My All-time Namibia XV
Chrysander Botha
Tempting to pick Springbok great Percy Montgomery but in truth being born in Walvis Bay was his only real connection with Namibia with his family moving back to Western Province soon after. I'm going for the elegant long striding, if injury prone, Chrysander Botha who at 29 will be an important player if they qualify for RC2019.
Gerhard Mans
Chunky, dynamic, wing who scored 27 Test tries in 27 appearances at the dawn of Namibia’s Test history between 1990 and 1994. Very difficult man to stop and an important player in those Currie Cup campaigns of the mid and late 80s that laid the foundation to probably Namibia’s strongest ever side. Captain throughout his Test career.
Silas Swart
Springbok number 312. Only garnered one South Africa cap but what a game, the epic 23-22 Lions win over the Springboks in 1955 in front of 90,000 fans at Ellis Park. Swart, a powerful all round back who played wing that day, scored a try but got dropped nonetheless.
Corne Powell, right
Accomplished all rounder at 12 with nice footballing skills who scored ten tries in 26 Tests between 2001-7. Pushed hard by a current tea member Johan Dreysel who played for the Sharks in South Africa and scored Namibia’s try in their 58-14 defeat against the All Blacks at RWC2015.
Lofty Fourie
Something of an enigma. Springbok number 339, he played twice against France in 1958 and scored a Lomuesque try at Ellis Park but suffered the wrath of the selectors after the Boks lost 9-5. Dropped out of Test contention very quickly with the emergence of Janie Englebracht. Hailed from Otijwarango.
Andre Stoop
Volatile, explosive, brilliant, Stoop lit up Namibian rugby in the later 80s and at the start of their Test history mostly at full-back although he could play anywhere. In another era the Springboks would have come knocking but in those apartheid exclusion days their international games were few and far between and their needs less.
Eugene Jantjies, above
Stalwart of the modern day team. Livewire scrumhalf who has won a record 60 Namibian caps which included three World Cups. As well as playing domestically Jantjues has played for the Cheetahs in South Africa and enjoyed two spells with Farul Constanta in Romania.
Johnny Redelinghuys
Tower of strength at loose head where he won 50 caps between 2006 and 2015 after graduating into the senior rugby from the Free State Cheetahs academy in South Africa.
Hugo Horn
Could go for the disgraced former Boks hooker Henry Tromp from Otjiwarongo who won four caps in 1996, two years after serving a gaol sentence for aggravated assault which resulted in the death of a 16-year-old worker on the family farm. Instead we will go for Hugo Horn who won 35 caps and featured in the 1999 and 2007 World Cups.
Kees Lensing, above
Powerful prop who was interesting the Springboks while playing for the Sharks and Bulls in South Africa before declaring for his native country and representing them in the 2003 World Cup. Captained the team at RWC2007 but forced to retire in 2009. Now forwards coach for the Canon Eagles in Japan.
Ronaldo Bothma
The former Blue Bulls and Sharks star normally plays back row but Namibia have never lacked for loosies so I am moving him to lock. Hugely strong and combative, Bothma is the new talisman figure for Namibia following the retirement of Jacques Burger and should make a big impact for Harlequins once he recovers from a broken arm.
PJ Van der Vyl
Better known as a No.8 where his pace and athleticism are seen to good advantage, Van der Vyl can operate equally well at lock and is a considerable line-out exponent. Has played much of his club rugby in France including spells at Aurillac, Dax and Bayonne.
Jacques Burger
Very little introduction needed. Won 41 caps and played in three World Cup including two as the team’s captain. One of the hardest, most physical big-hitting flankers the modern day games has seen. Overcame a series of major injuries that would have stopped most in their tracks.
Jan Ellis
Springbok 415. A legend in both South Africa and Namibia. The fastest, toughest, meanest openside flanker of his era and a stand-out in some great Springbok sides. Could be stroppy and bad tempered but a first choice for eleven seasons during which he won 38 caps.
Tinus du Plessis
Tough operator in the backrow with 48 caps and three World Cups. Indomitable rough and tumble flanker who did service for Cornish Pirates, Rotherham Titans, Wasps and London Scottish during his many forays away from Namibia.