adminSpeaking after his team’s participation at the annual Middelburg Sevens Rugby Festival at Middelburg High School in South Africa on Saturday, Nyamutsamba said the two-day tournament gave him an opportunity to try out new combinations before the qualifiers.
The Cheetahs had an impressive run in Middelburg where they won four out of five matches with the only defeat they endured being inflicted upon them by world Sevens rugby champions Wales in the semi-finals.
“I am happy with our preparations, we got an opportunity to try combinations and got much needed game time. What is also important is that we didn’t get any serious injuries so we are keeping the same team for Morocco where we are aiming to win the tournament,” said Nyamutsamba.
Matabeleland Warriors flank Lucky Sithole made his Cheetahs debut in Middelburg and impressed Nyamutsamba and as a result the Bulawayo-born player is in the final squad of 12 players who leave the country this afternoon for Morocco. Sithole is the only new player in the set-up.
The Cheetahs have vast experience in veterans Fortune Chipendu, Gardner Nechironga, skipper Jacques Leitao, Tangai Nemadire, Njabulo Ndlovu and Daniel Hondo.
Fast improving Kilvan Magunje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and youngsters Justin Coles and Jonathan McWade put up a brilliant show in Middelburg and they are also expected to play a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s quest to book a place at next year’s World Cup finals set for Russia.
With South Africa and Kenya having already qualified, Zimbabwe are now favourites to take one of the two African slots up for grabs in Morocco.
In Middelburg, the Cheetahs started off the tournament with a 61-0 triumph over Bulls Barbarians which then followed up with a 38-0 drubbing of Botswana. They rounded off their pool matches with a 21-12 win over Pumas.
In the quarter-finals, Zimbabwe took on Ilifa Buffaloes and the Cheetahs won 35-12 to progress to the semis where they squared off against Wales. Against the world’s best Sevens team, the Cheetahs managed to contain the Welsh for four minutes. Wales scored two tries in the first half to lead 14-0 and crossed the line three times in the second half with Zimbabwe’s only try coming from Leitao. Wales won 33-7.
Springboks Sevens defended their title with a hard fought 21-14 victory over Wales in the final.
Also leaving today for Morocco is the national women’s team who were in Middelburg as well where they lost 14-7 in the women’s final to Freestate.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs squad for Morocco: Fortune Chipendu, Daniel Hondo, Jonathan MacWade, Kilvan Magunje, Lucky Sithole, Jacques Leitao (captain), Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Gardner Nechironga, Justin Coles, Tangai Nemadire, Wesley Mbanje.
Online Reporter