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Home stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek (30,000)
Nickname: Welwitschias, Biltongboere
Number of rugby players: 10,928
Website: www.geocities.com/VNamRugby
National champions: Civics
Strengths: As a former part of South Africa, Namibia have retained many of the same strengths associated with the Springboks - a wealth of thick-set, heavy forwards who can do the gruntwork up front and get amongst the opposition in scrums and set pieces. Hailing from a nation with hot, dry conditions, Namibia's players are physically tough and built to last.
Weaknesses: As with the Boks, a lack of creativity in the backline and a reliance on the forwards to smash opponents into oblivion permeate their play. With such a small pool of players to draw from, Namibia lack the talent to open up other teams out wide and tend to rely on physicality, and they go into the tournament with a fairly inexperienced group of backs.
History in the tournament: 1987/1991 - Did not enter, 1995 - Did not qualify, 1999 - Eliminated at the Pool stages, played three lost three, 2003 - Eliminated at the Pool stages, played four lost four
Prediction: Namibia are yet to win a World Cup match, and given that they've been drawn in the Group of Death, will do well to improve that record. A win over Georgia is the best they can hope for.
Coach: Hakkies Husselman recently took charge of a side that he knows only too well, having played scrum-half for them at the 2003 World Cup. He made his debut 10 years previous to that, so has plenty of playing experience even if his coaching credentials are limited.
Key player: Long-serving wing Deon Mouton takes part in his third consecutive World Cup, and as the elderly statesman in a young set of backs will be tasked with guiding those unaccustomed to such lofty heights through the tournament. At the age of 32 he still has a fair bit of pace and will need to convert any hint of an opportunity if Namibia are to put points on the board.
Captain: While most of Namibia's players are based at home, Kees Lensing has gathered experience in the Currie Cup, Super 12, Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup having played prop for the Blue Bulls, Leeds Tykes and Natal Sharks. Having featured in the last World Cup and captained Namibia for several years, Lensing provides a cool head and plenty of motivation for one of the smallest nations at the World Cup. He replaces Skipper Badenhorst, who opted out of the tournament controversially, citing family reasons
Rising star: The son of Namibia's most capped player Sarel Losper, who is now the national team's manager, Tertius Losper is a full back who has also played at fly-half for the Biltongboere. While Tertius still plays for Namibian club Western Suburbs, he has been heralded as the next big thing for Namibia and will be looking to use the World Cup to impress foreign clubs enough to earn a contract in one of the world's top leagues.
Team nemesis: Namibia have consistently shown that they are the second best side in Africa after the Springboks, but have been challenged by the likes of Uganda and Morocco for spots at the World Cup. Games between the Biltongboere and these two nations are typically physical affairs and not averse to the odd punch-up.
Likely headlines: 'Welwitschias Morne Another Heavy Defeat', 'No Burger for the Biltongboere', 'Kick in the Heini for Bock', 'Crocked Hugo Heads Horn'
Price of a pint: E0.13
Player-to-sheep ratio: 1:15
