Expectations for all lower tier nations have been raised since Japan’s remarkable victory over South Africa but anything other than a cricket score victory from New Zealand over Namibia on Thursday appears unlikely.

Namibia, the lowest ranked team in this tournament, almost missed out on even qualifying having lost to Kenya and needed a big win over Madagascar to seal their place. They have yet to win a World Cup match since their first tournament in 1999 and were most notably beaten 142-0 by Australia in 2003.

They will come up against a ‘weaker’ All Blacks side from the XV that played Argentina but it still features players who would comfortably walk straight into most other Tier One teams.

NEW ZEALAND

An uneasy first outing against a typically gutsy Argentina side is now followed by what should be three straightforward matches for the World Champions. Steve Hansen has retained just three players from the Argentina game, with Sam Cane captaining the side for the first time.

Many of those lining up against Namibia will be looking show that they should start ahead of the more experienced players picked by Hansen against Argentina so expect a typically ruthless and clinical performance.

For those with bets on the tournament’s top try scorer, expect Julian Savea to stake his claim on Thursday after a subdued opener against the Pumas.

One to watch: Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill gave Steve Hansen a bit of a headache after an impressive cameo performance against Argentina. He wants to be a major figure in this World Cup rather than the bit-part role he played in 2011 and is pushing Ma’a Nonu for the starting 12 spot. His physicality is likely to overwhelm Namibia and his midfield combination with Super Rugby star Malakai Fekitoa is an exciting prospect.

NAMIBIA

“We know we’re not going to win the game” – it doesn’t get more blunt than that from a coach but it’s a realistic point from Namibia’s Phil Davies. It will be about damage limitation for the men in blue on Thursday.

Ten of the Namibia team are amateurs whose Rugby World Cup preparation involved early morning training sessions before they went off to their day jobs as engineers and farmers (there is even a dentist in the team).

Despite all of that, Namibia will not lack for passion. The likes of Jacques Burger and Torsten van Jaarsveld will lead from the front and play with plenty of aggression to try and ruffle New Zealand.

One to watch: Jacques Burger

It has to be Namibia’s talismanic captain Burger. His relentless energy always causes opposition issues, so much so that despite the team conceding 310 points in the Group Stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Burger was named one of the Players of the Tournament. Namibia will need a huge performance from him to avoid humiliation.

PREDICTION

New Zealand are the only team in history to have never lost a group game and that won’t change on Thursday. The All Blacks will win this comfortably the only question is, by how much?

For Namibia to score more than ten points would be somewhat surprising, a squad containing ten amateurs will really struggle against one of the most successful teams in Rugby history. Despite this, Namibian rugby has come a long way since that 142-0 loss in 2003 and they will fight hard to avoid a similar humiliation, spurred on by the spirit of the Japanese. New Zealand by 70.

By Joe Ogden (@JoeOgden90)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images