Namibia’s fourth and final 2023 Rugby World Cup outing takes place on Wednesday when they face Pool A rivals Uruguay.

The pair are familiar foes, with Uruguay winning 26-18 when they met in Montevideo in August. However, while the hosts that day seem to have improved in the intervening period, Namibia have struggled.

Allister Coetzee’s Welwitschias have lost three from three in France, scoring just a single try and have a points difference of -208.

Uruguay have also lost both of their games, going down to France and Italy but have been competitive in both and can point to questionable decisions from the officials that went against them as to why they were not closer to their opponents on the scoreboard.

Both countries would have highlighted Wednesday’s match in Lyon as their ‘final’ from the outset of this tournament but Los Teros look a level above and should run out comfortable victors.

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Uruguay have made four changes, with prop Diego Arbelo and number eight Carlo Deus coming into the pack.

Gaston Mieres also comes in on the wing, while Arcos Perez starts in the midfield. Igancio Peculo, Manuel Diana, Bautista Basso and Felipe Arcos Perez are the ones to drop out of the XV.

Namibia made seven changes for their final outing, with four in the forwards and three in the back-line.

Versatile forward Tjiuee Uanivi will captain the side, while prop Johan Coetzee and wing Gerswin Mouton are the only two players in the squad to have started all four of their nation’s Pool A outings.

Uruguay -18.5 @ 20/21

Uruguay’s performances, albeit in defeat, have been extremely encouraging and, alongside Portugal’s exploits, have boosted calls for the so-called lesser nations to be given further opportunities to test themselves against the top teams.

With over a week until they face New Zealand in their final Pool A outing on October 5, they can afford to go all out in this game and their powerful pack and slick backs should thrive.

Namibia may point to fatigue, having played four games in 17 days. Contrast that with France taking in four matches in 28 days and it is understandable why coach Coetzee has decided to make so many changes.

However, they have looked short in several facets of the game and while they went close in Montevideo, they are likely to be less impressive in Lyon.

Gerwsin Mouton Anytime Tryscorer @ 9/4

If Namibia are to get on the board, then Mouton will need to be at his best and has been one of the few players from his country to have looked sharp with ball-in-hand.

The winger has scored his team’s only try to date in France, racing over in the corner against Italy to put them ahead in Saint-Etienne and suggest there could be a shock in the match.

Getting the ball to Mouton could be an issue, but he seems to read the game well and possesses electric pace, so he could grab a third international try.