Burger starts for Namibia

Namibia are just two days away from kicking off their fifth World Cup but the Welwitschias are still on the hunt for their first ever point in the competition.

But seeing Japan beat South Africa in a stunning fashion in Brighton has already inspired the Biltongboere captain, Jacques Burger, to work harder than he has ever done so before in a bid to pull of the biggest upset in rugby union history.

“I think it is about concentration”.

“But it’s 100 per cent worth it. I’m in very good shape right now and it’s a blessing to be at a World Cup for a third time”. I thought it was unreal. They looked like a team that were at the same level. “They are the best team in the world by a mile”.

The team is packed full of amateurs and they do not have a big win to hark back to, let alone a World Cup win. It’s going to be tough, but we will fight like dogs’.

“Hopefully if we do our jobs well we can put some good stuff together and give a good account of ourselves on the field. All we can do is give it our best”. We need small victories throughout the game, small things like say I go up in the air against a full-back and I take the ball out of the air in front of him, it’s like “I did it against him”. ‘You have to follow your heart, ‘ says the Namibia captain, who could have worn the Red Rose or Springbok jersey.

Burger is already counting his blessings just to be at England 2015, though. “The scoreboard then takes care of itself”.

“It will be closer than that”, Burger boldly told The Guardian.

The surprises were at loosehead prop, where the choice of two Namibia-based players over overseas-based players; loosehead prop Jaco Engels ahead of the much younger but more experienced Casper Viviers, and at fullback, where Johan Tromp held off the older and more experienced Chrysander Botha. “I’ve had five surgeries on the same knee after that”.

“I’m married so my wife can look after me anyway, so it won’t be a problem once it’s over!”

“The lads are such an enthusiastic rugby bunch, they love the game and training”, he said. I have a lot or wear and tear on my joints.

“But over the last couple of years I’ve done really well”. Of the 19 other nations playing at the World Cup, New Zealand have never faced three – Namibia, Georgia and Uruguay. It’s something that I like doing, defence is like a chess board that I want to learn.

The match 23 includes 10 players with Rugby World Cup experience. “It’s all about achieving special moments in the match”. “I hope I can convince them of this”.