Team profile: Namibia

Namibia have competed at the last three World Cups, but have never won a point in the group stages. Photo / Getty Images

Any sort of result at the World Cup would represent a minor miracle for Namibia.

Team bio:
World Cup Appearances: 3
Last World Cup result: Group stages
Best-ever RWC: Group stages
IRB Ranking: 20
Head Coach: Johan Diergaardt
Key Player: Jacques Burger. An uncompromising loose forward who is sure to lead by example.

Overview:
The south-west Africans' objective is easy: win a maiden cup game at the fourth attempt.

The spectre of their 142-0 belting by Australia eight years ago lingers, but their resources are thin.

Thirteeen players remain from the 2007 tournament, and they'll be captained by Saracens flanker Jacques Burger. A rugged defender with a nose bearing the scars of many battles, Burger was named Saracens player of the year.

Fellow flanker Jacques Nieuwenhuis plays at French club Aurillac but elsewhere ...

They qualified by beating the Ivory Coast and won the Nations Cup last year. The Welwitchias must target Fiji. Beating them will be no mean feat. The odds are on a fourth winless campaign.

Fixtures:
Pool D
Saturday September 10 v Fiji, Rotorua International Stadium (Rotorua)
Wednesday September 14 v Samoa, Rotorua International Stadium (Rotorua)
Thursday September 22 v South Africa, North Harbour Stadium (Auckland)
Monday September 26 v Wales, Stadium Taranaki (New Plymouth)