While the pre-tournament favourites Scotland A and the Argentina
Jaguars have suffered two successive defeats on the opening match
days of the IRB Nations Cup, Namibia have been the toast of
Bucharest alongside Italy A.
Both sides won second victories on Tuesday, against Scotland
A and Georgia respectively and now stand a win away from a first
ever Nations Cup title.
The situation is all the more remarkable for the Namibians,
who had never won a Nations Cup match before this year.
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"I would like to thank players for having a great
attitude and character here, I think the difference has been that
attitude," the team's proud coach Johan Diertgaartd told
Total Rugby Radio.
"We've come to the party not just to take part but
to be competitive and start winning and I would also like the
people of our country to believe that we can win. We've been
great leaders in the past and we're busy building that culture
again."
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While the Italians face Romania on Sunday in the third and
final round at the Arcul de Triumpf Stadium, the Namibians face
fellow Rugby World Cup qualifiers Georgia.
Should both sides win their matches, the overall winner will
be decided on points difference with Italy currently holding the
advantage by 13 points.
"It puts a little pressure on us going into the Georgia
game but we'll go into the game the same as we have done. We
have to win it and that's what we'll try to do.
Namibia: Georgia will be tough
"Georgia will be tough, they'll come hard at us and we
expect them to give their best and we will give them our piece of
pie too!"
Hosts Romania kick-started their campaign on Tuesday with an
impressive 24-8 win against the Jaguars, adding to what has been a
festival atmosphere in the country's capital city.
"It's a great tournament to take part in. Bucharest
is a great city and we are not professionals so we need to give the
guys a little relaxing time, socialising and time to learn about
the country too.
"I'm from the old guard and I believe that rugby is
a starting point for friendship, for socialising and learning about
other people's cultures," added Diertgaartd, for whom this
tournament is also a priceless exercise a little over one year out
from the World Cup in New Zealand, where the Namibians will line up
against South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Samoa in pool play.
"Being part of the World Cup is a dream, especially with
it being in New Zealand. We were part of the last three World Cups
but this time we aim not just to be part of the party, we'll be
part of the competition."