Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub
PIET BENADE and his lieutenants have announced their Zimbabwe Sables’ starting 15 for the Nations Cup opener against Tonga at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado this weekend.
The Nations Cup is a second-tier tournament, a brainchild of World Rugby, that is designed to give participants at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia some competitive game time.
Zimbabwe open up their account with a crunch tie against Rugby World Cup opponents Tonga, Sunday morning.
For the match, Benade has four personnel and two tactical changes from the team that lost 40-0 to South Africa A last weekend.
The trio of Godfrey Muzanargwo, Ian Prior and Jason Fraser walked straight into the starting line up while Michael Kumbirai, who started the South Africa A match on the bench, has been slotted into the front row alongside Victor Mupunga and Matthew Mandioma.
Prior has come in for Bruce Houston at the flyhalf position while forwards Muzanargwo and Fraser will be operating at the lock and eighth-men positions.
Tino Blithe Mavesera has been moved from the eighth-men and reverts blindside flank position.
The changes are meant to strengthen the Sables forwards given the mass they will up against with the Tongans.
“We were deliberate in choosing the squad and we have faith in every single one of them, especially those that we have chosen for the opener against Tonga,” said Sables assistant coach Ricky Chirengende.
“Like I said, we have faith in the squad, so you are probably going to see that everyone on this tour is going to have a huge part to play in the tournament.
“The guys that won’t play on Saturday (Sunday Zim time) might have a big chance to play in the next game against the United States of America and Canada there after.
“So we have been quite deliberate about that and without giving too much away, you are going to see how we are making use of everyone,” he said.
On the additions of Prior, Muzanargwo, Fraser, Cleopas Kundiona and Matthew McNab, Chirengende believes that their arrival is a big boost for the team as they had a lot of value in terms of experience and exposure.
The five missed the South Africa A game, and much of the Sables preparations, due to club commitments.
“Obviously, the additions of people like Prior, Fraser, Kundiona and McNab are a big boost for us,” said Chirengende.
“They had a lot of experience and quality to the team,” he said.
It has been quite the week for the Sables as they traveled roughly 30 hours to the United States and only arrived on Monday.
They were greeted by the Zimbabwe community in the United States and even hosted for a dinner by Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United States David Douglas Hamadziripi, soon after touching down.
They have since spent the last couple of days acclimatising and preparing for Tonga.
“It has been pretty hectic,” said the Sables’ assistant coach.
“Obviously, travelling for more than 30 hours and trying to adjust to the time zones is no joke.
“The week has had its moments though, you know, to come out of the airport and get greeted by cheers and Zimbabwe flags waving made the trip worth it.
“We had just travelled a long way and we were now in a foreign land, seeing familiar faces and hearing familiar voices was such a sight.
“The ambassador then hosted us for dinner, which was awesome.
“We have really felt welcomed here,” he said.
With the adjustment period done and dusted, the Zimbabwe camp is now looking forward to the match and task at hand.
Chirengende said there will be no excuses once the final whistle sounds on game day.
“There are no excuses,” he said.
“We are looking forward and have been focusing on the task and match at hand.
“The start was rough, in terms of just getting the sleep schedule sorted out and getting the energy levels up, but we are good now
“Spirits are high and raring to go.
“We know what is at stake and we have accepted the challenge to obviously fly the nations flag high.
“And, we will do our best.
For Chirengende, Tonga will be no walk in the park, but the Sables assistant coach is backing his charges to rise to the occasion.
“This is the first ever time that the current Sables squad to play Tonga and it will be tough,” he said.
“Tonga is a nation that has beaten tier-one teams in the past, so it’s not an easy task.
“However, it is a very exciting opportunity for us to see where we are.
“And we are quite excited for what’s to come.
