adminZimbabwe Under-20 coach Brighton Chivandire and his charges are hopeful that they will win the opening game against the side they took on also in the opening game of the 2011 edition in Tblisi, Georgia last year.
Then, Zimbabwe did not have any meaningful preparation for the junior tournament having only played a hastily assembled Harare Under-23 Select side at the Cottco schools rugby festival at Prince Edward a week before their departure.
Most of the foreign-based players in that side did get a chance to be with the team for long and surely the results at the tournament proved just as much with the Young Sables finishing last in the eight-team tournament.
Japan — who went all the way but were unfortunate lose to Samoa in the final — were one of the best prepared teams having camped in Scotland and beating the Scotland A side.
The Japanese had been together for almost a year preparing for the grand stage and their result were not a fluke.
However, this year there are a number of differences to both sides which are believed to be working more in favour of Zimbabwe in this opening game and a win could be in sight for Chivandire and his boys.
The Young Sables were in France for a 10-day camp prior to the tournament, they have one of the best fitness and forwards coaches in South Africa in their technical team.
They also have played friendly games and won both in France and South Africa.
While the Young Sables preparations have been so successful, with largely positive results as they have won three of their four games all has reportedly not been well in the Japanese camp.
Japan have a new coach who has been struggling to bring results during their preparations.
The Asians toured the United Kingdom where they lost three of their four games including a 119-7 bashing at the hands of St Helens.
However, Chivandire is more concerned about what is going on in his camp adding that his side is under pressure to perform having received a lot of support this year.
Zimbabwe will be banking on the experience of wingers Justin Coles and Victor “Jackie” Mushoriwa, lock Graham Logan, prop Ian Muza, scrummy Dylan Coetzee and captain Sean Linfield who were part of last year’s squad.
Flanker Tonderai Chigumbura is highly likely not to make it for today’s game after he suffered a concussion against Castres Olympique with doctors recommending that he be rested today.
“The first game is always important and our aim is to win it because if we manage that then we will be on the right track for the top six finish we are aiming for. Confidence in camp will go up and the boys will be motivated,” said the former Sables coach.
A win here for the Young Sables would make it their second in nine games at this stage and this would also be Japan’s third defeat in the same number of games.
The two sides are the only teams to have drawn in the history of the tournament with a 20-20 draw in Russia 2010.
But Japan are obviously not going to be taking any of their games lightly having been pained by the fact that they have been falling at the final hurdle of the past two editions to finish second and miss on promotion.
Zimbabwe squad
Forwards: Tyran Fagan, Kudakwashe Makuvire, Ian Muza, Thabani Ndaba, Dalroy Sibanda, Andries Van Heerden, Simbarashe Chirara, Mathew Lawson, Graham Logan, Joshua Smallbones, Tonderai Chigumbura, Tawanda Chowe, Michael Sinclair, Tapiwa Tsomondo
Backs: Dylan Coetzee, Michael MacIntosh, Robert Sargeant, James Forrester, Sean Linfield, Takudzwa Chieza, Richard Morkel, Mclean Muhambi, Joshua Broomberg, Justin Coles, Tarisai Ndudzo, Victor Mushoriwa.
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa
Assistant: Garry Hewitt
Manager: Colleen de Jong
Fixtures: Zimbabwe v Japan (6pm), Chile v Russia (8pm), Georgia v Canada (10pm) United States v Tonga (12mid-night)
*All times GMT.
Online Reporter