Burger back for Namibia

Saracens flanker Jacques Burger returns to lead out Namibia for their opening World Cup match in against Fiji on Saturday.

Inclusion of Saracens flanker one of seven changes

Saracens flanker Jacques Burger returns to lead out Namibia for their opening World Cup match in against Fiji on Saturday. Burger missed Namibia's defeat to Georgia in June but he is one of seven changes for the clash. Danie Dames, Conrad Marais, Piet Van Zyl, Theuns Kotze, Raoul Larson and Hugo Horn also return, while Eugene Jantjies moves to scrum-half from fly-half. The Pool D encounter will be the second time the two sides have clashed in the tournament, although Namibia will be hoping for a closer encounter in Rotorua. Fiji thumped the minnows 67-18 in Beziers in 1999, with the Namibians yet to win in the World Cup. However Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt is confident the Welwitschias can enjoy their best RWC. "One must remember that the other teams are all professional, but I believe we have a great chance to be competitive," Diergaardt told the Namibian. "I'm looking forward to our first win." Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Piet Van Zyl, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (c), 6 Tinus Du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinz Koll, 3 Raoul Larson, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnnie Redelinghuys.
Replacements: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan 17 Jané Du Toit 18 Pieter Jan van Lill 19 Rohan Kitshoff 20 Ryan De La Harpe 21 Darryl De La Harpe 22 Llewellyn Winkler.