• Sport

Van der Berg blow ahead of Simbas visit

- 2023-05-11 00:00:00

A knee ligament injury last weekend has likely ruled out Windhoek Draught Welwitschias vice-captain and flyhalf André van der Berg for at least the remainder of the Mzansi Challenge campaign.
After about 50 minutes of last Saturday’s match against the Leopards at Walvis Bay, Van der Berg left the field with a hyper-extended knee, after he had landed two penalties during the first half.
The FNB Wanderers flyhalf has gained a growing fan base during the course of this year’s Namibian return to the South African provincial competition, with especially his attacking instincts, tactical kicking and ball distribution putting him firmly in the conversation for the upcoming international season.
Van der Berg will thus not be in contention for the Welwitschias’ match against the Kenya Simbas in the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
“I unfortunately injured a ligament on the outside of my knee shortly after halftime. The medical report so far indicates that I will not need to have an operation, but that I could miss a significant part of the season, having to submit to a rest period before taking on a rehab programme and hopefully being able to resume running again in five to six weeks,” Van der Berg told the newspaper yesterday.
In Van der Berg’s absence, Henrique Olivier is likely to be first in line for the full promotion, having played off the bench in every match so far and also playing the full 80 minutes in the narrow loss to the San Clemente Rhinos, with Van der Berg at full back.
FNB Kudus’ versatile Aurelio Plato has also been a regular squad member and an option at 10, even if mostly used at full back so far.

IMPRESSED
Former two-time Namibian World Cup lock Eben Izaacs, who as a coastal resident paid close attention as a spectator at the Leopards match, says he has been mostly impressed with the Welwitschias.
“I can see improvement in many aspects of our play, including our defence line. We certainly created opportunities to score more tries and I don’t know if it was over-eagerness, but on any day with a bit more clinical work we could well have secured a win.”
Izaacs considers the flank Peter Diergaardt, a former U20 national player who also wore the Wanderers and currently Unam jersey, to have been a stand-out performer on the day.
“In his first match on this level he definitely made a statement with a high tackle count and prominence in stealing possession on the ground.
“Johan Luttig has also built on his previous hard-working performances and must be strongly in the World Cup conversation by now. Danco Burger (centre) took us over the advantage line very well and André van der Berg has to be breathing in the neck of (the incumbent Namibian flyhalf) Cliven Loubser.”
Izaacs reckons the Welwitschias could benefit from utilising their lineout mauls more frequently and also ensuring more solidity at scrum time.