Mbanje, Nechironga to lead Cheetahs

the Zimbabwe Cheetahs into battle at the Hong Kong leg of the IRB Sevens Series this afternoon.
The Cheetahs have a mountain to climb this afternoon when they take on giants Australia in the tournament opener where each team will play only one game today.
England-based coach Liam Middleton was not able to travel with the side as he has club commitments following his recent appointment at Bristol Rugby Club where he was elevated to head coach.
But the Cheetahs will not be short of experienced guidance from the touchline with assistant coach and former Sables winger Gilbert Nyamutsamba having made the trip to Hong Kong.
Going into this tournament Nechironga is the Cheetahs’ top try-scorer this season having managed a total of seven tries in both Dubai and George while Mbanje is the Cheetahs’ all time top try scorer with a total of 35 tries.
Last season at this tournament the Cheetahs reached the Shield semi-finals but their best result this season came in Dubai where they reached the Bowl finals.
It was in George that skipper Jacques Leitao and his troops won the Shield after bashing core Sevens World Series side Kenya in the final.
Over the last 30 World Series matches the Cheetahs have been involved in, they have managed 11 wins and suffered 18 defeats compared to Australia’s record of 19 wins and 10 defeats.
The current sixth seeds won last year’s Hong Kong plate and their best result in this year’s series came when they reached the Cup’s semi-final in New Zealand.
The Cheetahs are basing on the experience of stubborn Leitao who is no easy player to go past, Fortune Chipendo who has proven to be a vital cog in the team while German-based Manasa Sita’s experience cannot be ignored.
Upcoming winger Tafadzwa Chitokwindo who proved his worth for the side upon his debut in Dubai and Shingai Chiwanga who last played for the Cheetahs a year ago are expected to add weight to the side.
Despite the huge challenge the Cheetahs have in their opening game, it is this encounter they are looking forward to with manager Bruce Hobson saying it could be an advantage to his side.
“It seems that the big teams struggle a lot in the opening games and they tend to improve or pick as the tournament progresses so we are hoping to take that advantage when we face them.
“Life is tough and there really isn’t any easy game but we might be able to do much better and end in the Cup quarter-final which is our main target going into the competition.
“Australia are a tough side but we will see how they fare because they have a couple of youngsters in their side.”
“But for us to be in the Cup quarters we need to win at least two of our games in the pool stages and we have a chance against Canada and Argentina.”
However, the Cheetahs’ main aim is reaching the Cup quarter-finals.
This means they would have to win at least two of their games in the group stages and this could be a tricky affair for Nyamutsamba’s men.
“Beating some of the core teams in Dubai and George is a big thing and shows the potential and talent that we have in Zimbabwe and we hope to do equally well,” said Hobson.
Australia are the biggest team the Cheetahs are going to face in the group stages but their team manager Hobson has faith that they could spring a surprise and pull through.
Coach Michael O’Connor who last year led Australia to their first Cup title in eight years has seen his side impress in the current season with almost a new squad.
Captain Bernard Foley leads by example on the pitch and new players like John Grant have helped them to all four, Cup quarter-finals so far this year.
Only once have they converted that into a semi-final berth in Wellington, but they will be gunning for a good performance as they are yet to reach a cup final as well.
Cheetahs Squad
Fortune Chipendo, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Manasah Sita, Justine Coles, Graham Kaulback, Tangai Nemadire, Shingi Chiwanga, Gerald Sibanda, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitok-windo, Gardner Nechironga.
Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Portugal, Korea.
Pool B: England, United States, Japan, China.
Pool C: Samoa, Scotland, Tonga, Mexico.
Pool D: Fiji, Kenya, Russia, Malaysia.
Pool E: South Africa, Wales, Hong Kong, Spain.
Pool F: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Zimbabwe.