New Zealand vs Namibia LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as All Blacks dominate in Toulouse
New Zealand 71-3 Namibia: All Blacks bounce back from France loss by hammering Namibia
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand shook off any lingering negative thoughts from their opening round defeat to France by hammering Namibia in Toulouse to get their first victory of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Ian Foster’s men started as they meant to go on with Cam Roigard, making his World Cup debut, finishing off a wonderfully sharp and slick move to get over the line with one minute gone on the clock. The No. 9 added a second try to his tally five minutes later as New Zealand showed just how they intended to play this match.
They wanted a big total and got one. 11 tries were scored in total with Damian McKenzie (x2), Leicester Fainga’anuku, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan de Groot, Dalton Papali’i, David Havili, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane driving the All Blacks to a comfortable 71-3 victory.
It wasn’t a perfect night for New Zealand though as De Groot was shown a red card with the TMO bunker upgrading his initial yellow after reviewing the incident late in the game.
Relive all the action from the Stadium de Toulouse below.
Nearly time!
Not long to go now before the anthems and the Haka in the Toulouse! New Zealand go in search of a record-breaking 50th World Cup win, and would be the first team to reach the milestone.
Past results
This is the third RWC in a row that the two sides have faced each other, with the All Blacks dominating the scorelines in the two meetings.
In 2015 they won 58-14 on their way to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and at the last RWC in 2019 they won 71-9.
Last weekend’s loss to France was New Zealand’s first-ever loss in the group stage at a RWC so they will be looking to call on their previous form against Namibia to secure a more positive result tonight.
Pre-match thoughts - Namibia
Assistant coach Barend Pieterse described the threat that the All Blacks will bring to the game. He said: “In the New Zealand team, pretty much everyone is a threat, especially the team they chose, it’s a very good team.
“We can just stick to what we trained into our systems and into our process. We have to handle whatever they throw [at] us, in the set-piece or in general play. We know they’re a team that would like to play fast and we must be able to handle that.
“Rugby is obviously a physical game, doesn’t matter who you play against. As a Namibian team or a Namibian nation, we pride ourselves in our physicality, we pride ourselves on a good set-piece, and that is what we want to show tomorrow.
Additionally he looked ahead to the prospect of playing at Stadium de Toulouse: "I wish I could show you a photo of our host stadium in Windhoek and compare that to this. It’s special for us to come here. I said now to coach Allister [Coetzee] when we were standing on the field, this must be one of the most beautiful stadiums I’ve been in.”
Second row Johan Retief also explained his thoughts about facing New Zealand after playing against them at teh last RWC. He said: "I remember the first game, the whole team was stressed. This time a lot of people, a lot of players, have played already against them so it’s more comfortable, more relaxed. We know what we are going to face so it makes it easier."
"It’s an amazing challenge to be able to play against players like that. It’s a privilege to play against them, so we have to enjoy it, make the most of it and learn from it and grow as a team. I’m very excited for that challenge."
Pre-match thoughts - New Zealand
Despite New Zealand’s loss to France in the opening round, blindside flanker Luke Jacobson spoke about the focuses of the team and his own as an individual in their preparations to face Namibia.
He said: “Last week there was probably a few areas that have been cleaned up on, particularly around the breakdown and a little bit around discipline - there were far too many penalties. It makes it pretty tough to play rugby when you concede that many penalties.”
“This week has been focusing on myself mainly. I’m pretty excited about it - getting a crack in the six jersey. I’ve just been getting excited about what I can bring to the field.”
“Losing’s not ideal. Unfortunately we didn’t quite get things quite right.
“I don’t think it adds extra pressure. We know that we need to be winning to win this competition regardless, so I don’t think a whole lot changes from now.”
Team news - Namibia
Allister Coetzee has only changed three players from last week’s starting team that lost to Italy with prop Jason Benade, flanker Prince Gaoseb, and centre Le Roux Malan joining the team.
The side features eight of the same players who faced New Zealand at the last RWC in 2019 with Johan Coetzee, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Prince Gaoseb, Damian Stevens, JC Greyling and captain Johan Deysel all named.
Number eight Richard Hardwick, who will play for Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship next season, was key in attack for Namibia last week making the second-most carries (16) and beating the most defenders (8) in the team. He’s joined in the scrum by flankers Gaoseb and Wian Conradie, a second row made up of Retief and Uanivi, and a front row of Benade, Van Jaarsveld, Johan Coetzee.
Stevens starts at scrum half and Tiaan Swanepoel takes the number ten shirt. Malan is given his first start and features as a centre alongside captain Deysel. Divan Rossouw and Gerswin Mouton make up the wings and Cliven Loubser completes the team at fullback.
