adminZimbabwe start their title defence with a date against Kenya at 4pm tomorrow but Chivandire believes that any of the teams in Pool A are capable of walking away victors and none should be under-estimated.
“There is no side that we should take lightly because all of the three teams we are going to play are capable of winning and they all have one thing in common and that is the desire to dethrone Zimbabwe from the top so it is us against the rest.”
The winner of Pool A — which includes Tunisia, Kenya, hosts Zimbabwe and former champions Namibia — will go on to represent the continent in the Junior World Rugby Trophy set for Chile next year.
However, Zimbabwe have a strong squad that includes several players that took part at the JWRT in the United States in June where they finished seventh out of eight teams.
In the side, captain Joshua Smallbones, loose forward Tapiwa Tsomondo, Tawanda Chowe, Mathew Lawson, Kudakwashe Makuvire, Thabani Ndaba and Robert Sargeant did battle for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe are also banking on former Under-18 and Prince Edward flyhalf Luke Masasire who is expected to join camp today on arrival from Australia where he was part of the Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket World Cup side. Having won the past three editions for the Junior Africa Cup with one of them at home last year, Chivandire feels there is a lot of pressure for Zimbabwe to maintain the momentum.
Fixtures
Saturday: Uganda v Zambia, Zimbabwe v Kenya, Madagascar v Morocco, Namibia v Tunisia.
Tuesday: Namibia v Kenya, Madagascar v Zambia, Zimbabwe v Tunisia, Uganda v Morocco.
Group A: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tunisia, Kenya.
Group B: Madagascar, Morocco, Zambia, Zimbabwe Select.
Final Zimbabwe Squad
Forwards: Alva Senderayi, Robin Bhebhe, Lazzie Chisaya, Tawanda Chowe, Matthew Lawson, Kudakwashe Makuvire, Tariro Mashongamhende, Clive Musasiwa, Thabani Ndaba, Daniel Rorke, Joshua Smallbones (captain), Rees Surtees, Tapiwa Tsomondo Backs: Richard Chigumba, Lance Chikodzi, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Kudzai Mashawi, Luke Masasire, Tarisai Musakanda, Robert Sargeant, Michael Steel, Ian Surtees, Tinashe Toriro, Morgan Vangue.
Online Reporter