Namibia head coach Allister Coetzee made four changes on Wednesday for their next Pool A game against New Zealand.
Jason Benade comes in at prop, Prince Gaoseb at flank, Le Roux Malan at centre and Cliven Loubser at fullback, while Richard Hardwick switches to No. 8 for the game in Toulouse on Friday.
Both teams lost their openers. Namibia went down 52-8 to Italy for a 23rd straight defeat at the World Cup, the only game they have not lost was an encounter with Canada four years ago, cancelled because of a typhoon.
New Zealand suffered a first ever group defeat as they lost their opener 27-13 to hosts France.
“The Italy game was a big challenge for us, especially in the set-piece. Hopefully it will be better,” said Coetzee.
“We have to throw more punches.”
“New Zealand is a top nation. Our plan is to stop the momentum and break their rhythm.”
Namibia lost 71-9 to the All Blacks four years ago and 58-14 in 2015.
“We knew it was a tough pool,” said Coetzee. “It is not scary but we really get excited about it. New Zealand are taking this game seriously. It is good for the competition. It is a great opportunity for our players.”
Fullback Cliven Loubser said he was excited.
“It is a great opportunity,” Loubser said. “When you grow up in Namibia, you want to play against New Zealand.”
Namibia team to play New Zealand in Rugby World Cup Pool A match in Toulouse on Friday (kick-off: 1900 GMT)
Team(15-1):
Cliven Loubser; Gerswin Mouton, Johan Deysel (capt), Le Roux Malan, Divan Rossouw; Tiaan Swanepoel, Damian Stevens; Richard Hardwick, Prince Gaoseb, Wian Conradie; Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief; Aranos Coetzee, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jason Benade
Replacements: Louis van der Westhuizen, Des Sethie, Haitembu Shifuka, PJ van Lill, Adriaan Booysen, Max Katjijeko, Jacques Theron, JC Greyling.
Coach: Allister Coetzee (RSA)
All Blacks make nine changes, hand Whitelock record-equalling cap
Meanwhile, New Zealand announced nine changes to their starting lineup after losing to France in the tournament’s opening game.
The 27-13 defeat to the hosts was the first time the All Blacks have ever lost a pool game in a World Cup.
“We had a plan on how we want to approach this and we have had to adapt that based on injuries and who is coming back but we are pretty satisfied that we have to rebound from round one. It is a key game for us to get right and we’ve selected accordingly,” said New Zealand coach Ian Foster.
“We certainly have got a couple of areas we really want to focus on and I’m probably not going to share what they are just yet.”
Sam Whitelock will make his 148th international appearance for the three-time world champions, equalling the record of Richie McCaw.
Only Alun Wyn Jones of Wales, with 171, has made more international appearances than Whitelock and McCaw.
“It’s a massive occasion for Sam and for us as a team. I think he has been a warrior for this team for a long time and to equal someone like Richie is a massive achievement,” said Foster.
“We all know how much it means for him to pull on a black jersey and to do it for the 148th time is a very special occasion, one that we make sure we put a performance on that gives that record a lot of respect and celebrate it with him afterwards.
Whitelock is one of six players retained by coach Ian Foster for the game in Toulouse from the team that lost to France last Friday.
The others are Ardie Savea, who will captain the side, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Dalton Papali’i and Nepo Laulala.
Foster said injured captain Sam Cane “is probably not that close” to being ready. “Not as close as we would have liked to be fit on Friday.”
Both half backs will be making their World Cup debuts with Damian McKenzie coming in at fly-half and Cam Roigard at scrum half.
“It’s been pretty surreal.” said Roigard. “Since I got named in the squad I was hoping this moment would eventuate so for it to be just around the corner is pretty exciting.”
New Zealand (15-1)
Beauden Barrett; Caleb Clarke, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku; Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tuungafasi
Replacements: Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i; Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga. Rieko Ioane
Coach: Ian Foster (NZL).
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