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Winning a first World Cup match in Japan (from September 20 to November 2, 2019) will be the big challenge for Namibia, which has been used since 1999 to the big Rugby World Cup. For now, the Namibians hold the record for the biggest defeat against Australia in 2003 (142-0).
In five participations, Namibia has never won a single match. This country in southern Africa, independent since 1990, former German colony before being under South African protection, arrives in Japan with the hope in the head to register his first victory in the history of his rugby. For the moment, Namibian players are more used to corrections. As in 2003 against Australia with a 142 to 0, which remains to this day the heaviest defeat in a world.
A majority of semi-professionals
Despite 19 losses in as many matches in the World Cup, the "Welwitschais" were close to a first success in 2015 against Georgia (16-17). In Japan, the task looks very complicated: the Namibians are placed in the group of New Zealand (three titles), South Africa (two titles), Italy and Canada. Only this last nation could allow the men of Welsh Phil Davies to consider a first victory in a hen also raised.
The coach will have veteran scrum half Eugene Jantjies, who will be competing in his fourth World Cup. The man who has long played in Romania made his World Cup debut in the 17-32 defeat of his country against Ireland in Bordeaux in 2007 and has since played 11 matches in a World Cup.
Great African rugby nation
Eugene Jantjies, a 67-seeded player, is one of four in the group - with Darryl de la Harpe, Rohan Kitshoff and PJ van Lill - competing in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. A total of 15 players already have World Cup experience. The vast majority of players - except a few whose Bayonnais PJ van Lill and Torsten van Jaarsveld, or Johan Deysel (Colomiers in Pro D2) - are only semi-professional and have a job next.
Leading the African pool in qualifying, Namibia earned a ticket in a win against Kenya (53-28). On the continent, the country won the African Cup of Nations five times in a row between 2014 and 2018. Last year, Namibia erased its previous record of its biggest victory (116-0 against Madagascar in 2003 ) inflicting a shambles on Tunisia (118-0). The Namibians have once again easily qualified for the World Cup, which they have not left since 1999.
Namibia, the 22nd nation in the world, will start its campaign against Italy in Higashiosaka on September 22 before playing South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.
The program of Namibians:
Italy - Namibia, September 22 in Higashiosaka
South Africa - Namibia, September 28 at Toyota
New Zealand - Namibia, 6 October at 6:45 am in Tokyo
Namibia - Canada, October 13 in Kamaishi