The experienced centre Johan Deysel returns as captain of a full-strength Namibian team to take on the Zimbabwe Sables tonight in a decisive semi-final of Rugby Africa’s 2023 World Cup qualifying tournament held in the south of France.

Deysel, who plays for French club Colomiers, returns from leave after attending the birth of his daughter Hailey Grace yesterday, which caused him to miss out on Friday’s 71-5 win against Burkina Faso.

Torsten van Jaarsveld (hooker), who was the acting captain and scored three tries against Burkina Faso, will be the vice-captain.

Coach Allister Coetzee has selected a strong team to take on Zimbabwe at 21:00 in Aix-en-Provence tonight (live on SuperSport Rugby).

The inclusion of Saracens’s Janco Venter, who was rested last weekend, and flank partner Wian Conradie (New England Free Jacks, USA) will further increase the intensity and work-rate of the Namibian pack.

In the backline, Divan Rossouw (Lions) shifts from left wing to fullback, replacing Lorenzo Louis, while handing the 11 jersey to Gerswin Mouton (Wits University), who made his test debut off the bench last weekend.

The clash will be the second semi-final, after Kenya vs Algeria at 18:00. The Rugby Africa Cup final is on Sunday at 21:00.

Namibia is aiming to qualify for its seventh straight World Cup (France 2023) and will be firm favourites against Zimbabwe, who have not beaten them since July 2001 in Harare.

Namibia team: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 JC Greyling, 13 Johan Deysel (captain), 12 Danco Burger, 11 Gerswin Mouton, 10 Cliven Loubser, 9 Damian Stevens, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 7 Janco Venter, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 Johan Retief, 4 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (onderkaptein), 1 Desiderius Sethie.

Reserves: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Jano Otto, 18 Jason Benade, 19 Ruan Ludick, 20 Prince !Goaseb, 21 Helarius Kisting, 22 PW Steenkamp, 23 Alcino Izaacs.