Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Sables’ training squad was back at it again as preparations for the South Africa A match enter home stretch.
Zimbabwe and South A have a date on June 20 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium with the match acting as a curtain-raiser for the Springboks’ season-opener against the Barbarians.
The team will have a short turnover before they leave for the US for the World Rugby Nations Cup campaign.
The Sables open up their Nations Cup account on July 4 with a clash against 2027 Rugby World Cup group opponents, Tonga, at Dicks’ Sporting Goods Park Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
On July 11, the Sables play hosts US at the American Legion Memorial Stadium.
They will then move to Canada and play the hosts at the Princess Auto Stadium on July 18 to wrap up the July window Nations Cup fixtures.
The Zimbabwe Sables’ training camp was a hive of activity and excitement, especially as both the game against South Africa A and the Nations Cup draw closer.
“There is definitely excitement and anticipation within the group,” said skipper Hilton Mudariki.
“We have worked hard over the last few months, and now it’s about trusting the process and making sure we are ready for the opportunities that lie ahead.
“The mood has been very positive, with some of the younger and recent arrivals (foreign-based players) settling in rather well.
“They have brought in a lot of great energy and hunger to learn, which has lifted the group,” he said.
The team wrapped up the first of two crucial camps in South Africa over the weekend.
Zimbabwe were given the opportunity to train with the Blue Bulls in South Africa, a trip Mudariki believes was very fruitful and eye-opening.
“It was definitely a good trip,” he said.
“We have made good progress with our combinations, systems and overall understanding of how we want to play. “There is still work to do, but we are in a much stronger position now.
“The Blue Bulls camp was extremely valuable.
“It challenged us, exposed the players to a high-performance environment and gave us a clearer picture of where we are as a team and what we need to improve,” said the skipper.
Amongst the many positives to come out of the trip, according to the captain, was the general attitude of the players.
“We showed good physicality and work rate, while areas for improvement remain consistency, execution under pressure and maintaining accuracy for the full eighty minutes.
“The adaptation was solid, with the senior players and staff helping guys settle in.
“Everyone has embraced the challenge and integrated well into the team environment,” he said.
Another positive was that the team returned back home injury-free, aside from the few scraps and niggles.
“We have a few bumps and niggles, which is normal, but nothing major.
“The focus now is on making sure everyone is in the best possible condition for the upcoming fixtures,” he said.
