Young Sables play for pride

take on the United States in a sixth place play-off at Shavardeni Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Following a largely unsuccessful campaign in which Zimbabwe lost all their Pool B games against Japan, Georgia and Canada, the Young Sables will aim to salvage a win.
In a bid to improve their scrummaging skills, the Young Sables yesterday engaged the Uruguay technical team and had a training session with the South Americans in the morning.
The session mostly focused on positioning and scrum balancing where Zimbabwe have been lacking in their games against Georgia and Canada especially.
However, the Young Sables hope that the techniques they learnt from Uruguay led by coach Fernando Silva and assistant Juan Baldomir will come in handy when they take on the United States, who they want to beat to avoid a last place finish in this competition.
Last year the Young Sables finished seventh in the competition after ending bottom of Pool B having lost twice and drawing against Japan.
They however, went on to win the positional play off against Papua New Guinea.
But this time the junior side fell in all their games including Japan while the United States also lost all their Pool A games.
That has left pride very much at stake in tomorrow’s game.
Scrumhalf Charles Jiji who was also part of the Class of 2010 wants his side to give it their all and show that they indeed learnt something from Uruguay in yesterday’s session.
“It really pains to note that we have lost all the games but I am of the belief that no matter what comes we have to fight until the end and that is the reason why we are here.
“We are very much prepared for the game.
“Since we have lost the other three games we have to make up with a win against America on Sunday (tomorrow). Like before we have been training hard and it is good that we got help from Uruguay.
“It was quite a physical session and surely by the end of it we could notice the difference in the way we go into the scrums so I guess that will come in handy against USA,” said the former Prince Edward student.
Zimbabwe have been struggling in forward play where the Young Sables have the smallest pack in the tournament but Jiji reckons that his side has the best backline which they have not been putting to good use.
“I believe we have the best backline here at this tournament but because we were disadvantaged in the forwards due to size we could not get the ball out wide where our strength is but with these skills I bet we are going to have a different game all together.
“Even our backline substitutes are equally strong compared to most of the teams here who have individual talent with maybe one or two good backline players but ours is a complete unit.
“If each of the players on the park for Zimbabwe is committed, and we give our all then I do not see any reason why we should not win. It is up to us to do well because we have the talent and we have the coaches.
“We should not play in halves like we did against Japan where we performed in the second half and against Georgia and Canada we only played in the first half but we should try to go all the way to the 80th minute,” said Jiji.
Centre Takura Tela is likely to make a return to the side after missing out on the past two games against Canada and Georgia due to an ankle injury.
Tela will have to pass a late fitness test this afternoon while captain Marco Mama has been ruled out following a rib injury.
Prop Ian Muza is also still recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered against Georgia and might not make it when the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game is named this afternoon.
Zimbabwe Under-20
Zeru Makomva, Tatenda Karuru, Murray Bryce-Rodgers, Takudzwa Jaravaza, Regis Mutangadura, Farai Jijita, Sean Joubert, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Charles Jiji, Thomas Nelson, Dylan Coetzee, Kuda Chiwanza, Justin Coles, Corey van Rensburg. Simba Gonese, Ian Muza, Delroy Sibanda, Kuda Mudariki, Sean Linfield, Takura Tela, Marco Mama, Graham Logan, Lungile Tshuma, Victor Mushoriwa, Marcus Nel.
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa
Manager: Tunga Mashungu