adminZimbabwe Under-18 ……………………………………. (7) 7
Namibia Under-18 …………………………………….. (7) 29
FOR the second year in a row, Zimbabwe Junior Sables return home without a win from the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week as they lost their last match to Namibia at the annual schools rugby tournament at Paul Roos Gymnasium here yesterday.
The defeat, the third for the Zimbabwean youngsters at the Craven Week, brought out a lot of questions on the team’s preparations for the annual event as in all the matches they lost they managed to contain their opponents in the first half before giving it all away in the second half.
Zimbabwe matched the highly rated Namibians going into the break but they went on to concede 22 points in the second half which proved to be their biggest undoing.
Zimbabwe only managed one converted try the whole match while Namibia scored four tries, three conversions and one penalty goal.
The contest on a wet field caused by rains which pounded the town on Friday was tightly fought in the first half with great defensive skills from both sides. It was Namibia who scored first with 20 minutes played, with hooker Stephan Hattingh barging his way through from a Zimbabwean scrum. And the conversion from flyhalf Cliven Loubser gave the Namibians a 7-0 lead.
Zimbabwe had their only try three minutes before the end of the first half when skipper Brian Muntanga powered his way over the line, and the kick by flyhalf Benjamin Meredith made it 7-7.
Just before the end of the first half, Zimbabwe nearly had the lead when Tinotenda Vheriwa set up his Peterhouse schoolmate Martin Mangongo only for the pass to be deemed to have been forward with the subsequent try being disallowed.
Namibia took a three-point lead three minutes into the second half with fullback Andre van der Berg booting in a penalty goal.
Eight minutes later, Van der Berg sliced through the Zimbabwean defence to score the second try for Namibia under the posts which he went on to convert.
Zimbabwe were left with 14 players on the field 23 minutes into the second half when forward Levi Fargnoli was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for a cynical offence.
The Namibians made their one man advantage count when lock Le Beau Du Preez drove over for a third try for his team but Van der Berg failed to convert.
Namibia had their fourth try five minutes before the end through Jay-C Olivier. Van der Berg weighed in with a successful conversion to hand Namibia the resounding victory.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire has defended the country’s participation in the annual Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week in South Africa despite the tournament being used by the neighbouring nation to poach players from the country.
For decades, Zimbabwe have sent schoolboys to the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks which are for Under-13, Under-16 and Under-18. The most popular of these tournaments is the Under-18 Craven Week which brings together mostly players in their last year in high school.
Zimbabwean players have over the years been taken up by South African academies, universities and rugby unions. While this is good for their parents because most of them are given bursaries to study at South African educational institutions, the bulk of these players are not keen to play for Zimbabwe at senior level as they have ambitions to play for the much more world renowned Springboks.
Zimbabwe have lost most of the talented players who represent the country at the Craven Week as they do not progress through to play for the national Under-19 and the Sables.
Props Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, Brian Mujati as well as wing Tonderai Chavhanga were spotted while playing for Zimbabwe at the Under-18 Craven Week and ended up playing for South Africa at senior level.
Junior Sables squad against Namibia
Starting line up: Samuel Garnett, Tinotenda Msasanure, Cleopas Kundiona, Levi Fargnoli, Tinashe Muchena, Brian Muntanga (captain,) Cuan Zeederberg, Aiden Burnett, Ernest Mudzengerere, Benjamin Meredith, Martin Mangongo, Tinotenda Vheriwa, Shingirai Katsvere, Sam Phiri, Tarisai Mapfumo (vice-captain).
Replacements: Ackim Sibanda, Liam Kenny, Kevin Chisango, Stuart Dodington, Campbell Nyakudya, Jordan Zietsman, Russell Dinha.
Coach: Godwin Murambiwa
Assistant coach: Graham Kaulback
Team manager: Tungamirai Mashungu
Director of rugby: Brighton Chivandire
Online Reporter