adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
IN a bid to try and register their first win in the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy, Young Sables coach Brandon Brider has made five changes to the unimpressive side that lost to Samoa in the opener on Tuesday. Today the Zimbabwe Under-20 side take on Uruguay at Harare Sports Club in a match the Young Sables need a win are they to realise their dream of a top five finish – a goal they set for themselves before the global showcase kicked-off.
The game scheduled to kick-off at 10 am and knowing that the locals have to impress in front of their home crowd, Brider and his technical team that includes assistant coach Bob Mahari and manager Shuan de Souza were forced to play around with the team.
With four games set for Sports Club today, the Group A Pacific Ocean derby between Samoa and Fiji gets the action underway at 10am before Zimbabwe clash against Uruguay at mid-day.
Group B action will see debutantes Spain face Namibia at 2pm while the 4pm kick-off game between the United States and Hong Kong rounds up competition for the day.
But it is in the Zimbabwe camp that two changes have been made in the forward pack, prop Roderick Mubiwa who rose from the bench against Samoa starts in ahead of Jeff Makoni with St George’s College headboy Tinashe Muchena coming in for Martin Shioma at lock.
Zimbabwe also witnessed lack of fluidity in the three quarters and this has seen scummy Ernest Mudzengerere being relegated to the bench making way for the more-lively Takudzwa Gamanya.
Tadiwa Gochera has also been relegated to the bench while Tatenda Matoramusha has completely been dropped from the match day 22 and the duo is replaced by Mudiwa Manhombo and the dynamic Tarisai Mapfumo.
Flyhalf Gochera was out of sorts with his boot on Tuesday and The Young Sables were forced to change their kicker as fullback Shingi Katsvere took over and captivated with accurate kicks and for today’s game, he has been moved to number 10.
Kudzai Munangi has also been moved from winger to second centre as Brider looks for fluidity and a more mobile ball in the backline.
Uruguay are also coming from a defeat having painfully lost to Fiji on match day one and would like to avoid a defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe.
But it is the Pool A Pacific Ocean derby between bitter rivals Samoa and Fiji that is expected to produce a lot of fireworks given the rivalry between the two sides.
Samoa are part of the tournament having been relegated from the top tier World Rugby Under-20 Championship last year where they finished bottom while Fiji qualified after winning their regional competition.
Samoa coach Salimoni Ravouvou says his main aim is to win the Under-20 trophy and go back to the top tier and a win over Fiji would not only move them a level closer to promotion but would confirm their dominance in the Pacific Ocean region.
“That game is more than a Test match to us because there is also a lot of pride for us and a lot of expectation from back home. It was unfortunate we had a lapse of concentration against Uruguay and we came back late, but that is a situation we would lie to avoid again.
“Fiji are an equally good side, they are contenders for the title but back home Samoa is a rugby crazy nation and all they expect is a win . . . nothing less. We are making four change to the side that played against Zimbabwe and I believe that is good enough to get us the win we need,” said Ravouvou.
Zimbabwe1-15: Roderick Mubaiwa, Tinotenda Musasanura, Justin Mendelsohn, Tinashe Muchena, Kudakwashe Ndoro, Tapiwa Mangwana, Connor Pritchard (captain), Aiden Burnett, Takudzwa Gamanya, Shingi Katsvere, Kudzaishe Munangi, Angus Bruce, Mudiwa Manhombo, Sam Phiri, Tarisai Mapfumo.
Substitutes: Lebogang Ngwenya, Ernest Mudzengerere, Tatanda Zhoya, Danial Nyamugama. Tadiwa Gochera, Tanaka Chikwezvero, Tawanda Ngosi.
Match Day Two Fixtures: Samoa v Fiji (Group A 10am), Zimbabwe v Uruguay (Group A 12pm), Spain v Namibia (Group B 2pm), USA v Hong Kong (Group B 4pm)
Online Reporter