Kings bow to Namibia at the Coast

Namibia’s world cup preparations have been boosted by back-to-back victories in the country.

Namibia’s senior national rugby team on Saturday defeated Southern Kings by 21-17 points at the Walvis Bay Private High School’s field (Naartjie Park), in their final warm up match before leaving for Japan on 12 September to compete in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. It was a third victory for the team that will play in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan this month.
Cliven Loubser opened the scoring for the Namibian with a penalty kick 16 minutes in the game for a 3-0 lead. Demetri Catrakilis equalised the scores in the 22 minute also with a penalty kick. Namibian Winger JC Greyling scored Namibia’s first try 32 minutes in the game. Loubser missed the conversion leaving the home side with a five point lead
In the 39th minute of the game Alandre van Rooyen scores right under the poles for the Kings. Catrakilis easily converts to take an 8-10 lead. Loubser slots a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half to reclaim an 11-10 lead at break.
Four minutes in to the second half Loubser extends the home side’s lead as he converts a penalty. Namibia lead 14-10. A success rolling maul sees Louis van der Westhuizen dotting down for the home side second try. Loubser converts to give Namibia a 21-10 lead.
The Kings fought back in the last ten minutes of the game with Bobby de Wee scored a try, converted by Bader Pretorius to left the score at 21 -17 to secure victory for the World Cup-bound Namibia.
The team recently returned from their high-intensity training camp in South Africa ahead of the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on 20 September. Namibia will play in Pool B, alongside Italy, South Africa, defen-ding champions New Zealand and Canada.
They will play their first match against Italy on 22 September. Their second match will be against South Africa on 28 September.New Zealand will be their third opponents on 6 October. Canada and Namibia will then clash on 13 October in their last group match.