Argentina rest stars against Namibia

As Namibia prepare for their final match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Argentina, stand-in captain Rohan Kitshoff has issued a rallying cry for his team-mates to depart the tournament by leaving a lasting impression.

The 2007 semi-finalists are not yet assured of second place in the pool and a place in the knockout stages but even if Tonga stun New Zealand, will be confident of securing the point they need tomorrow (kickoff 1100 GMT).

The Pumas show 11 changes with only scrum-half Martin Landajo, lock Guido Petti, blindside flanker Pablo Matera and outside back Matias Moroni retaining their places as a raft of first-choice players are rested.

Argentina make 10 other changes, naming their youngest World Cup starting XV for 16 years.

Uanivi and Kotze have played all 240 minutes of Namibia’s campaign so far.

“We want to finish the group phase well and improve defensive aspects because we weren’t aggressive enough against Tonga and our finishing was not good enough”. “We have faith in these players and if the All Blacks don’t win we’ll seek our qualification with this team”.

Flank Jacques Burger retired after he was concussed against Georgia, and the captaincy was passed to flank Rohan Kitshoff, who was usually the skipper between World Cups. His last appearance at fly-half was in the 37-25 win over South Africa in August.

“If we go out with that guts, character, determination, anything can happen in a game of rugby”, Davies said.

Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Matias Moroni, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Pablo Socino, Horacio Agulla; Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo (captain); Lucas Noguera, Julian Montoya, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Guido Petti, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Javier Ortega Desio, Facunda Isa.

Namibia, affected by a four-day turnaround after losing to Georgia 17-16 on Wednesday in Exeter, have given successive starts to only hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, lock Tjiuee Uanivi, flyhalf Theuns Kotze, and fullback Chrysander Botha.

Replacements: Louis van der Westhuizen, Johnny Redelinghuys, Raoul Larson, Renaldo Bothma, Tinus Du Plessis, PJ Van Lill, Eugene Jantjes, Heinrich Smit.