Clearly, Namibia is not looking good during this World Cup. In difficulty on the field with three defeats and 219 points conceded, the African selection will have to challenge Uruguay this Wednesday (5:45 p.m.) without its third row Johan Retief. For good reason, the 27-year-old player had to withdraw on the eve of the match due to a nasty spider bite suffered in a hotel in Aix-les-Bains where his team was staying.
“It’s something we couldn’t have predicted,” reacted Namibian three-quarter coach Chrysander Botha. Johan is very unlucky, and we are disappointed because he is a player who means a lot to us since he can play number 4 and in the third row. Hit in the chest, Retief needed treatment to stop the infection, ending his chances of holding his place against the Uruguayan Teros. Already deprived of its captain Joahn Deysel, suspended 5 matches after his high tackle on Antoine Dupont, Namibia sees its problems piling up. Unless the unfortunate man of the day transforms into Spider-Man and comes to save his nation to everyone's surprise in Lyon...