger monkey on their backs since the All Blacks finally won a second World Cup back in 2011 than Namibia do now. A victory for Namibia against Canada isn’t just about shaking the monkey, however, it could have massive ramifications for the small African nation.
Josh Larsen's three-week red card punishment for Canada versus South Africa will curiously last four months https://t.co/qfi8ELhiL2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2019
“A win will have a lot of significance because this squad would be able to achieve something the previous five haven’t. That will keep enthusiasm up. It will show the investment we’ve had has shown progression and development. But our progression and development through processes has been incredible.
“The last World Cup Namibia qualified through points difference. This World Cup we haven’t been beaten in Africa for four years. We’ve changed the average age of the squad from 31 to 24. There’s a lot of things that have developed and grown. It’s a big ask to say it all comes down to one game but it is a big opportunity.”
It would be a remarkable achievement for a country of just 2.5 million people where rugby is by no means the most popular sport.
The Welwitschias have been knocking on the door for a number of years now, coming agonisingly close to a victory in 2015 when they fell by just a point to Georgia. Only a week earlier they’d set their previous record of closest match at a World Cup, losing 21-25 to Tonga.
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Fittingly, the potentially historic match will be played at the historic Kamiashi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi, a city that was ravaged by natural disasters in 2011.
All signs point to a fascinating game on Sunday, against opposition that Namibia are all too familiar with.
Way back in 1999, Canada were also Namibia’s final opposition of their World Cup campaign.
Canada won that game 72-11. It would take a very brave man to predict a similar result this weekend.
“It will be a cracking match and hopefully fitting for an end-of-pool game and particularly where it is,” Davies said.
“The venue is an inspiring place, the way they’ve built the city after the tragedy eight years ago. Hopefully, both teams can put on a display that will do justice to the legacy of the World Cup.”
Namibia: Johan Tromp, Leslie Klim, Johan Deysel (c), Darryl de la Harpe, JC Greyling, Cliven Loubster, Eugene Jantjies, Janco Venter, Wian Conradie, Prince Gaoseb, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Johannes Coetzee, Torsten George van Jaarsveld, Andre Rademeye. Reserves: Louis van der Westhuizen, AJ de Klerk, Desiderius Sethie, Max Katjijeko, Rohan Kitsoff, Damians Stevens, Helarius Axasman Kisting, Chad Plato.
Heading to Kamaishi for the game, or staying nearby in Tokyo? Make sure you check out what’s on offer in the revitalised city:
Comments on RugbyPass
I think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to comments