Plucky Namibia ride old-school dream

THERE is something refreshing about the Namibia rugby team, an amateur-based side in a professional era.

As the rank outsiders in the World Cup, they know they do not stand a chance against the topranked All Blacks at London’s Olympic Stadium on Thursday, but still they dare to dream their oldschool values will do them proud.

While the All Blacks are global stars — with almost as many support staff as players to ensure they eat, train and rest to maximum benefit — most of the plucky Namibians have to juggle their rugby with day jobs.

“We’ve got engineers, diamond traders, farmers, construction workers, and a dentist, which is handy,” said captain Jacques Burger, the Saracens loose forward who is one of the few overseasbased professionals in the side. “It’s definitely about these guys who work eight to five, they’ve offered up so much. They are incredible.

“They wake up four, five in the morning, start training at six, go to work all day and come back in the evening. I’m massively impressed with what they put in and the level they perform at. They’re not just good rugby players but good human beings.”

Namibia Rugby Union president Hage Geingob had a dream that the pride of the southern African nation would “give the All Blacks hell”. He sent the team off with the message: “Please go and fulfil my dream.”

Realistically, the target for Namibia will be damage control given the short five-day turnaround before playing Tonga, a team they have in their sights along with Georgia, in the hunt for an historic first win in five World Cups.

Their worst World Cup performance was a nightmarish 142-0 thrashing by Australia in 2003, but coach Phil Davies says those bumbling days are long gone. They may not match the All Blacks, but they go into the tournament on the back of beating Russia twice and demolishing Zimbabwe 80-6.

“I think we’ve created a clear way of playing which suits the Namibian style of rugby,” the former Welsh international said.

“The evidence so far in our previous four games is that we look structured and organised, but there’s an ability also for the players to use their flair and counterattacking ability, which is what Namibian rugby is famous for.”

Davies, who took over the reins in July when Danie Vermeulen quit, has been impressed with the tenacious spirit of his amateurs. “Their commitment has been extraordinary. We’ve had 40 training sessions at 5am.”

Burger said that while his side might not fulfil Geingob’s dream, they would not disgrace themselves. “The All Blacks at the Olympic Stadium is incredible for Namibian rugby. A lot of our guys are amateurs and look up to these guys as idols,” he said.