Size matters: Murambiwa

50-19 defeat at the hands of hosts Georgia in a Junior World Rugby Trophy Pool B match at Avchala Stadium on Saturday evening.
The defeat was the second in a row for the Under-20 side who are yet to register a win here while it served to give the huge Georgians an unbeaten run in the tournament and top Pool B ahead of an unbeaten Japan as well.
For Zimbabwe, the defeat moved them to the bottom of the group as they have not even collected a bonus point in their two games while Canada are in third place without a bonus point in their defeats to Japan and Georgia.
“Size was always going to be an issue but we could not make much changes to the game because we had already started with our strongest and biggest players, we could have brought in a fresh pair of legs but we could not see anything that could have changed the game.
“The Japanese were not as big and that is why our changes were effective especially with the moving of (Charles) Jiji to scrumhalf (from wing) but here we had already started with the strongest,” said Murambiwa.
The Young Sables turned on a spirited and improved game in their second encounter, taking up from their impressive second half performance against Japan and just before half time the two sides were level 14-14.
“We played well in the first half, we stuck to the game plan as we managed to get and run around the Georgians and kicked well and even the second half started well with us scoring that early try.
“I feel the game could have been much closer than it was because at half time it still was a fifty-fifty situation and we got an early try in the second half and this was followed by a penalty that I feel we must have kicked to settle the boys.
“(Flyhalf Tom) Nelson is a good kicker from that range and we could have added three points that could have changed the game but they decided to go for the corner and things did not work our way,” said the former Sables coach.
By half-time Zimbabwe were trailing 14-21, but they came back into the second half and scored an early try but that was not followed by another scoring half asBut Murambiwa reckons there will be pressure for the Young Sables in tomorrow’s game as they have failed in their mission for a top four place.
Zimbabwe Under-20 Starting XV
Backs
Lungile Tshuma, Justin Coles, Dylan Coetzee, Corey van Rensburg, Kuda Chiwanza, Sean Linfield, Charles Jiji
Forwards
Dalroy Sibanda, Tatenda Karuru, Murray Bryce-Rodgers, Takudzwa Jaravaza, Simba Gonese, Marco Mama.
Substitutes
Zeru Makomva, tatenda Chikaka, Farai Jijita, Regis Mutangadura, Hilton Mudariki, marcus Nel, Tom Nelson.
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa
Manager: Tunga Mashungu.