Namibia head for Casablanca Final

Meet Morocco on Saturday

Namibia, under the captaincy of Sean Furter, head for Casablanca to play Morocco in the Final of the Confederation of African Rugby. They have a new coach and virtually a new team after the disappointments of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Namibia went to the World Cup with some ambitions, but ended up with several hidings in Pool A.

Argentina beat them 67-14, Ireland 64-7, Australia 142-0 and Romania, whom they had hoped to have a chance of beating, 37-7. Their defeat at the hands of the Wallabies is a record for the final tournament of the World Cup.

Recently they met Morocco in the Dubai Sevens and lost. The Namibians expect a tough match.

In warm-up matches, Morocco played France Amateurs in Paris and lost 39-19. Namibia played against the Leopards of South Africa and won.

The Namibian squad flew to Casablanca on Wednesday with eight new players in their team - Leon van Wyk, Robert Dedig, Jurie van Tonder, Fanna Lambert, Tinus Venter, Dewald Myburg, Domingo Kamongo and René Kruger.

Players who were at the World Cup and are not in the squad are Rudi van Vuuren, the cricketer, who has since retired, Schalk van der Merwe, the lion tamer who was such a personality at the RWC, who is injured, Emile Wessels who is playing for Esher in England's National Division Two, Heino Senekal, Melrick Africa, Wolfie Duvenhage, Hakkies Hüsselman, Neil du Toit, Eben Isaacs and JM Meyer.

The coach at the World Cup has gone - the most controversial coach before and during the World Cup, Dave Waterston, who was appointed just for the RWC, disaffected many players and incurred the wrath of the IRB with his outspoken criticisms.

The new coach is Danie Vermeulen, once a top prop till he was paralysed in a motor accident. Since 2000 he has been the coach of the Windhoek Club United, along with his brother Gielie Vermeulen, once an outstanding three-quarter/fullback. After making a success of the United side, the two have stepped up to coaching Namibia.

Namibia has the same captain, loose forward Sean Furter. He is hoping that winning in Morocco can begin the rehabilitation of Namibian rugby - back to the days when the country won a series against Ireland and was a top Currie Cup side.

He believed that his team could beat the "ferocious" Moroccans. The teams have met twice before. In 1994 they drew 16-all in Casablanca. In 1998 Namibia won 17-8.

Furter believes that his forwards hold the key to success. If they can hold the Moroccans up front, his backs will be too fast and skilled for the home side.

The Namibian team will be finalised only later.

Namibian squad (22):

Forwards: Sean Furter (captain), Herman Lintvelt, Leon van Wyk, Jurgens van Lill, Shaun van Rooi, Domingo Kamonga, Archie Graham, Andries Blaauw, Cor van Tonder, René Kruger, Robert Dedig, Fanna Lambert.

Backs: Jurie Booysen, Tinus Venter, Deon Mouton, Du Preez Grobler, Corné Powell, Rian van Wyk, Morné Schreuder, Niel Swanepoel, Ronaldo Pedro, Jurie van Tonder.

The Moroccan squad: Younes Derraz, Mohammed Dermouni,  Kharim Chahid, Thomas Garcia, Jawad Ouadji, Matthias Garcia, Mikael Mohammed Moktar, Abdellatif Boutaty, Hicham Bencheikh, Nourredine Salmi, Qazzani, Jalil Narjissi, Mohammed Gouasmia, Yousri Faik, Mounir El Hamzaoui, Hamid Arif, Anwar Akram Rhaili, Hicham Housni, Hicham Ezryar, Jawad Semlali, Karim El Oula, Mounir Jaoui

Referee: Steve Leyshon (England)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes, Lloyd Jackson (both England)
Match Commissioner: Mveleli Ncula (South Africa)