Andrew
Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe rugby technical team refuses to merely make up the numbers, and have vowed to get a few wins under their belts when the team travels to South Africa for the Currie Cup Division One tournament next month.
The technical team comprising of coach Brendan Dawson, manager Jason Maritz and interim marketing, events and sponsorship manager Robbie Du Rand were guests on the Supersport rugby program Phaka, during which they talked up Zimbabwe’s chances at next month’s Currie Cup tournament.
Going under the Goshawks banner, Zimbabwe will be using this tournament as preparation for the Africa Cup Knock-out competition which doubles as the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Dawson expects a very tough and competitive tournament.
‘It’s obviously going to be tough competition as we have only just begun playing rugby again in Zimbabwe after that Covid-19 induced two-year lay-off,” said the gaffer.
“We also have so many of players that are foreign-based in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, and it’s been very difficult to get everybody in to put a squad together.
“We are going to get a two-week camp before we play our first Currie Cup game on April 2, and the hope is that our preparations will start properly within those two weeks,” he said.
Dawson’s sentiments were echoed by his manager Maritz, who went on to open up about the logistical nightmare that comes with having such a diverse group.
“Logistically, it’s quite challenging,” said Maritz.
“We have a wider squad of about 55 players that we have been talking to and monitoring throughout the pre-season.
“The logistics of getting everyone in and sorting out accommodation is quite an ask.
“We will be based in Cape Town for the duration of the tournament, a home away from home so to speak.
“We did do it during the Supersport Rugby Challenge, and this is not new to us.
“However, it will be a bit more challenging given the diverse group we have this time around,” he said.
Maritz was a bit more candid than his gaffer when quizzed about the team’s prospects at the Currie Cup.
“Not to give too much away, but the reality is that we want to get a few wins under our belts this time around,” said the manager.
“We had a very inexperienced team for the Supersport Rugby Challenge, a few years back, with our average age of 21-years-old.
“A lot of those guys have come through, stayed with us for the last three-four years, and have really established themselves in the team.
‘We will definitely target a few teams, and, of course, Kenya and Zimbabwe have always had a great rivalry and we would love to get one more over them heading into the qualifiers.
“We have never played Georgia, and it will be an awesome opportunity to play them and win,” he said.
Zimbabwe, Kenya and Georgia are the three international teams expected to grace the 2022 Currie Cup First Division tournament, and they will be joined by defending champions, the Leopards, Griffons, South Western Districts, Boland, Eastern Province, Border and the Valke.
The tournament, which is the second-tier division of the Currie Cup, will be held from April 2 to June 25, in South Africa.
Online Reporter