One new cap in Namibia team
Looseforward Zana Botes will make his senior debut for Namibia on Saturday in the second test of the friendly series against Russia.
The 24-year-old Botes was included in the Namibian team that shows six changes and two positional switches from the starting XV that defeated Russia 39-19 in the first test in Windhoek last Saturday.
Exeter Chiefs fullback Chrysander Botha gets his first start in the Namibian jersey since breaking his leg in Namibia’s defeat to Canada in Colwyn Bay, Wales last year. Botha came on as replacement in the first test .
Wing Conrad Marais returns to the team to earn his seventh cap after his last appearance was in Namibia’s 3-43 defeat to Romania in Bucharest last month.
Centre JC Greyling moves from the replacement bench to outside centre replacing Danie van Wyk who was not available due to a slight rib injury he picked up in the first test.
New cap Botes will start at No.8 with 41 test veteran Tinus du Plessis moving to the side of the scrum.
Prop forward Casper Viviers will switch from tighthead to loosehead with Raoul Larson earning his fifth cap for Namibia in the No.3 jersey. Free State Cheetah’s hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld will also move from the bench to the starting line-up.
There is still no room in the starting XV for Sharks star Renaldo Bothma while twenty-year-old hooker Louis van der Westhuizen who made his debut for Namibia as an 18-year-old against Zimbabwe two years ago has also been included in the matchday 23.
Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha 14 Conrad Marais, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Russel van Wyk, 10 Theuns Kotzè, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Zana Botes, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Burger (captain), 5 Janco Venter, 4 Tjiuee Uanivi, 3 Raoul Larson, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Casper Viviers.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Jaco Engels, 18 AJ de Klerk, 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Rohan Kitshoff, 21 Arthur Bouwer, 22 Darryl de la Harpe, 23 Heinrich Smit.
Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Danie Koen, Namibia), Coenraad Moolman (Namibia)
