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Overlooked Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott will start in the number 9 jersey for a strong Namibian International XV, named to take on the Springboks in a warmup game next Friday night. The side features a number of former Springboks and Super 14 players – although not too many Namibians.
Kees Lensing will captain the side from loosehead prop. The big Castres front-ranker has played for both the Bulls and the Sharks in South Africa, as well as representing Namibia during the 2003 World Cup. Lensing is one of only four Namibian players in the starting XV, as coach John Williams has opted to pack his side with Super 14 players from South Africa, in the hope of providing a stern test for the visiting South African XV. Lensing is joined up front by four members of the Cheetahs tight 5 – Richardt Strauss, Kobus Calldo, David de Villiers and Nice Breedt. Cheetahs loose head Wian du Preez will be playing for the South African XV. Sharks hooker Skipper Badenhorst is presumably still facing the cold shoulder after he elected not to represent Namibia at the 2007 World Cup in France.
Bulls number 8 Jacques Burger is joined by fellow Namibian Jacques Nieuwenhius and Stormers flank Duane Vermuelen in an impressive back row.
Former Bok flyhalf Derrick Hougaardt joins Kockott in the halfbacks, while the Cheetahs’ Meyer Bosman and former Bull Frikkie Welsh will be at centre. Tondie Chavanga and Jaco van der Westhuyzen are at right wing and fullback respectively, with Maties winger Llewellyn Winckler in the number 11 jersey.
Another former Bok, Wayne Julies, is on the bench, together with Anton van Zyl from the Lions, Ruan Vermeulen from the Bulls and a number of local players.
Namibian Invitation XV – 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Llewellyn Winckler, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Jacques Burger, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5 Nico Breedt, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Kees Lensing (capt).
Subs: 16 Hugo Horn, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 Ruan Vermeulen, 19 Anton van Zyl, 20 Wayne Julies, 21 Jurie van Tonder, 22 Chrysander Botha.
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I reckon this side will give the Bok XV a run for their money…
@wpw (Comment 1) : I agree.. the Bok XV isn’t the strongest team to start with. I hope Rory shows he is better than both Ricky and Jano!
GO NAM XV!!!
Is this a non-international? ie. not affecting the players choice of country for the future
@Rahul (Comment 4) : correct… I mean, most of the selected players are not even eligible for Namibian international representation! It would be ludicrous if they ended up being saddled with a Namibian cap as a rsult of this.
“Hither came Rory, the Shark, brown-haired, sullen-eyed, nothing in hand, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread on the jeweled thrones of the earth under his rugby togs”
Rory the Namibian is not to be confused with Conan the Barbarian.
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
How funny would it be though if the Namibians found some loophole in the IRB “Laws & Regulations”?
I take it the invitation didn’t reach Skipper on time …
@robdylan (Comment 5) : So how come they playing for Namibia? Is it an arrangement wiff SARU?
So there is a plan for Luke if he ain’t in this team…
This is more like one of those Bok trials Adolf did back in the day with the Boks playing against each other.
@Rahul (Comment 10) :
@Rahul (Comment 9) : it is… remember it’s a Namibian Invitational XV, not Namibia itself.
So how many of these okes are ACTUALLY South West African?
@wpw (Comment 1) : Was just thinking that myself while reading the article.
Interesting to see the comparative performances of Chavhanga and Nokwe!
@klempie (Comment 14) : Come on Rob. You put the article up. Do the requisite journo legwork!
@Villie (Comment 15) :
We seem to be agreeing too much these days bru!!
@klempie (Comment 16) : it was actually inferred in the article if you bothered to read it.
4 in the Starting XV and 5 on the bench.
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
You have to excuse him as he can be a bit ‘slow’ at times
@robdylan (Comment 18) : I skimmed over it.
I’m lazy and want an explicit number. 
@wpw (Comment 19) :
4:40 per kilometre slow….
@klempie (Comment 21) : it doesn’t count if you only weigh 50kg
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Dude don’t joke. This running thing is now counter productive. I’ve lost nearly 4 kilos in a month!
Once I get to 3.5 kms, that’s it…weights time!
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
@klempie (Comment 23) :
That is bad, considering how much weight you have lost you should be running much better times.
@Salmonoid (Comment 25) : Do you have monthly debit orders going off your account to “RobDylan’s Health Emporium:?
@Salmonoid (Comment 25) : yeah, exactly… he should be clocking negative times by now.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : That would imply me being composed of antimatter.
@klempie (Comment 26) : I cannot strongly enough recommend that all of you do the same
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
@klempie (Comment 28) : well, you already have an anti-personality…
@blackshark (Comment 6) : i wouldve thought that Rory is a barbarian, the way he is slapping the big guys around
@robdylan (Comment 31) : Bitch!
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
HAHAHAHAHAHA
@klempie (Comment 33) : @wpw (Comment 34) : I am such a legend! Eat your heart out, fleckie!
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Legendary in terms of what?
I only ask cos I’m wondering what Fleckie is a legend of. 
@klempie (Comment 36) : fair point
goodie afternoon.
does anybody know how many actual namibians are in this side.
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
slow again.
@rekinek (Comment 38) : oki. just read this.
@rekinek (Comment 39) : how many?
@rekinek (Comment 38) : Don’t get Rob started.
Check out post 18. 
@rekinek (Comment 38) :
One – Kees Lensing.What Rob SaidI think the key is invitational – so it has no bearing on Caps.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : can you repeat that in all 11 languages please
The choice of the Maties wing does give it a Barbarian feel.
@Salmonoid (Comment 44) : I’d argue that the choice of so many Bulls players gives it a barbarian feel…
i think it’s gonna be quite a fight if the players think they are fighting for spots. but would coach make a decision who to call against the lions at such a late stage – i seriously doubt.
@robdylan (Comment 45) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 47) : har har har
I see Rob is on a roll today…
here’s some developing news… apparently Nakak Drolske doesn’t want to release his players…
@robdylan (Comment 50) :
Huh???
Now why would he want to do that?? When does the CC start???
@wpw (Comment 51) : worried about the Lions game
Well, news24 reports that Stormers and Cheetahs won’t release any of their players and the Sharks want R500k in player insurance for Rory Kockett. Seems they value him a bit more highly than PdV
@CapeShark (Comment 53) :
There’s a thread up dude