Namibia: 15-Cliven Loubser,14-Gerswin Mouton, 13-Johan Deysel, 12-Le Roux Malan, 11-Divan Rossouw, 10-Tiaan Swanepoel, 9-Damian Stevens, 1-Jason Benade, 2-Torsten van Jaarsveld, 3-Johan Coetzee, 4-Johan Retief, 5-Tjiuee Uanivi, 6-Wian Conradie, 7-Prince Gaoseb, 8-Richard Hardwick
Replacements: 16-Louis van der Westhuizen, 17-Desiderius Sethie, 18-Haitembu Shifuka, 19-PJ Van Lill, 20-Adriaan Booysen, 21-Max Katjijeko, 22-Jacques Theron, 23-JC Greyling
Uruguay captain insists performance against France is ‘only the beginning’
Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca hailed his team’s fighting spirit in their 27-12 Rugby World Cup loss to hosts France on Thursday and believes his side will grow in confidence following their eye-catching performance.
France led by eight points going into the final 10 minutes as Uruguay pushed them all the way.
With a better set-piece “both scrums and line-outs” they might have pulled off one of the great World Cup shocks. In the end their inaccuracy let France off the hook, but it was still a performance to savour for Vilaseca.
Uruguay captain insists performance against France is ‘only the beginning’
Uruguay pushed the World Cup hosts and favourites close in Lille to threaten one of the great tournament shocks
New Zealand vs Namibia referee: Who is Rugby World Cup official Luke Pearce?
England’s Luke Pearce is one of the officials at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Born in Wales but raised in Exeter, Pearce returns for a second tournament having been part of the officiating team four years ago in Japan.
The 35-year-old started his officating journey in Devon at the age of 16, and was refereeing in the second tier Championship by the age of 21.
A promotion to the Premiership swiftly followed before a step-up to test level in February 2013.
New Zealand vs Namibia referee: Who is Rugby World Cup official Luke Pearce?
The Englishman is one of the officials at the tournament
Team news - New Zealand
Ian Foster has made nine changes to the starting line up that faced France in the opening match.
Sam Whitelock wins his 148th cap and in doing so draws level with Richie McCaw as the most capped All Black.
The six remaining players are Nepo Laulala, Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Ofa Tuungafasi and Codie Taylor join Laulala in the front row replacing Ethan de Groot and Codie Taylor. De Groot features on the bench. In the second row, Whitelock moves to four and partners with Scott Barrett. Luke Jacobson starts as blindside flanker this week with Papali’i moving to the openside. Savea captains the side at number eight.
Cam Roigard replaces Aaron Smith at scrum-half while Damian McKenzie takes over at fly-half as Richie Mo’unga is named as a replacement.
Leicester Fainga'anuku starts on the left wing with Caleb Clarke named on the right. David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown form a centre partnership in the midfield, and Beauden Barrett returns at fullback.
New Zealand: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Caleb Clarke, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 12-David Havili, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cam Roigard, 1-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Luke Jacobson, 7-Dalton Papali’i, 8-Ardie Savea
Replacements: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Tupou Vaa’i, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo’unga, 23-Rieko Ioane
New Zealand vs Namibia prediction
Here are the latest odds and match prediction for New Zealand and Namibia’s clash:
New Zealand win 1/100
Draw 250/1
Namibia win 200/1
New Zealand will inflict a 24th consecutive defeat on Namibia in World Cups, securing a bonus point and drastically improving their points difference.
New Zealand 67-3 Namibia.
New Zealand vs Namibia line-ups
New Zealand XV: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Caleb Clarke, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 12-David Havili, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10-Damian McKenzie, 9-Cam Roigard, 1-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Luke Jacobson, 7-Dalton Papali’i, 8-Ardie Savea
Replacements: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Tupou Vaa’i, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo’unga, 23-Rieko Ioane
Namibia XV: 15-Cliven Loubser,14-Gerswin Mouton, 13-Johan Deysel, 12-Le Roux Malan, 11-Divan Rossouw, 10-Tiaan Swanepoel, 9-Damian Stevens, 1-Jason Benade, 2-Torsten van Jaarsveld, 3-Johan Coetzee, 4-Johan Retief, 5-Tjiuee Uanivi, 6-Wian Conradie, 7-Prince Gaoseb, 8-Richard Hardwick
Replacements: 16-Louis van der Westhuizen, 17-Desiderius Sethie, 18-Haitembu Shifuka, 19-PJ Van Lill, 20-Adriaan Booysen, 21-Max Katjijeko, 22-Jacques Theron, 23-JC Greyling
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