Young Sables Captain Pritchard Wants Improvement

JOHANNESBURG – Young Sables captain Connor Pritchard says his side will have to put up a better performance at the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy tournament compared to the display they put up at the Junior Africa Cup last year.

 

Zimbabwe suffered a defeat to Namibia in the final of the Junior Africa Cup last year and Pritchard believes the loss came with a number of  lesson that have  motivated them to work hard ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 tournament in a fortnight.

Zimbabwe qualified as hosts having lost to Namibia in the final minute of extra time as the teams had drawn after regulation time but Namibia held on to score a sucker-punch that saw them through as African champions.

But for the 20-year-old, that has taught them a number of lessons.

“From last year’s final defeat against Namibia we drew a number of lessons one of them being that it’s never over till it’s over losing in the last minute was very painful. If by any chance we play Namibia again at this tournament then we will show them who the big brother is.

“We have been training very hard for this world tournament because those games are a big step for us. We have been in good hands given the coaches we have the likes of Brandon Brider and assistant Bob (Mahari),” said Pritchard.

Zimbabwe were drawn in Group A of the tournament, a group that also includes the Pacific Ocean Islanders duo of Samoa and Fiji and South American champions Uruguay and according to the blind-side flanker  they are aiming to better previous performances.

“We are obviously not expecting to come out first but it would be good if we work our hearts out and try win as many games as we can. I think we are in the harder of the two groups but we will not let down our side. We need to play to the best of our abilities in every challenge we face.

“The good thing about our team is that the vibe is good, we all get along well because for us to achieve any goal the team has to be close and tight and that is exactly how we are and that makes us a good team,” he said.

Following their tour of South Africa in the pre-tournament games, the Young Sables squad is in camp at St George’s College and coach Brandon Brider is also expected to name his final 26 and six other non-travelling substitutes for the week-long tournament.

“We have a lot of players here but it is unfortunate not everyone is going to make it into the squad but we will have to pick the 26 who can play at a higher level and the other six who come in as the non-travelling subs,” said Brider.

However, Pritchard feels there is going to be a lot of pressure on his side and he feels he will have to take a leading role in helping his side.

“Of course there is going to be some amount of pressure on us especially that we will be at home, everyone watching us but we have try and deal with it as a leader and as a group as well.

“We are going to be in camp up until the tournament because we need to be in top form so basically that will be our final stepping stone . . . it is very important for us.

We can’t set goals too high for ourselves but we have to go out there and have fun as well because for most of us this is our first big exposure and we have to learn from it,” said Pritchard.

Draw

Group A: Fiji, Samoa, Uruguay, Zimbabwe (host)

Group B: Hong Kong, Namibia, Spain, United States

 

Zimbabwe Squad

Forwards: Connor Pritchard (Falcon College), Cole Bond (St John’s College), Aiden Burnett (St John’s College), Tanaka Chikwezvero (Maritzburg, SA), Tinashe Gonese (SA), Ronald Jiri (Dale College), Muchineripi Mangenje (Prince Edward), Justin Mendelsohn (Sharks), Rodrick Mubaiwa (UK), Tinotenda Musasanura (CBC), Kudakwashe Ndoro (Prince Edward),  Martin Shioma (Limpopo Blue Bulls), Panashe Sora (Prince Edward), B. Muntanga (Falcon), S. Bhasera (UJ), J. Makoni (PE), L. Kenny (SGC), S. Magwenzi (Churchill), Ndaba (PE), T. Bwerinofa (Kyle), T. Zhoya (UJ), C. Butler (Falcon), D.Nyamugama  (Freestate), L. Ngwenya (USA), T. Muchena (SGC), K. Chisango (SGC), T. Mangwana (Aus).

Backs: Russell Dinha (Prince Edward), Tadiwa Gochera (St Benedict’s College), Shingirai Katsvere (Prince Edward), Mudiwa Manhombo (St Benedict’s College), Tatenda Matoramusha (Prince Edward), Joshua Gando (Lomagundi), Ernest Mudzengerere (Prince Edward), Tawanda Ngosi (Durban), Matthew Ushewokunze (Falcon College), Ngoni Zinyama (UK), C. Nyakudya (Falcon), R. Elliot (Durban), M. Muswaburi (Nottingham Academy), K. Kazembe (WPI), M. Musvaiburi (UK), G. Mavara (Dale), Maupah (Goldridge), Phiri (Falcon), R. Chionyere (Churchill), F. Murinye (SGC), T. Mapfumo (Kyle), K. Munangi (Maritzburg), D. McRoberts (UK), T. Vheriwa (PH), A. Bruce (SGC), T. Moses (PE), T. Gamanya (Kyle)

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