English Rugby
Burger calls for England to face Namibia
ESPNscrum Staff
December 15, 2011
Namibia's Jacques Burger reflects on the match at the final whistle, Namibia v South Africa, Rugby World Cup, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2011
Jacques Burger captained Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup © Getty Images
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Jacques Burger has floated the idea of England taking on Namibia during their tour of South Africa in 2012.

The Saracens flanker, who skippered Namibia at the recent Rugby World Cup, believes that further exposure to top-class opposition is vital for emerging nations.

England are expected to travel with around 45 players and play at least two tour matches inbetween Tests against the Springboks, as they did in 2010, when two games against the Australian Barbarians and one with the New Zealand Maori supplemented meetings with the Wallabies.

"I would love that," Burger said."We want more games, more professional games and we want to get better. We are not growing as big as we want to because we only play four big Tests between World Cups - and that is at the World Cup.

"We will lose but losing is part of learning and we need more opportunities and that would be great [if England came to Namibia]. It is just an hour and a half flight. It would be great if they could do something. Hopefully that is something in the pipeline in the future."

England tackle the Springboks on June 9 at King's Park, Durban, and a week later in Johannesburg, with the third Test on June 23 in Port Elizabeth. The tourists will also play the Barbarians before they leave for South Africa, on May 27, while there have also been talks about a possible game between England and a Premiership XV, to be staged at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, on May 30.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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