Namibia has mix right, says Horn

Namibia hooker Hugo Horn believes the team's balance of old and new has them ready to record their strongest Rugby World Cup result.

“Most of the team has been coming along around four or five years, and we've added some new guys and they've been with the team the last couple of years,” he said.

“We have gotten more familiar with each other.”

In 2007 Namibia did not know they would be participating in France until six months before the tournament began.

But they have known for nearly two years they would be making the trip to New Zealand and Horn said the extra time had been beneficial to his team's preparation as they strive to win their first RWC match.

"The guys know one another, they know each other's playing styles and it adds up," he said.

Raised level

"It's a 30-man squad coming to New Zealand and the more comfortable we are with each other the easier it is."

Many of the players had also benefitted from playing with teams in high-level domestic competitions in countries such as South Africa and England.

“The guys back home, by participating in other competitions, we have been able to raise our level," the hooker said.

"We've gotten a lot of exposure in the last few years."

Horn and the rest of the Welwitschias will find out if that exposure has paid off when they open their Pool D campaign against Fiji on 10 September.