Sables off to Pretoria
ZIMBABWE’S preparations for the Africa Rugby Gold Cup campaign will take another giant leap forward when a President’s XV side feature in two international assignments against South African sides in Pretoria next week.
The Sables will kick start their Africa Gold Cup with a home test against Morocco at Harare Sports Club on June 16 and coach Peter De Villiers and his men are working to fine tune their act.
On Sunday they will leave for a week-long tour of South Arica during which they will play three games against Select sides from that country in Pretoria.
Sables team manager, Kisset Chirengende, in announcing the travelling party last night revealed that the national team, which play as the President’s XV on this tour, would get their tour underway with a clash against a Blue Bulls Select on May 22.
“The Presidents XV squad to is to play two games in Pretoria and they will start on the 22nd (May) against a Bulls Select and 25th of May at Loftus B against a Blue Bulls mix of Under-21 and Supersport Challenge Cup Squad. They leave Sunday 20th and return on the 27th May,’’ Chirengende said.
The Sables team manager, credited with arranging the annual Blue Bulls tour of Zimbabwe including this year’s visit by the South African rugby giants last month, said De Villiers and his technical crew would use the two games in Pretoria as part of a fine-tuning exercise.
With some of their shortcomings having been exposed last month when the Sables, featuring for a Select side – the Steelers - hosted the Blue Bulls at Harare Sports Club.
The bulk of the players who featured for Steelers have also been retained for this tour with big tighthead prop Denford Mutamangira the leader of the pack.
Although some of the country’s foreign-based players are missing on this tour, Chirengende said their trip to South Africa would help De Villiers and his assistant Brendon Dawson apply the game plans they have for the Africa Cup.
President XV Squad: Tapfuma Parirenyatwa David Makanda Connor Pritchard Fortunate Chipendu Brian Nyaude Farai Mudariki Denford Mtamangira Matthew Mandioma Gabriel Sipapate Kudakwashe Nyamufaringa Jannie Stander Johan Stander Biselele Tshamala Njabulo Ndlovu Kevin Nqindi Lawrence Cleminson Michael Botha Shingirai Katsvere Takudzwa Mandiwanza Kudzai Mashawi Brendon Mandivenga Mathew Macnab Linience Tambwera Hilton Mudariki Peter du Toit Ernest Mudzengerere Ngoni Chibuwe Dylan Baptista Ziyanda Edmond Khupe Riaan O’Neill Kuziva Kazembe Takudzwa Kumadiro Management: Peter De Villiers Brendon Dawson Kisset Chirengende Kwayedza Chiwara Taurayi Chipamaunga Abigail Mnikwa