After making hard work of Esteban Meneses Uruguayan side in Lille on Thursday night. Fabian Galthié’s Les Blues will have a point to prove as they come up against a bruised and battered Namibian side in their third ever meeting at a World Cup.
The last time these two sides met was in 2007 when France last hosted the Rugby World Cup. It finished France 87-10 Namibia. However alot has changed over the last sixteen years.
The Welwitschias of Namibia are looking to rectify their heavy defeat to the All Blacks last Friday evening in a wet Toulouse by playing more positively and confidently. However after centre Le Roux Malan suffered a nasty ankle injury, it saw the Namibian side lack confidence going forward and allowed New Zealand to get over the game line quickly and enabled them to move the ball quickly.
Allister Coetzee’s Namibian side could pull off one of the biggest Rugby World Cup upsets, however, if they play a more fluid and aggressive game, France could be in a little trouble as they looked under pressure in Lille.
France head coach Galthié picks an almost fully loaded team with the return of Toulouse prop Cyril Baille and La Rochelle centre Jonathan Danty come into the starting 15.
Antoine DuPont takes back the captains armband as France are looking to make it three from three as their hopes of lifting the profound Webb Ellis trophy gets more closer game by game.
Namibian starting 15 1- Desiderius Sethie 2- Louis Van Der Westheuizen 3- Johan Coetzee 4- Mahepisa Tjeriko 5- Adriaan Ludick 6- Max Katjijeko 7- Johan Retief 8- Prince Gaoseb 9- Jacques Theron 10- Cliven Loubser 11- JC Greyling 12- Danco Burger 13- Johan Deysel 14- Gerswin Mouton 15- Andre Van Den Bergh
France Starting 15 1- Cyril Baille 2- Peato Mauvaka 3- Uini Antonio 4- Cameron Woki 5- Thibaud Flament 6- François Cros 7- Charles Ollivon 8- Anthony Jelonch 9- Antoine DuPont 10- Matthieu Jalibert 11- Louis Bielle-Biarrey 12- Jonathan Danty 13- Gael Fickou 14- Damian Penaud 15- Thomas Ramos
Written By Harry Tovey
HTSPORTSNEWS 