ZIMBABWE Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire has predicted a bright future for some of the players who were part of the Young Sables squad which narrowly missed out on qualification to next year’s Junior World Rugby Trophy to rivals Namibia on Saturday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Most of the players, who were in the Zimbabwe Under-19 squad are expected to be part of the senior national rugby side, which will attempt to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The Young Sables, who were missing the services of several South Africa-based stars suffered a heartbreaking 32-34 extra time loss to the Namibians in the final of the Under-19 African Rugby Group 1A Tournament at St Georges College.
Brendon Brider’s charges had qualified for the final courtesy of a 25-17 win over Kenya in the semifinals.
While the result ultimately cost the team a place at next year’s second tier global tournament, there were some eye catching individual performances from some of the players, which Chivandire believes is good for the future of the game.
“It’s sad we continue to suffer these near misses but I think the boys gave a very good account of themselves,” said Chivandire in reference to the Sables’ near miss for this year’s Rugby World Cup and the Cheetahs, who also came very close to attaining core status on the HSBC World Sevens Series.
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“We needed to close out the match because after leading for most of the second half playing with 14 men, we were not supposed to lose that match. However, I think we have a very good group of young players who have the potential to do very well for us in the future.
“The good thing about this squad is that unlike in the past where we have struggled fitness wise, these guys are well conditioned and can only get better,” said Chivandire. “In fact I won’t be surprised if most of them are part of the Sables for the next qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup.”
Chivandire, who led the Young Sables to three consecutive continental titles from 2009 to 2011, singled out South Africa-based tight head prop Justin Mendlehson, winger Brian Matoramusha and fullback Shingi Katsvere for special mention.
Mendlehson was tremendous with ball in hand during both matches, while also putting in a solid shift at scrum time to keep the opponents on the back foot.
The star of the show through the tournament was Prince Edward backliner, Katsvere, who finished as the tournament’s leading try scorer with five tries.
The 18-year-old schoolboy was brilliant on the front foot, as he attacked the advantage line and carried the ball superbly.
There were also solid performances from winger Matoramusha, who finished with three tries, while other player such as skipper Connor Pritchard, centre Mudiwa Manhombo, flanks Martin Shioma and Aiden Burnett are also future prospects for the Sables.
