Zimbabwe: Young Sables Face Japan

Paul Munyuki

22 May 2011

Tbilisi, Georgia — THE Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby side are ready to make an early impression when they take on Japan in their opening game of the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament here tomorrow afternoon at the Shevardeni Stadium.

Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool B of the tournament where they are the only side whose senior national team has not qualified for the IRB World Cup set for New Zealand later in the year.

The Young Sables are also expected to take on Canada and hosts Georgia who complete Pool B while Pool A consists of last year’s hosts Russia, Samoa, the United States and Uruguay who also do not have representation at the senior World Cup.

But this will not be the first time that Zimbabwe and Japan will be meeting as they played out a 20-20 draw in last year’s edition of the tournament in Moscow, Russia.

Then, Zimbabwe were drawn in Pool B of the tournament that included hosts Russia, Canada and Japan but the Young Sables challenge this year changes with the exclusion of Russia who were replaced by Georgia.

Against Japan last year, with six minutes to go before full time, the Young Sables were leading 20-13 thanks to Charles Jiji, who was outstanding, but it took the heroics of the Japan’s Heiichiro Ito who scored a late try to salvage a draw and keep alive their hopes of finishing among the top teams.

And Japan went on to finish second

But Zimbabwe have with them five of their players who took part at the 2010 edition of the tournament and these include captain Marco Mama, Jiji, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Takudzwa Jaravaza and Tatenda Karuru.

However, Mama is cautious ahead of their clash against the Asians.

“No doubt Japan are a good side they finished second at last year’s tournament. Canada have always been good and Georgia will be home so they have a 16th man so we have a challenge to overcome,” said the England-based flanker.

But for coach Brighton Chivandaire, this is a new challenge and he believes the fact that they do not have their senior team at the World Cup shows the level of competition they will be facing.

“Such tournaments are really tough and the fact that all the teams in the tournament have their XVs sides taking part in the World Cup, except Zimbabwe, shows the challenge we have.

“From the way I see it, it’s going to be tougher than it was last year as we have been put in the same pool with the hosts and that makes it difficult for us as rugby is one of their biggest sports.

“Playing Japan in the opening game after we drew against them last year actually puts pressure on us in the sense that according to last year’s result little separates us.

“They believe that they would have won the game last year and they have their daggers drawn and I felt we had a chance and were good enough (to have won the game) but all of us being there means we are all good teams.”

But there are also some positives to the tournament that Chivandire can bank on as he believes they will work to his side’s advantage.

“To us the good thing about this draw is that we are not going to play the hosts in the opening game of the tournament and this gives us an opportunity to see how they play before we take them on.

“We get to know the environment and crowds they are capable of drawing when they are at home since rugby is one of their biggest sports.

“I am happy this will be the first time that we are going to play Canada in the second game of the tournament as well because in the past we have opened against them.

“Again we are also going to get a chance to study them before playing them because in the previous occasions we would get to play without knowing or seeing how they play,” said the former Sables coach.

Zimbabwe Under-20

Zeru Makomva, Tatenda Karuru, Murray Bryce-Rodgers, Takudzwa Jaravaza, Regis Mutangadura, Farai Jijita, Sean Joubert, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Charles Jiji, Thomas Nelson, Dylan Coetzee, Kuda Chiwanza, Justin Coles, Corey van Rensburg. Simba Gonese, Ian Muza, Delroy Sibanda, Kuda Mudariki, Sean Linfield, Takura Tela, Marco Mama, Graham Logan, Lungile Tshuma, Victor Mushoriwa, Marcus Nel.

Coach: Brighton Chivandire

Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa

Doctor: Austin Jeans

Physio: Margie Gibson.

AllAfrica – All the Time