Players take on franchise tens challenge

Adapting to new player combinations, as well as to the rarely played format of ten-a-side rugby, has been among the challenges for the six teams competing in the first-ever Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) Windhoek Draught Tens.

The somewhat out-of-season competition, held over two weekends (1 and 2 October and 8 and 9 October), started off on Saturday morning with the round-robin phase, which concluded yesterday around noon at the Hage Geingob Stadium.

The Sunday matches, especially, were played in high temperatures that continued to climb. By then, most teams had started to adapt their approach to commit fewer players to rucks and to keep the ball away from contact whenever possible, rather than the patterns more typically associated with 15-a-side rugby.

Teams still played to their respective strengths, though, with some using driving mauls more than others. Due to injuries and even work commitments, most of the franchises’ player squads had to make adaptations as the weekend progressed.



Top of the log

After a gruelling schedule of five matches each, the fancied Windhoek Draught franchise team finished at the top of the log, having scored the most tries (26), which also greatly contributed to their 24 league points.

The Windhoek Draught team, with Wanderers’ NRU Premier League winning halfback pairing of André van der Berg and scrumhalf Jacques Theron as captain, also had Namibian test centre Danco Burger, Unam’s top try-scorer Darryl Wellmann and agile Elmarco Beukes among their backline options.

The team in black did not have it all their own way, but won four out of five and is well placed for a strong challenge on the decisive final weekend ahead. Darius von Solms, Codey Naholo, Iyambo Tshuuya, Rowan Jansen and Sean de Klerk are among their forward options.



• In second place is DStv Namibia, with Grootfontein hooker Wikus Jacobs as the team captain. The blue jerseys may have lost national flyhalf Cliven Loubser with a recurring ankle problem on Saturday, as well as Jeandre Loubser, Diego Loubser and Chase Diergaardt, but still rallied well to win four matches, and were involved in the only drawn result so far, against Brand Plan Bisons, yesterday morning.

• Bernie Hugo’s Gravity Force are in third place, despite losing Lorenzo Louis with a concussion. Speedy backs Shareave Titus and Reinold Benade were among their star backs, while Eloff du Plessis and Amutenya Amutenya were pacesetters up front. Scrumhalf Cameron Klassen also played well, at 36 years likely being the oldest player in the series.

• UCom Mobile, led by centre Alcino Izaacs, are lurking in fourth place, with Chemigan Beukes, Johan Luttig, Tjingairi Kativi and Le Beau du Preez mixing it up front for its backline, which also includes Geraldo Beukes, Hillian Beukes, Gino Wilson and Oderich Mouton. Scrumhalf Miquel Busch was a prolific try scorer as well, before being eliminated through injury.

• Fifth are the Best Choice Cowboys, led by Adriaan Booysen. Scrumhalf Oela Blaauw has been among their stars, along with AJ Zaahl, Chris Arries, Irongwa Atshivudhi, Obert Nortje, Gilad Plaatjies and Driaan Vorster.



ELIMINATED

Brand Plan Bisons, who finished in sixth place, were eliminated from the final weekend.

This franchise featured probably the largest number of NRU first division or reserve league players, and also lost their mobile Wanderers lock Erik Strauss with a leg injury halfway through day one. Their national test team contenders, such as captain Thomasau Forbes (flank) and Warren Ludwig (wing), however, put in hardworking performances to show their level of match fitness.

The playoffs for final positions will be played this coming weekend, including Sunday’s plate final and cup final.