EXETER, England // It’s 16 games and counting for Namibia in its search for a first victory at a Rugby World Cup.
The longest winless streak in tournament history was extended with a 58-14 loss to the mighty All Blacks at Olympic Stadium on Thursday. Playing Tonga in the more homely and remote surroundings of Exeter’s Sandy Park on Tuesday is something of a comedown for the Namibians, but it represents as good a chance as any to end their barren run.
Tonga is coming off an attritional 17-10 defeat to Georgia which dropped its world ranking to No. 14, and will be without inspirational captain Nili Latu because of a hamstring injury.
Namibia senses an opportunity in only its second ever meeting with the Pacific Islanders.
“There was inevitable excitement about our performance (against New Zealand),” Namibia coach Phil Davies said, “but this is a level-headed group. It will be a massive, massive challenge for us.”
The closest Namibia has come to ending its World Cup drought was in a 32-17 loss to Ireland in 2007.
The Africans changed a prop, lock, two back-rowers, the scrumhalf, center and both wings for the Tonga game, but flanker Jacques Burger remains as captain. Reserve prop Johnny Redelinghuys could become the eighth Namibian, and third at this tournament, to play in a third World Cup. He holds the caps record of 49.
Latu dropping out is one of nine changes made by Tonga, who selected No. 8 Viliami Ma’afu and center Siale Piutau as co-captains Sunday. The Tongans will field their most experienced side in a World Cup match, with 327 caps, and oldest, at an average of 30 years, 200 days.
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