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After both teams experienced a losing start to the 2023 Rugby World Cup across the opening two days of the tournament, New Zealand and Namibia will look to get their first win of the campaign when they clash in their Pool A fixture in Toulouse on Friday evening.
New Zealand vs Namibia match predictions
Contents
Here is a closer look at the game and our top Rugby World Cup predictions for this match.
Prediction 1: New Zealand to win to nil @ 11/8 (2.38)
Beware the defeated All-Blacks! Ian Foster’s side will still be smarting from last week’s defeat against the French and we can expect to see a reaction against a Namibia side who shipped 52 points against Italy and scored only eight of their own.
New Zealand are a powerful side in all positions and many experts still expect them to go all the way to the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final and to lift the William Webb Ellis Trophy on October 28th. With Namibia scoring only one try in their two previous meetings against the All-Blacks, we are backing Ian Foster’s side to record a big win without conceding any points in Toulouse.
Prediction 2: Caleb Clarke to be first tryscorer @ 5/1 (6.00)
The Auckland born winger is a powerful 24 year old who is very hard to stop once he gets going with the ball in hand. He has previously gone over the line on five occasions for the All-Blacks with his last try coming in the 38-7 victory over Australia in Melbourne in late July.
Can Namibia put up a fight against the mighty All Blacks
Now that we have offered our predictions for this match, we can take a closer look at the recent form by both teams:
New Zealand
The All-Blacks got the competition underway with the heavyweights clash against hosts France at the Stade de France and, in spite of registering a try after only two minutes, went on to lose 27-13 in front of a passionate and noisy home crowd last Friday, in one of the most interesting World Cup results.
New Zealand last five:
- France 27-13 New Zealand
- New Zealand 7-35 South Africa
- New Zealand 23-20 Australia
- Australia 7-38 New Zealand
- New Zealand 35-20 France
Namibia
For the Namibians, they came off second best against a rampant Italy in Saint-Étienne and they will have to produce one of their best performances in history if they are to avoid a second heavy defeat in a row.
Namibia last five:
- Italy 52-8 Namibia
- Chile 26-28 Namibia
- Uruguay 26-18 Namibia
- Canada 37-43 Namibia
- Spain 34-15 Namibia
New Zealand vs Namibia head to head
Both of the previous meetings between New Zealand and Namibia took place during Rugby World Cups with this head to head the third successive finals that they have met! The All-Blacks won 71-9 in Japan, four years ago after a crushing 58-14 victory at the Olympic Stadium in London during the 2015 tournament.
Match details
- Date and time: Friday 14th September, 20:00 UK time
- Venue: Stadium de Toulouse
- How to watch in the UK: You can watch rugby World Cup on ITV X
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