Young Sables confident

focused on their mission and are confident they will get the better of Georgia this afternoon.
Having lost against Japan in their opening game of the Junior World Rugby Trophy on Tuesday, third-placed Zimbabwe take on hosts and Pool B leaders Georgia at Avchala Stadium tonight.
They believe that their second half performance in the 24-37 loss to the Asians will boost them to a win as they managed to score three converted tries in the second half comeback that, however, was not good enough to give them a win.
There has been anti-government demonstrations in the centre of Tbilisi with some isolated incidences of violence that, however, are under control and this has not moved the Zimbabwe junior rugby side off their focus.
Hoping to register their first win in this tournament, four changes have been made to the staring XV that faced Japan and this has seen loose head prop Zeru Makomva, lock Farai Jijita, scrum Hilton Mudariki and centre Takura Tela relegated to the bench. Manager Tunga Mashungu said all the changes were tactical as they have been made in line with the opposition they will be taking on. Murray Bryce-Rodgers will take on the front row start with Tatenda Chikaka taking over from Jijita while Dylan Coetzee comes in to number 13 in place of Tela.
Kuda Chiwanza will start on the wide side.
There are also some positional changes that have been made to the side as Charles Jiji, who started as a winger on Tuesday, has been moved to his established scrumhalf position and Justin Coles has been shifted from number 11 to 14 to accommodate Chiwanza.
With these changes, fullback Lungile Tshuma and flanker Takudzwa Mandiwanza believe they have enough ammunition to do duty in a must-win encounter against the hosts tonight.
Zimbabwe are hoping for a top four finish at the annual tournament and a win today will see them keeping alive their hopes of an automatic qualification into next year’s edition of the tournament.
A defeat would dash their hopes of finishing at least second in Pool B as they will have to wait and depend on how the other group matches would have gone, a situation they would rather avoid.
Zimbabwe have the smallest pack at this tournament with today’s starting forwards weighing at a total of 777kg against the Georgians who weighed a total of 902kg in the forwards but this – according to Mandiwanza – does not matter.
“Surely, the Georgians are very big and very physical and we saw how they play when they took on Canada on Tuesday so I think the best way would be to keep the ball away from them as much as possible.
“We just have to play a running game which is not favourable to them and make sure they are always chasing us and I am sure we will be able to take up from our second half performance against Japan.
“We have to carry on with the momentum and we cannot afford to let size offend us because it that is all part of the game but if we all stand as one, I am sure we will win the game.
“We need a win at all costs and that is the only thing I can ask from the team. We are looking forward to the game and everyone is ready,” said Mandiwanza.
Mandiwanza and Tshuma were in good form on Tuesday and the Old Hararians fullback says they lost the first game in the first half as they failed to play according to the game plan.
“That is one area we managed to work on because in the second half we managed to get three tries and we seemed to be working well as a unit.
“As a team, we absorbed too much pressure and we were reacting to their play, resulting in us not doing what we were supposed to be doing, meaning we did not play according to the game plan.
“But tomorrow (today) it is all going to be a different game, there is no other way to this because we have to win and if all the 15 players on the park give their all, then we will make it.
“Am relishing the fact that the Georgians are bigger and for me this would make it easier for us to work our way past them because they are generally slower than the Japanese and we just have to play the ball on the wide.
“Size will not be a factor and that is the reason why there are tactics in the game. If something does not work for you, then you have to change and look at something,” said the dreadlocked back-liner.
Head of delegation and chairman of the Under-20 team Aaron Jani said there are security measures that have been put in place in order for the team not to run into the demonstrations.
“The demonstrations are there but the good thing is that the Georgian Rugby Union has taken a good step as they have provided us with security who have the knowledge of the city 24 hours.
“There are security checks that are carried out prior to our departure for the gym or to the match venues and practice in any of the routes that we will be using so we are able to avoid the demonstrations.
“So we have managed to avoid such areas and we have not heard or seen them,” said the former Sables winger.
Zimbabwe Under-20 starting XV
Backs: Lungila Tshuma, Justin Coles, Dylan Coetzee, Corey van Rensburg, Kuda Chiwanza, Tom Nelson, Charles Jiji
Forwards: Murray Bryce-Rodgers, Tatenda Karuru, Ian Muza, Takudzwa Jaravaza, Graham Logan, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, tatenda Chikaka, Marco Mama,
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa
Manager: Tunga Mashungu
Georgia Under-20
Levan Chilichava, Zura Eristavi, Zaza Navrozashvili, Zura Zhvania, Irakli Cho-makhashvili, Merab Matkava,Beka Khipashvili, Kote Mikautadze, Giorgi Zhgenti, Beka Bitsadze, Nikoloz Chkhikvadze, Giorgi Tkesheliadze, Giga Tkhilaishvili, Levan Tkhelidze, Jimi Gamb-ashidze, Ramaz Jinashvili, Goderzi Chincharauli, Giga Gagoshvili, David Losaberidze, Giorgi Margiani, Giorgi Abramidze, Vano Gabroshvili, Levan Gogolashvili, Zura Dzneladze, Bakhva Kobakhidze, Ucha Mchedlishvili
Coach: Paata Narimanashvili
Assistant: Zura Amonashvili
Manager: Dima Oboladze