Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
CHEETAHS talisman Tafadzwa Chitokwindo has decided to swim against the tide by holding the view that Mexico and Ireland could be Zimbabwe’s biggest threat at next month’s World Rugby Sevens’ Repechage tournament, especially in a group that has other so-called heavyweights.
The Cheetahs have been placed in Pool A alongside Samoa, Ireland, Tonga and Mexico, while Pool B has Uganda, France, Chile, Hong Kong and Jamaica.
The competition — slated for June 19 to June 20 in Monaco, France — will be played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to two knockout stages.
The overall winner of the competition will qualify for the Olympics and join hosts Japan, New Zealand, Fiji, United States of America, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Canada, Argentina, South Korea and Great Britain.
In Pool A, Samoa and Ireland, by virtue of being core teams of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, have been touted as favourites to progress to the knockout phase of the competition.
However, the Cheetahs’ experienced winger, Chitokwindo, disagrees.
“We saw the draw and there were no surprises there,” said the Germany-based veteran.
“For us to go to the Olympics, we have to go through everyone.
“We have played Samoa and Tonga a couple of times over the years, hence it is not that big a task.
“We played Samoa in the last HSBC tournament in Dubai, and they had to kick for touch to beat us.
“I think it will come down to who plays better and who wants to win more on that day.
“Tonga, it’s also a 50/50 against us, as they play a similar game to Samoa and that will certainly be an interesting match-up,” he said.
Chitokwindo, who was part of the Cheetahs’ World Cup squad in the United States in 2018, believes the same cannot be said of Mexico and Ireland.
“We haven’t really played Ireland that much and unless I am mistaken, we have played them once.
“The same goes for Mexico, who we played a very long time ago.
“We don’t really know what they bring to the table and how we match up against them will determine how we fare.
“We just need to stick to our type of rugby against them and see how they react.”
With sport having been on hold for much of the last one-and-half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cheetahs only got together for the just-ended Rugby Africa Solidarity training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
And the rust in the team was quite evident as results did not go their way.
However, much like his teammates, Chitokwindo was just happy to be back on the field.
“It (the camp) couldn’t have come at a better time, as the boys have not played rugby in a while. “I wouldn’t say things didn’t go according to plan, as the main goal was to get some match fitness under our belt.
“We just had boxes we needed to tick, assess where we are and then find out what we need to do to get to where we want to be.
“We did not go into the camp expecting to win many games, as most of our opponents have been playing tournaments for some time now.
“I think for most of our opponents, this was their third or fourth tournament.
“We have a few things to work on in terms of chemistry and blooding in some of the new players, but we should be ready come June and the Olympic qualifiers.”
Germany, where the winger is based, is currently experiencing a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
“For me, there has been no rugby in Germany because of Covid-19.
“With the exception of the Germany Sevens’ team, which has been given permission to train, everything has been suspended until further notice,” he said.
Germany has reportedly been grappling with a third wave largely attributed to the spread of a more infectious strain that first emerged in the United Kingdom.
The European country recently issued tougher lockdown rules that are expected to last until June.
Online Reporter