TIER 2/3 RUGBY TESTS THIS WEEKEND

16.11.2013
Samoa v French Barbarians in Clermont
Uruguay v Spain in Montevideo
Namibia v Kenya in Windhoek (IRB Tri-Nations)

Briefly
Samoa has a chance to recoup after their defeat to Ireland last weekend. They will find that the French Barbarians team will contain a number aspiring to the top side.

Spain concludes their short trip to South American with a test against Uruguay whilst Namibia should have little trouble against Kenya in the final IRB Tri-Nations tournament in Windhoek.

Predictions:
French Barbarians by 7 v Samoa
Spain by 2 v Uruguay
Namibia by 40 v Kenya

TEST RESULTS IN SINCE SUNDAY

12.11.2013
Zimbabwe 29, Kenya 14 in Windhoek (IRB Tri-Nations)

09.11.2013
New Zealand Maoris 29, United States 19 in Philadelphia
Spain 26, Chile 3 in Santiago-

NAMIBIA v SPAIN

17.11.2012

This is the IRB Tri-Nations Series in Windhoek. Zimbabwe, the other team lost 34-37 to Namibia last weekend, and 14-47 to Spain mid-week. I’d expect the Spanish to be too strong for Namibia, who have not been able to call upon some of their top players.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Spain 20th, Namibia 23rd

IRB Ranking Points
Spain 61.63, Namibia 59.49

Prediction: Spain by 8 points

NAMIBIA v ZIMBABWE: IRB Tri-Nations Series

This IRB sponsored tournament is being held in Namibia. Teams involved are the hosts along with Zimbabwe and Spain.

10.11.2012

Venue: Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek

Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Preview
Namibia will field an inexperienced side.

“Namibia is especially inexperienced among the forwards with only Van Lill, prop Johnny Redelinghuys and flanker Renaud van Neel remaining from the World Cup.

Top forwards like Jacques Burger, Rohan Kitshoff and Morné Blom were not available due to injury or club commitments, while Namibia suffered a further setback when experienced lock Nico Esterhuizen got injured during training.

With World Cup lock Heinz Koll having retired, Namibia will be especially inexperienced in this position and Muno Kasiringua of Unam and Stefan Neustadt of United will both be making their debut for Namibia on Saturday.’

http://www.namibian.com.na/sport/local/full-story/archive/2012/november/article/nam-names-inexperienced-team-for-rugby-tri-nations/

Namibia will field a total of nine new caps in their squad of 22.

Zimbabwe nearly didn’t make it!

‘…the Zimbabwean Sables arrived in Namibia yesterday after their participation had earlier been in doubt. According to reports from Zimbabwe, the players went on strike last week over allowances, while the Zimbabwe Rugby Union has also been struggling with a lack of funds. The International Rugby Board however came to the rescue this week when it announced that it would pay for the travel and accommodation of the Zimbabwean team’

Same source as above.

This could end up being a evenly fought tussle.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table: Zimbabwe 4th, Namibia 7th

IRB Ranking Points
Namibia 59.24, Zimbabwe 52.40

Prediction: Namibia by 4 points

TEAMS

Namibia

1        Johnny Redelinghuys (Wanderers)

2        Rathony Bekker *(Western Suburbs)

3        Andre Schlechter* (Eastern Province Kings, South Africa)

4        Muinjo Kasaringwa*(Uni Namibia)

5        Stefan Neustadt* (United)

6        Renaud van Neel (Uni.Namibia)

7        Munee Tjuiza* (Western Suburbs)

8        PJ Van Lill, Capt. (Wanderers)

9        Eugene Jantjies (Western Suburbs)

10    Theuns Kotze (South-West Districts, South Africa)

11    Chrysander Botha (Johannesburg Univ.RFC, South Africa)

12    Darryl de la Harpe (vice captain)

13    Danie van Wyk

14    Johan Tromp* (Pumas, South Africa)

15    Justin Nel (Western Suburbs)

Reserves

16    Collen Smith (United)

17    Hannes Dursewei*

18    Stef Botha* (Western Province U21, South Africa)

19    Victor Rodrigues* (Western Suburbs)

20    Arthur Bouwer (United)

21    Sergio de la Harpe (Western Suburbs)

22    Desmond Snyders

*New caps

 

Adapted from http://www.namibian.com.na/sport/local/full-story/archive/2012/november/article/nam-names-inexperienced-team-for-rugby-tri-nations/ (with most club affiliations from my records)

Zimbabwe

1.Tapiwa Mangezi

 2.Royal Mwale

 3.Pieter Joubert

 4.Costa Dinha

 5.Jan Ferreira

 6.Biselele Tshamala

 7.Lucky Sithole

 8.Takunda Chifokoyo

 9. Scotty Jones

 10.Tichafara Makwanya

 11.Garnder Nechironga

 12.Daniel Hondo

 13.Danny Robertson

 14.Wes Mbanje

 15. Tangai Nemadire

 16. Tino Chikobvu

 17. Vakai Hove

 18. Fortune Chipendo

 19. Samson Makuka

 20. Linience Tambwera

 21. Shayne Makombe

 22. Philmon Machisa

 

 

Adapted from http://www.facebook.com/zimsables