Nhau News Online News that is accurate, reliable, trustworthy!!
Zimbabwe Under-20 national rugby team are ready to fight hard despite the underdogs tag as they go into battle against Scotland this morning in the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy opener at Nyayo Stadium in Kenya
The match is at 11 am local time.
Coach Shaun De Souza yesterday said his will give it their all in this second tier competition, which falls below the main World Rugby Under-20 Championship that is currently underway in Cape Town, South Africa.
The winner of the tournament that begins today in Nairobi will be promoted to the Championship.
A total of eight teams thus hosts Kenya, African champions Zimbabwe, Scotland who were relegated from the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, Asian champions Hong Kong, Samoa, Spain, Uruguay from South America and North American champions USA will battle for the sole promotion to the elite league.
Zimbabwe meet a Scotland side that would be playing in the second-tier tournament for the first time in their history after finishing last in the World Rugby U20 Championship 2019 in Argentina and getting relegated.
Junior Sables coach said they were focused on the crucial encounter against Scotland. “The Scottish are a set-piece team. They play test match rugby. We watched them playing in the Six-Nations; we watched them play against Spain in a warm-up fixture for this event.
“The philosophy hasn’t changed, they do have some speed in their backline so yeah, I think they will try and utilise their speed when they get the opportunity.
“But we are working towards trying to contain them in the set piece, that’s why we have gone with a tactically set up pack for the line outs and for the set piece scrum including our kick starts so all that we have put some thoughts into it and we hope that we will get the upper hand.
“We know that they are a seasoned team and definitely a team that wants to go back to the championship side so they are the team to watch for in this tournament.
“We have nothing to lose, we are the underdogs so we have all to play for and we will just put our best foot forward,” said De Souza.
The Junior Sables technical team has made a few changes to the starting line-up and this has been inspired by how their opponents play.
“There are few changes, Leo Mutendi coming into the starting line-up and Muzuva Gutu going into the bomb squad. Front row, we are bringing in Gerry Zisengwe and Gillian Jarcich into the bomb squad. I think there is logic to that.
“We definitely try to wear them down into the first half and then let the bomb squad come and finish off the game. Obviously, we all know what Shadreck Mandaza can do. So having the mobile bomb squad will definitely make a difference.
“So, first half we are just going to contain and try to keep the scoreboard ticking or try and maintain within distance and then second half we can hopefully if the weather is warm and humid it could be advantageous to us so that we can run and play the style that we enjoy and hopefully run them off their feet,’ he said.
Zimbabwe have featured in the World Trophy four times. Their last appearance was in 2016. And their best finish was seventh at the 2010 and 2012 editions. In 2011 and 2016, they finished eight.
Probable team: Gerry Zisengwe, Bryan Chiang, Tadiwa Chinwada, Huntley Masterson, Tanaka GondoMukandapi, Leo Mutendi, Allan Mawunga, Shingi Manyarara, Panashe Zuze, Brendan Marume, Edward Sigauke, Alex Nyamunda, Dion Khumalo, Simbarashe Kanyangarara, Benoni Nhekairo. Zimpapers
