MIDDLEBURG - Zimbabwe Under-18 rugby coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa has made seven changes to his starting line-up to face Griquas Country District this morning in the Coca-Cola Craven Week.
The Young Sables will be looking for their first win of the tournament after opening with a 54-41 defeat to Eastern Province Country Districts on Monday.
In the front row, prop Justin Mendelsohn and hooker Lebogang Ngwenya have all been relegated to the wood, replaced Ackim Sibanda and Bradley Crause respectively.
Towering lock Eli Snyman will have a new partner in the second row in Muchineripi Mangenja, a change which will give the Young Sables extra advantage at line-out. Both are tall and strong jumpers.
The only change in the loose trio is that of Jeffery Makoni, who has been switched for utility forward Brian Mutanga.
In the midfield, Murambiwa has gone for a new centre paring of Shaun Synder and Tapiwa Mazorodze, hoping the two can mend their defence woes which leaked seven tries in the opener. The two are solid tacklers and also strong ball carriers, especially Synder, who weighs an imposing 102 kilograms. He is also a stronger runner.
Zimbabwe skipper Stephen Bhasera believes the Young Sables can beat Griquas.
“The morale is very high in the team despite losing our first game, we just need to play the way we did in the second half against Eastern Province. We got the ability to beat them,” the Falcon College student said.
Starting XV: 15. Tarisai Mapfumo, 14. Tawanda Ngosi, 13. Tapiwa Mazorodze, 12. Shaun Synder, 11. Brian Mhuriyengwa, 10. Angus Bruce, 9. Ngoni Zinyama, 8. Daniel Nyamugama, 7. Cole Brand, 6. Brian Mutanga, 5. Eli Syman, 4. Muchineripi Mangenja, 3. Stephen Bhasera (capt), 2. Bradley Crause, 1. Ackim Sibanda.