Marco Mama speaks out

Canada in the final Pool B game of the Junior World Rugby Trophy here at the Shevardeni Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The defeat means that Zimbabwe – who finished bottom of Pool B – will take on the United States who also finished bottom of Pool A in a seventh place play-off at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.
Zimbabwe were the better side in the first half where they spent almost 30 minutes camped in the Canada half but they could not turn the pressure into points.
It was only in the last 10 minutes of the first period that the Young Sables were given a wake-up call by Canada who got a chance into the Zimbabwe half and used it effectively with a 31st minute converted try by winger Jeff Hassler to lead 7-0.
However, the Young Sables went into the break with an 8-7 lead following a Justice Coles try and Sean Linfield penalty but the Zimbabweans could not hold on to their advantage for long. Canada came back strongly and scored another converted try and regain the lead but Jiji added another try for Zimbabwe to lead 16-14 in the 15th minute of the second half.
This means that with 25 minutes before the end of the game Zimbabwe had the upper hand but another converted try by the Canadians saw them take the lead and they never let go of the advantage.
The case was pretty much the same against Georgia where Zimbabwe, towards the end of the first half were holding the hosts to a 14-14 draw and the script completely changed in the second half where they emerged 50-19 winners. “We are very disappointed with this result but during the game it was clear that we were neither physically nor mentally prepared to take on Canada and playing for seventh place is not a good result for us because I believe we can play better,” said Mama.
Weather conditions actually favoured Zimbabwe as it was hot.
Canada will play for fifth place against Russia, who also finished third on Pool A, and coach Michael Shelley was relieved with their win over Zimbabwe was their first in the tournament as well.