New blood put to the test at U20 Barthes Cup

The Namibia Rugby Union’s announcement of its final touring squad to compete at the Rugby Africa Under-20 Barthes Cup tournament in Harare, Zimbabwe has put a spotlight on its pipeline of developing young talent.

The Namibians will play against Kenya on 20 April, against Zimbabwe four days later and Tunisia on 28 April.

The touring squad looks set to depart on 18 April without Ryan de la Harpe, who was the U20 head coach last year and despite being central to much of the build-up work and training camps since then, seems to have had a fall-out with the NRU in recent days.

Last Saturday, the U20s played a fast-paced and entertaining friendly encounter against Reho Falcon at the Dr Lemmer field, which the youngsters won 40-38 after leading 26-24 at halftime.

Chrysander Botha took charge of the U20 team at short notice ahead of the friendly match at Rehoboth, our contributor Boet Matthews reports. Allister Coetzee, the former Springbok coach in charge of the Namibia senior Test team since 2021, is also rumoured to be in consideration for the Barthes U20 trip to Zimbabwe.

Arenzo Izaacs (flank), Henrick van Schalkwyk (wing, 2), Edward Drotsky (hooker), Denver Beukes (scrumhalf), Daniel Bezuidenhout (centre) and Joshua Bester (prop) scored tries for the winning national junior team. Ashton van Wyk (2) and Denver Beukes added conversions.

In an interview afterwards, Botha declared himself impressed with the talent on display.

Botha, Namibia’s Test try-scoring record holder and former national U20 coach in 2022, said: “We have limited time left before the departure, which we will use to ensure that all the basic aspects and skills are running smoothly.

“We appreciate the gesture by Reho Falcon to be willing to play against us on their bye weekend in the NRU premier league, and also their attitude during the match.

“Without doubt there will be individuals who with the right guidance, pathway and consistency have the ability to play Test rugby in the near future.”

On Saturday, Gerswin Mouton, who scored two tries as Namibia’s right wing at the 2023 World Cup in France, played for Reho Falcon alongside his younger brother Shaun.

The home side scored tries through Keynnen Basson (2), Shaun Mouton, Fabian Routh, Franklin Karigub and Cameron Markus. Conversions were added by Franklin Busch (3) and Franklin Karigub (1).



ABSENTEES AND NEW BLOOD

Tighthead prop Herman Coetzee, a member of Namibia U20 last year who since then signed with French top club Racing 92, still qualified in the age bracket this year, but was unavailable due to his professional contract.

Janneman Brand, who as captain of Windhoek Gymnasium’s champion first team of 2022 and joint champions of 2023 is counted among the best upcoming lineout jumpers in the country, was also not in the picture due to his focus on tertiary studies at the University of Stellenbosch.

A number of other star schoolboy prospects had to be scrapped off the short list due to junior contracts with South African provincial unions who did not release them, study commitments, injuries, diminishing interest in continuing to play rugby, or a focus on cricket, as in the case of former Gymnasium flyhalf JW Visagie (wicketkeeper for the U19 World Cup team this year).

Instead, the inclusion of largely unknown prospects such as wing Liam Dicks and hooker Armand Combrinck could introduce them to Namibian fans eager to see the next generation rise to the challenge of the four-year-cycle to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Dicks (Garsfontein High School, Blue Bulls) and Combrinck (Oakdale, SWD) were both singled out among the most unlucky players at the 2022 Craven Week to miss out on SA Schools selection.

Flyhalves Van der Merwe Tromp and Michael Koopman are also among a healthy contingent of the Namibian U18 Academy Week team of last year to advance to the next level.



RIGHTFUL PLACE

Namibia has won the continental U20 tournament seven times consecutively from 2012 to 2018, but did not add a single title since, conceding the four most recent championships to Kenya (2019 and 2021) and Zimbabwe (2022 and 2023).

The tournament champion usually qualifies to the same year’s World Rugby U20 Trophy, organised by World Rugby, which is due to be hosted in Scotland this year.



FORWARDS (16)

Props: Otja Auala (Windhoek Gymnasium, Unam), Gianluca Savoldelli (Whk Affies, Namibia U18), Joshua Bester (Whk High School, Namibia U18), Ian Klitzke (Elnatan Private School, CUT), Jayden van Zyl (Whk High School, Wanderers).

Hookers: Armand Combrinck (Oakdale, SWD U18 Craven Week, University of Stellenbosch), Edward Drotsky (Dr Lemmer, Namibia U18, 2023 Namibia U20, Rehoboth Rugby Club), Ferion Beukes (Whk High School, 2023 Namibia U20, Wanderers).

Locks: William Lottering (Walvis Bay Private School), Matthew Quinn (Walvis Bay Private School, 2023 Namibia U20), JP Campbell (Pro-Ed Academy, Namibia U18).

Loose forwards: Arenzo Isaacs (M&K Gertze), Kistings Minyoi (HTS Windhoek, 2023 Namibia U20, Unam), McHenry Kambatuku (Whk High School), Walther Otto (Whk Affies, Namibia U18), Ben Burger (Whk Affies, Namibia U18).



BACKS (12)

Scrumhalves: Denver Beukes (Whk Gymnasium, Rehoboth Rugby Club), JR Rossouw (Walvis Bay Private School, Namibia U18).

Flyhalves: Michael Koopman (Walvis Bay Private School, Namibia U18); Van der Merwe Tromp (Whk Affies, Namibia U18).

Centres: SG Maritz (Whk Affies, Rugby Travel Academy Pretoria, 2023 Namibia U20), JP van Wyk (Pro-Ed Academy, Bloem Rugby Academy), Xavier Mouton (Walvis Bay Private School, Namibia U18).

Back three: Jurgen Meyer (Whk High School, Namibia U18), Liam Dick (Garsfontein High School, Blue Bulls U18 Craven Week, UJ), Henrick van Schalkwyk (Whk High School, Namibia U18), Suramie Kambombo (Whk Gymnasium), Ashton van Wyk (M&K Gertze, Reho Falcon).



SHORTLISTED PLAYERS

Kieron Andrews (prop), Jorick Muir and Kyle Nel (loose forwards), Mauricio de Koe (scrumhalf), Daniel Bezuidenhout (centre) and Lazarus Joseph (wing).

The identity of the tour captain has not been confirmed yet.