Windhoek - The 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will be one of the toughest but it should be the turning point of African rugby, says Namibian rugby captain Kees Lensing ahead of the final World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Windhoek on Saturday, November 28.

Lensing who was instrumental in the 18-13 first leg victory in Tunisia two weeks ago said although Namibia had made the work light for the Windhoek return leg, the country desperately needs to be at the World Cup to tell the world that African rugby has changed.

“We have been there three times already and every time we have come back with our tails coiled, now we want to go and come back with heads high,” said the giant prop.

The team captain who has led Namibia to an undefeated streak in the qualifiers said the best part of the 2011 World Cup was the lengthy preparatory time.

“This is the World Cup where we will have a lot of time to prepare. Two years to the most. And we should put our house in order and go out there and make an African impression. Africa has to be recognised. As you know, we cannot count South Africa as part of African rugby. If Namibia is going to the World Cup, it will be representing the developing African rugby, “ said the French based star.

Kees Lensing praised the idea of having Namibia engage in next year’s South African Vodacom Challenge saying it would open “lucrative doors for most of the local players so that they play professional  football in the year of the World Cup.”

But he remains cautious about being in Group D with South Africa, Fiji, Wales and Samoa at the World Cup.

“It’s a tough group when you have to face South Africa and Wales at a tournament. It’s never easy,  even the presence of Samoa and Fiji make our task much more daunting, but we have to deliver. We want to go there and show the world that African rugby is coming up.”.