Lions vs Barbarians

junior rugby players engage the British Barbarians Under-18 over the next week.
Harare Lions Schools side captain Preston Bryant is confident that his side will give the British Barbarians Under-18 a tough time this afternoon in the tour opener at Prince Edward.
The Harare Lions has been training at Prince Edward School for the past week and went into camp at the same school on Monday but the St Johns’ College centre says they have to get the right results following a tough week.
Under the watchful eyes of coach Brighton Chivandire and assistant Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa, the Harare Lions – a provincial side from Harare – were hitting the tyres all week long.
And Bryant, who sat out of training on Monday due to a hand injury, says he is fit to take on the tourists and show them what Zimbabwe rugby is made of.
The game has been set as the tour opener for the British who will also take on a districts side in Chinhoyi, a schools goshawks and the Zimbabwe under-19 next week.
But The Lions are not taking it just as an opener as they would like to prove that they have what it takes to make it for both the Craven Week and the Under-20 teams as selectors will be watching.
“Definitely we will play with all our hearts and we are not looking for anything less than a win. Losing happens but I would not mind if the boys lose after giving their all but a defeat is not an option for us.
“We have all been waiting for this since last year when it was announced that the side is coming here and I do not think anyone will give up now.
“It is a huge privilege to play such a side and for me this is going to be my first international game and it means a lot to me.
“We have a well balanced side with a number of players from St George’s College, St Johns College, Eaglesvale and Peterhouse among others so there is some good talent in the side.”
He said they were ready for the battle.
“We are going to give our all come tomorrow (today), our back line is skilled there is a lot of talent there and to me that means we have a strong side.
“As a team we are going to put in a 100 percent effort in the game but with the home crowd this will come to 110 percent though we do not know what to expect from them.
“I believe I am fit enough to play now as I have recovered from the injury on my hand.
“But we are going to play our usual style of rugby which is fast, physical and flowing,” said Bryant.
However, Harare Lions forward Tapiwa Tsomondo, from Prince Edward, believes they will have to employ other tactics in the game – especially in the forwards.
“I managed to get a view of the Barbarians’ training and I have noted that we will have to be dynamic especially in the forwards if we are to win the game.
“Our backline seems very okay and I think we will dominate them and we will have to use pace. As a side we have met for about six or seven times and the preparations went well,” said the Tigers loose forward.
Murambiwa, however, believes they have to take advantage as the tourists will still be acclimatising to the Zimbabwe conditions having arrived yesterday.
“Obviously there will be a lot of pressure in this game as players would want to prove themselves good enough for the Craven Week and the JWRT sides.
“The selectors will be watching and with some of the players, who are based outside Zimbabwe, not yet in, the boys want to show that they can make it.
“Traditionally as Zimbabwe (junior side) we have won most of our opening games against the touring sides because they will still be getting used to the conditions here and we would like to see that go on as well.
“We are also expecting (Dylan) Coetzee to chip in with his experience as he was part of the Zimbabwe Under-18 side that played in the qualifiers (Junior Africa Cup winners) for the JWRT last year.
“He is the only one in this Harare Lions side who was part of the Zimbabwe Under-19 and his experience is of huge value to the team,” said Murambiwa.
The former Sables coach is praying that it will not rain today as this will give advantage to the British who are used to the wet game and play better in such conditions.
“Our official (schools) rugby season has not started and usually starts at the Cottco Festival but theirs is underway and it is an advantage to them.
“So we are hoping that it does not rain before or during these games and as it looks now, it’s getting cold and might not rain. We want a dry game to our advantage.”
Murambiwa believes the British visit could be more useful in transforming the fortunes of Zimbabwe rugby as more teams, not only from Britain, will visit the country.
“Some countries not really interested in seeing our game develop as they are only there when it comes to the poaching of players.
“But we are hoping that this tour will be the beginning of another healthy two way relationship where we also go on reciprocating tours with sides like these, not only in Britain but the world over,” said the former Sables coach.
Harare Lions Squad
M. Kadirire, R. Surtees, J. Smallbones, M. Lawson, D. Rorke, T. Kanyemba, T. Tsomondo, D. Coetzee, T. Musakanda, L. Masasire, W. Seremani, P. Bryant (captain), K. Zhou, T. Simpson, T. Ndaba, J. Butchart, M. Law, T. Musakanda. T. Ndaba
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa