Botha on bench for RWC opener

Exeter Chiefs full-back Chrysander Botha has been named on the bench for Namibia's opening 2015 Rugby World Cup match against New Zealand tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium (8pm).

Botha - who signed for the Chiefs at the start of last season from South African Super 14 side, the Lions - will be hoping to come on against the reigning champions, who got the defence of their title off to a shaky start with an unconvincing 26-16 win over Argentina.

The All Blacks have since made 12 changes to their line-up for the match against Namibia, equaling a record for the amount of alterations to a side.

Namibia, who will play two of their remaining fixtures at Sandy Park against Tonga (September 29) and Georgia (October 7), have also included in their ranks Saracens back-row forward Jacques Burger, who will skipper the side, and former Launceston forward Tinus Du Plessi.

Namibia: 15 Johan Tromp, 14 David Philander, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotzè, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Leneve Damens, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Burger (capt), 5 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 4 Tjiuee Uanivi, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Jaco Engels.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Casper Viviers, 18 Raoul Larson, 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Janco Venter, 21 Rohan Kitshoff, 22 Eneill Buitendag, 23 Chrysander Botha.