Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIAN Rugby Premier League action returns this weekend after an absence of a month with a mouthwatering top of the log clash between FNB Wanderers and FNB Kudus at the Wanderers ground.
The two sides are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the league and have already opened quite a gap on the rest of the field and the result of tomorrow’s match could have a big influence in the title race.
After four matches, Wanderers currently lead the log on 22 points, followed by Kudus on 19, FNB Unam on 14, and FNB Grootfontein and FNB Western Suburbs on 11 points each.
Kudus have been the surprise package in the league so far, and were the early log leaders after beating Unam, United, Rehoboth and Falcons along the way.
Wanderers, however, went to the top of the log for the first time when they beat Rehoboth 49-24 on 15 May, and should start the match as favourites on their home ground, although they have lost seven of their first choice players who have been called up to the national squad.
Kudus’ loose forwards Cameron Langenhoven and Joshua Jacobs have also been called up, but Wanderers have been hardest hit and will have to do without the services of Herchelle van Wyk, Obert Nortje, Thomasua Forbes, Jacques Theron, Andre van der Berg, JC Greyling and Warren Ludwig.
Kudus coach Gawan Esterhuizen maintains that they are the underdogs, but still fancies their chances of causing an upset.
“We will definitely miss Cameron and Joshua, as well as Chad (Plato) who recently returned from Spain, because they are all stalwarts of our team, but we have prepared for each scenario and have understudies who are ready. They have a chance now to stake their claims and I have confidence in them,” he said.
“Wanderers are a very good side, and they are well balanced with the forwards and backs combining well, but I believe in my team and think that we can cause an upset,” he added.
Esterhuizen in fact already achieved that feat when he last coached Kudus in 2015 and they pulled off a big upset to beat Wanderers 40-26 in Windhoek, when Aurelio Plato played a starring role with 25 points.
With Plato once again in the squad, as well as other stalwarts like Lloyd Jacobs, Justin Newman, Kyle Wentzel, Rayton Paulse, Charlton Brussel and Shaun White, they will fancy their chances.
Wanderers, though, have a lot of depth, especially amongst the forwards, where players like captain Christo van der Merwe, Driaan Vorster, Erik Strauss and Lebeau du Preez have all been in fine form this season. They also have some exciting backs like Nandi Karuuombe, Bredell Wessels and Ryan Coetzee, but the forward battle will be key to tomorrow’s outcome and here they might be too strong for Kudus.
Western Suburbs, meanwhile, travel north to take on Grootfontein in a match that could go either way.
Grootfontein will be without their inspirational captain Wicus Jacobs and lock Johan Luttig who are both in the national squad, while Suburbs should be close to full strength with only prop Chemigan Beukes called up.
In the corresponding encounter last season, Grootfontein won a thriller 28-27 and tomorrow’s match could once again go down to the wire.
Unam will be out to close the gap on the leaders when they travel to Rehoboth to take on bottom of the log Reho Falcons, who are still winless and have a -144 points aggregate.
Unam have had an indifferent start to the season, beating Suburbs and United, but just edging Rehoboth 18-16, while they lost 20-5 to Kudus. They also have several players in the national squad like forwards Des Sethie, Prince Gaoseb and Oderich Mouton and backs Alcino Isaacks, Lesley Klim and Lorenzo Louis, but they should still be too strong for Falcons.
In the weekend’s final match a struggling Trustco United host FNB Rehoboth at Trustco United Park.
United will be desperate to break their losing streak but they will find the going tough against Rehoboth who beat them 42-21 in the corresponding fixture last year.
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