We have to counterpunch All Blacks pressure: Coetzee

• By Michael Uugwanga 

TWO struggling sides, Namibia and New Zealand, will face off in a do-or-die match this Friday in Pool A of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, following unsatisfactory performances in their opening matches.

The Welwitschias lost 52-8 to Italy on September 9 and could not have wished for a more formidable opponent than a furious New Zealand team, which lost 27-13 to host nation France on September 8.

Namibia, in search of its first World Cup victory, will have to put in more than 100 per cent if they are to stand a chance against the All-Blacks, who are expected to show no mercy against a Namibian side.

For Namibia, a match against the All-Blacks is about having a good time on the field, while for New Zealand, the match will be about winning bonus points after losing for the first time in a World Cup encounter.

Namibia is making its seventh consecutive World Cup appearance, while the All Blacks are looking for their fourth World Cup triumph (1987, 2011, and 2015), as they are tied on three World Cup silverware with defending champions South Africa (1995, 2007 and 2019), while Australia have won the title twice (1991 and 1999) and England once in 2003.

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