THE Sables will open their campaign for the Emirates Airline Cup of Nations XV’s Rugby tournament against defending champions Hong Kong today with a new front row pairing after five new caps were named in their starting XV yesterday.
FROM DANIEL NHAKANISO IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Kickoff of the match between Zimbabwe and Hong Kong is 1600 hours (Zimbabwean time).
United States-based Simba Musarurwa will earn his first Sables cap at loose-head prop alongside South Africa-based hooker Keith Murray and UK-based tight head Nic Winwood.
While the front row combination may lack experience at international level, they make up for that with the exposure they have gained at club level.
Musarurwa, a former Young Sables player, has been playing professional rugby in the US, while Murray is set to play for the Lions in the Vodacom Cup and Winwood plies his trade for Blackheath RFC in London.
The rest of the pack is made up of tried and tested players.
Skipper Costa Dinha partners Jan Ferreira in the second row, while Scotland-based flank Shingi Mpofu, Biselele Tshamala and Takunda Chifokoyo make up the loose trio.
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Sables team manager Losson Mtongwiza said he was confident the blend of new blood and experience in the forwards would inspire the Sables to a positive result.
“I think this is the strongest pack of forwards we have assembled, certainly in the last three years. This will be a boost to our backline in our attacks as it will ensure they get clean balls, something that we struggled to do in Namibia. The backline is also very strong, particularly the centre pairing of Josh Rowe and Gavin Nyawata who I believe will be able to hold their own both in attack and defence,” said Mtongwiza.
Scotty Jones, who was also named the vice-captain of the side, starts at scrumhalf and will be expected to link up well with the exciting young flyhalf Lenience Tambwera.
Young speed merchant Kuda Chiwanza gets the nod at left wing, while Mbare-born fellow flier Steven Hunduza earns his first Sables cap at right wing.
Cape Town-based Josh Rowe and Gavin Nyawata make up the centre pairing, while Graham Kulback, who has regularly featured for the Zimbabwe Sevens, makes his Sables debut at fullback.
The Sables will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start against Hong Kong to set the tone for their last two matches against Belgium and hosts United Arab Emirates.
Hong Kong and Belgium, who are both ranked higher than the Sables on the IRB world rankings, will pose the biggest threat to coach Brendan Dawson’s man as they aim for a return to winning ways after two defeats to Spain and Namibia in their most recent matches.
Hong Kong captain Tom McColl told NewsDay Sport that his charges would be aiming to defend the title they won last year.
“Being the defending champions, we obviously want to win it, but we will also use this tournament as a platform to bring in some new players. We’re trying to blood in the young players ahead of our main tournament in April and May, the Asian five-nations series. We have brought a few experienced players as well as some new players who have recently qualified to play for Hong Kong.”
McColl, who plays for Kowloon RFC in Hong Kong, said although they didn’t know much about Zimbabwe rugby, they would not be underrating the reigning African champions.
“We have tried to do our homework on Zimbabwe, but it has been difficult as we have very little video footage on them. But obviously we know they will be a strong side. They have some big boys and are also quick.”
Sables’ staring XV: 1. Simba Musarurwa, 2. Keith Murray, 3. Nic Winwood, 4. Costa Dinha, 5. Jan Ferreira, 6. Shingi Mpofu, 7. Biselele Tshamala, 8. Takunda Chifokoyo, 9. Scotty Jones, 10. Lenience Tambwera, 11. Kuda Chiwanza, 12. Josh Rowe, 13. Gavin Nyawata, 14. Steven Hunduza, 15. Graham Kulback Replacements: 16. Brian Makamure, 17 Pieter Joubert, 18. Sanele Sibanda, 19 Tonderai Chigumbura, 20. John McWade, 21. Tichafara Makwanya, 22. Tommy Nelson
