Kudus and Red Bulls to lock horns at the coast

FNB Kudus Rugby Club will host FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club at Jan Wilken Stadium in Walvis Bay this Saturday.

Kudus scored three wins and recorded one loss in the four matches they played. The coastal side is placed third on the log with 15 points after four matches.

Reho Falcon recorded one win and two losses at this stage of the race. The Rehoboth based club is placed in the seventh position on the log, with five points from the three matches they played.

Matches between the two clubs have always been exciting and a pleasure to watch.

Rehoboth, under the coaching of Jood Opperman this year, are without a doubt a team to watch out for. All the matches they played and lost were a contest to the bitter end.

Just like Kudus, Rehoboth has a solid pack of forwards and a lightning fast backline. Both teams have however suffered injury setbacks in the last two weeks.

Kudus is expected to field a full-strength team. Fuelled by their passionate supporters, the visitors from Rehoboth can prepare for two hard-hitting matches.

Shaun White, the Kudus coach, said preparations went well on the training ground.

“We are anticipating the return of Lloyd Jacobs, Rayton Paulse, Cameron Langenhoven and Paulo Andrews. Carlton Stevens, Lezardo Vos, Alexander Jansen, Codey Naholo and Aurelio Plato are still unavailable due to injuries.”

White added that he is expecting a very physical game. “We will have to match the visitors up front and our forwards will have to step up.”

Both Kudus teams will hopefully have improved their lineout work since their last game against Dolphin, because giving up so many balls in the lineouts will cost them dearly against Rehoboth.

The blues were however deadly at scrum time and should dominate this facet again.

Kicking to the posts is also going to be a big factor. Scott Windborn who was deadly last week off the kicking tee and could find himself wearing the no. 10 jersey for Kudus. Newcomer Diago Julies could also get his first taste of Namibian Premier League rugby.

Rehoboth coach Jood Opperman said his team travels to Walvis Bay as underdogs.

“We have been labelled ‘second stringers’ and it’s a fact that Kudus have their tails up. I can assure our opponents that we will be very ready to give them a run for their money.”

According to Opperman, he expected the team to struggle in the first couple of matches.

“I am a newly appointed coach who arrived with new strategies. Things will improve. If everyone stays positive and fit we will be able to compete. I made some positional changes to look at different options. We initially struggled in the scrums and if our practice sessions are anything to go by, we look promising.”

Opperman said Rehoboth had some players that sustained injuries last week and luckily he can look forward to some stalwarts making a return to action this week.

“Carl-William Freygang (prop) and Nicarlio Freygang (lock) will be back into the fold for us.”

He added that a clean game and the right approach will bring out the best of both teams and ensure that the fans are entertained.

In the semi-finals of last year’s NRU Premier League, FNB Wanderers defeated Rehoboth (32-20) and the eventual champions Trustco United narrowly eliminated Kudus with a late 28-27 win.

Kudus invited its faithful supporters to pack the pavilions and fill up the stadium to capacity. The Kudus management has also requested that supporters refrain from making obscene remarks towards the officials, the visiting team or their supporters. Management said that persons who are identified and found guilty of unruly behaviour will be barred from attending matches.