Meet Rudie van Vuuren, who in 2003 played in both the Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup.
As the only man to have ever played in both a Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup, Rudie van Vuuren knows what he's talking about.
"We were 42-9. I came in at number 11 and, at that stage, the lowest total in a World Cup was 45 all out," says Van Vuuren. Within minutes, Shoaib was pummelling Van Vuuren to the extent he bowled what was then the World Cup's fastest ball - clocking 98.5mph . "Sport at that level is a mental thing. If you're going to be intimidated by a ball of 160 km/h, you don't belong."When Namibia's team manager called Van Vuuren 'Doc', he did so because he was already a qualified physician.
Van Vuuren and his team-mates lost all 10 games they played across both tournaments, but that didn't stop him impressing - particularly in the cricket. "He was not impressed," says Van Vuuren. "He gave me a look and I thought, 'maybe that's not the right guy to chirp.'"Next in line to beat Namibia were India, but Van Vuuren did have the distinction of taking his side's only two wickets - including breaking the stumps of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
"At lunchtime, I walked past Darren and he said: 'Sorry for ruining your World Cup, mate.' I took it in good spirits. It was terrible, but it happens. My son still teases me about that." "It was difficult being a very busy medical doctor and playing sport, especially two codes," he says. "There was no time for watching TV, relaxing or anything like that - it was sport and work, and that was it.
"The scan just showed everything was torn," he says. "It was just utter, utter disappointment because physically I was in incredible shape, and I was so ready for that World Cup." Van Vuuren sat out three heavy defeats, with the Welwitschias beaten 67-14 by Argentina and 64-7 by Ireland before hosts Australia inflicted a 142-0 hammering.
"The pain was there but the levels were such I could actually make it onto the pitch. I said to the staff: 'I don't care what you do, I have to get on to the field.'Van Vuuren - his body stuffed with painkillers - had just under 10 minutes to make an impact, and was determined not to waste a second. "I remember thinking, 'can we not play a little bit more?' It was disappointing, but I had to make peace with it.Renaissance man
He has become "good friends" with a man he respects a great deal, but his work as a doctor has significantly reduced in recent years after opening an animal sanctuary - N/a'an ku se - a 30-minute drive from Windhoek.
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