Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Tichawangana
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SABLES captain Hilton Mudariki has been ruled out of Zimbabwe’s final World Rugby Nations Cup match against Canada in Winnipeg, Canada, due to a calf injury.
The match is scheduled to start early tomorrow morning at 2am (Zimbabwean time).
A veteran of many battles, Mudariki sustained the injury after coming on as a second-half substitute in the Sables’ 31-15 defeat to the United States last weekend.
“Unfortunately, I have been ruled out for the rest of the tour. I have torn my calf, and we are not sure exactly how long I will be out,” Mudariki said.
“I am now just looking forward to seeing the boys in action this weekend. They are working hard, and I will contribute in whatever way I can to ensure the team is successful.”
In his absence, Tinotenda Mavesere retains the armband.
Having made his captaincy debut against the USA, Mavesere gets the nod ahead of regular vice captain Kudzai Mashawi, signaling that the coaching staff may be grooming him for long-term leadership.
Zimbabwe coach Pieter Benade has overhauled his front row, with Tjide Visser, Brian Chiang, and Farai Mudariki all earning their first starts of the tournament.
In other pack changes, Tadiwanashe Gwashu replaces Jason Fraser at flank, while Tyrone Gombe comes in for Keegan Joubert at scrumhalf.
Mashawi returns to the starting lineup, replacing Dion Khumalo.
Additionally, Ian Prior, who was a late injury withdrawal from the USA match, is included among the impact players.
The Sables face Canada in Winnipeg tomorrow morning at 2am.
It is the third and final match of their North American tour.
After narrow losses to Tonga and the USA, the Sables will be looking to close out the campaign with a victory over Canada.
This will be the first meeting between these two sides, who are both looking to end this leg of the Nations Cup with their first win.
Both were defeated by clinical second-half displays from Portugal and USA respectively, in which only one converted try was scored between Canada and Zimbabwe, so both will be eager to display a more complete performance.
For Canada, despite taking the lead, the 30-minute period where they had no response to Portugal’s attack put the match far beyond their reach by the time they got their next score.
They need to channel the resilience they showcased in their first match against Spain, in which they found a way to avoid defeat by scoring in the final minute to end the match in a 42-42 draw.
The Sables played extremely well in the first half against the USA and were on level pegging in terms of overall performance, but Benade’s men had no answer to the Eagles in the second half.
It was the opposite of their opening loss to Tonga.
Zimbabwe have made eight changes to the starting team from that defeat. Tijde Visser, Bryan Chiang, Farai Mudariki, Tadiwanashe Gwashu, Tyrone Gombe, Kudzai Mashawi, Tapiwa Mafura and Brandon Mudzekenyedzi come into the side
Canada have only made three changes: Evan Olmstead, Lucas Rumball and Cooper Coats are selected. Coats comes in at fly-half, meaning a switch to full-back for Peter Nelson.
Sables Team:
1.Tijde Visser 2.Bryan Chiang 3. Farai Mudariki 4. Gary Porter 5. Godfrey Muzanargwo 6.Tinotenda Mavesere (C) 7. Tadiwanashe Gwashu 8. Aiden Burnett 9.Tyrone Gombe 10. Bruce Houston11. Edward Sigauke 12.Kudzai Mashawi 13. Brandon Mudzekenyedzi 14 .Matthew McNab 15.Tapiwa Mafura
IMPACT PLAYERS
16. Liam Larkan 17. Victor Mapunga 18. Cleopas Kundiona 19. Jason Fraser 20. Simbarashe Siraha 21. Dion Khumalo 22. Keegan Joubert 23. Ian Prior.
