Murambiwa’s Craven Week Spirits High
ZIMBABWE Under-18 rugby coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa believes the school side that was selected at the weekend has the potential to match the Class of 2007, which went undefeated at the annual festival.
In 2007, Murambiwa guided Zimbabwe to finish as the third-best side at the week-long festival having beaten Border CD (11-6) in the opening game before overpowering Border (27-5) and rounding up their games with a 22-18 win against bitter rivals Namibia. This was the first time since 1980, that the schools side had managed such a feat and finishing among the top three teams behind Free State and Blue Bulls was the best result Zimbabwe had managed at the 18-team competition.
Given there are seven players from last year’s side that took part in the 2012 Port Elizabeth edition of the festival, the former Sables coach is confident his boys will do enough to produce the best results. Zimbabwe have been drawn in the same pool with Griquas, Border, Western Province, Blue Bulls, Limpopo Bulls, Namibia, Pumas, KwaZulu Natal and Boland and will face Griquas in their opening game on July 8, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
From last year’s side, Thabani Mujeni, Rukudzo Gona, Nicholas Burnett, Brendon Mandivenga, Tapiwa Murangani, Barend Moolman and Alexander Zwart have retained their places in the side while Sebastian Roche and Brandon Scheepers have been left out of the team. Scheepers was ruled out following knee injuries that he sustained two weeks ago that are likely to carry over the duration of the festival while Roche was technically incompetent.
The side also includes the likes of St George’s College winger Jabulani Mutukwa, who had a stint in England last year, and Mashaya, who was part of the Zimbabwe Under-19 side that took part in the Junior Africa Cup at Prince Edward School last year. “We also have the likes of Brandon Boshi, another winger from St George’s College, who is very strong, Tawanda Ngosi, and in general this is the quickest back line I have had since I started coaching the Craven Week side.
All the backliners can run below 11 seconds (per 100 meters), they are so skilled and very quick and I believe we have what it takes to match the Class of 2007.
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