Performance against Portugal gives hope for Africa Cup

Against the odds, the Namibia rugby team gave a spirited and competent performance at Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday, before two late blows by Portugal took the game away from the hosts in a 37-22 defeat.

Losing flank Prince !Gaoseb (hand injury), who was going to captain the side for the first time, and lock Adriaan Ludick (hamstring) in training mishaps during the match week struck a Namibian side hard, as they were already missing many first-choice stalwarts.

Under the captaincy of centre Danco Burger, just confirmed as team leader on Friday, the new-look Namibian combination showed plenty of heart and enterprise to stay within striking distance of the higher-ranked Europeans until the last quarter of the match.

Despite limited time together in preparation, the Namibians came close to overcoming the challenge posed by the Portugal team that beat Fiji at the World Cup and drew with Georgia.

Penalties by fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel after 3 and 7 minutes put Namibia ahead 6-0, before Portugal advanced for a few phases creating the space for fly-half Domingos Cabral to send an accurate cross-kick for left wing finisher Rodrigo Marta in the in-goal area, with not much his opposite number Quirione Majiedt could do about it.

Cabral converted (6-7), but Namibia put together some sharp backline attacks, which finally led to their only try. Moving quickly to the left, Jay-Cee Nel (full-back) sent fellow debutant left wing Lloyd Jacobs on a run, with his inside pass finding flank Max Katjijeko with enough speed to beat the desperate defenders. Swanepoel put Namibia ahead again (13-7).

Another Cabral penalty brought Portugal closer, before the final move of the first half resulted in a try for Portugal flank Nicolas Martins from close range, which Cabral converted (halftime 13-17).

Namibia resumed with a Swanepoel penalty, but Portugal right wing José Paiva Dos Santos picked up behind a ruck and escaped the clutches of Danco Burger and Majiedt on a straight run to the posts.

From 16-24, penalties exchanged between Swanepoel and Cabral brought the score to Portugal leading 27-22, with 22 minutes to play, with the Namibian substitute bench getting involved.

A try by Portugal full-back Manuel Cardoso Pinto, who speedily stepped past replacement hooker Armand Combrinck to break through himself, put more daylight between the teams, before Manuel Vareiro’s last penalty put the matter beyond doubt.



Africa Cup

For head coach Allister Coetzee, there were plenty of positives as they prepare to depart as early as Tuesday to Uganda’s capital Kampala, for the Rugby Africa Cup tournament featuring eight teams.

Coetzee is set to announce the touring squad today, with their opening match scheduled for Saturday 20 July, against Burkina Faso. Day one’s other fixtures are Kenya vs Senegal, Algeria vs Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe vs hosts Uganda.

Should Namibia beat Burkina Faso, as they are expected to, they will face the winner of match 4 (Zimbabwe or Uganda) on the second match day (Wednesday 24 July), hopefully on their way to the final on Sunday 28 July, and retaining the Rugby Africa title they have held a firm grip on over the last two decades.

In July 2022, a highly experienced Namibian team beat Kenya 36-0 in the final of the last continental tournament held in Aux-en-Provence in France, while surprise package Algeria shocked Zimbabwe 20-12 in the bronze medal match.



Selection posers

Following the Portugal match, tighthead prop Chemigan Beukes may need to be replaced for the tour to Uganda, as he left the field with an apparent rib muscle injury. Coetzee said the inclusion of Beukes, currently the only injury concern, will be subject to a fitness test on Tuesday.

On Saturday, fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel was named player of the match after kicking five penalties and one conversion to keep Namibia strongly in contention until late in the Portugal test.

However, Coetzee confirmed that Swanepoel will not be available for the upcoming tour as he looks to complete a move to the Sharks, following one season playing in Japan.

With Cliven Loubser (injured groin muscle) and André van der Berg (off to join French club Grenoble) and PW Steenkamp presumably also not in the picture despite some sparkling rugby in the Polish Ekstraliga, it would certainly be interesting to see who Coetzee calls up to fill the 10 jersey.

Good news is that Jay-Cee Nel, who slotted in seamlessly in his test debut at fullback and is also a well-rated centre for Griquas, will indeed be available to pack his bags for Kampala.