Lensing leads Namibia against Ireland

Prop Kees Lensing will lead Namibia in their World Cup opener against Ireland on Sunday.

Lensing, who stands 6ft 3in tall and weighs more than 20 stones, spent a season at Guinness Premiership club Leeds before leaving when they were relegated in 2006.

The Natal Sharks paid big money to take him back to the Super 14 but the powerful-scrummaging 29-year-old has yet to rescale the heights which catapulted him to fame.

Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman, who played in the 2003 World Cup, has included six players with previous experience of the tournament in his 22.

Lensing, winger Melrick Africa, hooker Johannes Meyer, fly-half Emile Wessels, hooker Hugo Horn and openside Heino Senekal all featured four years ago.

Horn and Senekal also played in the 1999 World Cup.

Team: T Losper; R Witbooi, B Langenhoven, P van Zyl, H Bock; E Wessels, E Jantjies; K Lensing (captain), H Horn, J du Toit, W Kazombiaze, N Esterhuize, J Nieuwenhuis, H Senekal, J Burger.

Replacements: J Meyer, J Redelinghuys, M MacKenzie, T du Plessis, J van Tonder, LW Botes, M Africa.