adminThe duo of Stephan Hunduza and Japhet Ndebele has been dropped and this has seen the inclusion of Garth Ziegler and Wensely Mbanje, who sat out of last week’s games due to a knock on the knee.
Despite indicating that Mbanje was not 100 percent fit, coach Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba expressed confidence in Mbanje, who missed the morning training session as he was undergoing physiotherapy sessions.
However, Nyamutsamba is happy with the side he will use for the World Series core membership pre-qualifier tournament in Hong Kong next week saying he had to take experience into consideration as well.
“We have made two changes in bringing in Ziegler and Mbanje and taken out Hunduza and Ndebele, who is making steady progress in his return to the national side.
“It’s mostly about experience because Hunduza is still new to the side and we are building him, last week was his first tournament and we have dropped him on the grounds of experience.
“The same thing goes for Ndebele, he has been out of the Cheetahs set-up for quite some time after he suffered a shoulder injury but he is making steady progress in returning to the side. This has nothing to do with the Spar tournament because they did well in that tournament but experience is counting now.
“The team I have selected for Hong Kong to me will be strong, especially because of the experience and control the players I have chosen have.
“Having played well in the Spar tournament we set a high standard of performance for ourselves and we have to continue from there.
“We got the momentum that we needed so we are going to Hong Kong in high spirits and with high expectations,” said the former Cheetahs’ gasman.
The Cheetahs have to, at least, make it to the semi-final of the tournament to entertain any hopes of making it to the second and final round of core membership qualifiers set for London in two months time.
“We are going into this tournament with two main aims; the first one being to qualify for core membership status in London and it has to start with the Hong Kong tournament by making it as one of the top four teams.
“The second goal is that we have to play the best rugby we can and winning the tournament will be a cherry on the cake for us.
“Going with the way the side has prepared, the time and effort they have put in during the build-up, we are in a strong position to say we can be part of the top four,” added Nyamutsamba.
Cheetahs Squad: Fortunate Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Lucky Sithole, Garth Ziegler, Kelvin Magunje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, , Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Njabulo Ndlovu Daniel Hondo.
Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Manager: Bruce Hobson
Hong Kong Draw
Pool A: South Africa, Wales, Argentina, Australia.
Pool B: New Zealand, United States, France, Kenya.
Pool C: Samoa, England, Scotland, Portugal.
Pool D: Canada, Fiji, Spain, Hong Kong.
Pool E: Tonga, Uruguay, Tunisia, Chinese Taipei.
Pool F: Japan, Georgia, Jamaica, Brazil.
Pool G: Russia, Zimbabwe, Cook Islands and Mexico.
Online Reporter