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Mehluli Sibanda in Stellenbosch, South Africa
AFTER losing their opening match of the Under-18 Craven Week schoolboy rugby competition to Griquas Country Districts on Tuesday, the Old Mutual Junior Sables will be out to make amends today.
They clash against Eastern Province Country Districts at the Paul Roos Gymnasium.
The encounter against Eastern Province Country Districts means the Zimbabwe schoolboys will face the same opponents they played in last year’s tournament as they will also take on Namibia in their last match on Saturday.
The Godwin Murambiwa-coached lads lost 41-54 to Eastern Province Country Districts in their opening match of the 2014 Craven Week in Middelburg, Mpumalanga province.
Tournament rules stipulate that all 22 squad members must play a full 70 minutes of rugby at the Craven Week, and Murambiwa has made six changes to the team that started on Tuesday.
Props Liam Kenny and Cleopas Kundiona, hooker Tinotenda Msasanure, lock Kevin Chisango, scrumhalf Ernest Mudzengerere, wing Russell Dinha and utility backline player Martin Mangongo have been drafted into the starting 15.
Skipper Brian Muntanga, Samuel Garnett, Ackim Sibanda, Levi Fargnoli, Campbell Nyakudya, Sam Phiri and Tarisai Mapfumo have been dropped to the bench.
With Muntanga on the bench, flank Cuan Zeederberg will skipper the Junior Sables.
The changes mean Kenny, Msasanure and Kundiona will form the front row, while the second row comprises Muchena and Kevin Chisango. The loose trio of Stuart Dodington, Zeederberg and Aiden Burnett remains unchanged.
Flyhalf Benjamin Meredith, who was outstanding for Zimbabwe in their 12-17 loss to Griquas Country Districts by contributing seven points, retains his place in the starting line-up with new halfback partner Mudzengerere.
The centre combination of Jordan Zietsman and Shingirai Katsvere is unchanged, with Tinotenda Vheriwa, Dinha and Mangongo as outside backs.
Zimbabwe held a training session yesterday afternoon after watching Namibia lose 19-43 to Free State.
Murambiwa expects his players to be up to the task to deliver against Eastern Province Country Districts who also started the tournament on a losing note, going down 27-43 to Valke on Tuesday.
“We’ll be competitive; I’m hoping that the players who come in won’t be nervous and step up to the plate,” said Murambiwa.
Zimbabwe lost all three matches they played at the 2014 Craven Week and would want to avoid a similar outcome this year.
Online Reporter