Preview - Australia v Namibia

This could be a big loss for Namibia

Poor Namibia. They cannot be relishing the thought of taking on the rampaging Wallabies, not after their heavy defeats at the hands of Ireland and Argentina. The thought of packing down in yet another scrum must be the stuff of nightmares after the way the Pumas and the Irish destroyed them. And then they have probably chosen a weakened aside. This could be a massacre.

To add to their inherent problems, the men from Africa's south west coast have chosen a weakened team to face the reigning world champions. Weakened against the Wallabies won't win. But then the Namibians are looking to Romania to save face, just as the Oaks are looking to the Namibians to save face - the Welwitchias they are called after a living fossil in the deserts of Namibia.

The Wallabies will be too everything for a weak side and will beat the Namibians in whatever way they want to do it. For them it is a great opportunity to run through basics.

It gives Stirling Mortlock a chance to get further from injury. It gives Lote Tuqiri a starting chance - and on the wing rather than a run-on performance at flank, as happened against Romania. And there are others with opportunities in what is clearly not a full-strength Wallaby side, including a chance for Chris Whitaker, so often a bestman, but so seldom a bridegroom, a chance to captain the side.

But bless the Namibians.

When we spoke to them on Thursday, media man Hylton Ferreira, said: "The players still get up each morning with a smile.

"For them it's a chance to play against players who are their idols."

Even if their idols are far superior to them.

Players to watch: Chris Latham and Matt Dunning (both Australia) are always fun. Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock will have a chance to break records. Heino Senekal is the classiest of the Namibian tight forwards, but he has been forced to fight a losing battle.

Head to head: Chris Whitaker (Australia) v Hakkies Hüsselman (Namibia): The closest thing to an individual contest ion the match is that between the scrum-halves, lively Chris Whitaker of Australia and purposeful Hakkies Hüsselman of Namibia, consistently his side's best player at the World Cup.

Recent results:
The two teams have not met before.

Predictions: Much will depend on the Wallabies' energy. It's simply a case of how much, rather than who will win ...
Zurich computer Prediction: Australia by 81 points.
Planet Rugby Prediction: The Wallabies to win by 50 points or much, much more.
SportingOdds.com Prediction: Australia by 84 points.

The teams:

Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Lote Tuqiri, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Nathan Grey, 11 Mat Rogers, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Chris Whitaker (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 David Croft, 6 George Smith, 5 Nathan Sharpe (vice-captain), 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Ben Darwin, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Brendan Cannon, 17 Bill Young, 18 David Giffin, 19 John Roe, 20 Matt Cockbain, 21 Morgan Turinui, 22 Matthew Burke.

Namibia: 15 Ronaldo Pedro, 14 Deon Mouton, 13 Du Preez Grobler, 12 Emile Wessels, 11 Jurie Booysen, 10 Morné Schreuder, 9 Hakkies Hüsselman, 8 Jurgens van Lill, 7 Herman Lintvelt, 6 Shaun van Rooi, 5 Eben Isaacs, 4 Heino Senekal, 3 Neil du Toit, 2 Cor van Tonder, 1 Kees Lensing.
Replacements: 16 Phillipus Isaacs, 17 Andries Blaauw, 18 Schalk van der Merwe, 19 Sean Furter, 20 Neil Swanepoel, 21 Deon Grunschloss, 22 Melrick Africa.

Kick-off: 15.30 local time (06.00 GMT, 07.00 BST), Live in the UK on ITV2
Venue: The Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Weather conditions: Scattered Clouds, High: 17°C
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges: Paddy O'Brien, Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
TMO: Nigel Williams (Wales)

By Paul Dobson