‘All tactical and squad rotation’: Sables selection for Tonga explained

By SportsCast Writer

HARARE – Zimbabwe have rung changes for their World Rugby Nations Cup opener against Tonga in the early hours of Sunday (12:15 Zim time), with some regulars either named on the bench or missing from the match-day squad altogether.

The Sables, who arrived in the United States last weekend ahead of the first match in Denver, Colorado, are building squad depth in a bid to assemble a group of capable players who can seamlessly replace starters and still deliver results.

There is no place in the match-day 23 for vice-captain and loose forward Aiden Burnett, winger Matt McNab and scrumhalf Keegan Joubert.

Prop Cleopas Kundiona, fresh from winning the English Premiership title with Northampton Saints, will come on as a substitute in a conventional 5-3 bench split.

“McNab is not part of the team this weekend, same as Burnett and Joubert,” said a member of the Sables backroom staff.

“It’s all tactical and squad rotation.”

With Kundiona among the substitutes, Michael Kumbirai gets the nod at tight-head in his first start at Test level.

Trevor Gurwe has been preferred on the other wing ahead of McNab, who has recently signed for Coventry in the second tier of the English rugby system from Doncaster Knights in the same league.

Scrumhalf Joubert, who has made an impact for the Sables coming on as a substitute over the past two years, also doesn’t make the squad for the Tonga match and is replaced on the bench by young Tyrone Gombe.

Meanwhile, lock Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa might miss the entire US three-match tour due to unspecified “personal issues”.

Utility forward Godfrey Muzanargwo will partner Gary Porter in the second row against the Tongans.

Muzanargwo, who normally plays in the back row for Zimbabwe, produced a stellar performance at lock to be named man-of-the-match in the final of last year’s World Cup qualifiers against Namibia, interestingly after being picked in that position in place of the injured Nyakufaringwa.

                              SABLES SQUAD

Starting: 15. Tapiwa Mafura 14. Trevor Gurwe 13. Brandon Mudzekenyedzi 12. Kudzai Mashawi 11. Eddie Sigauke 10. Ian Prior 9. Hilton Mudariki (captain) 8. Jason Fraser 7. Dylan Utete 6. Tino Mavesere 5. Godfrey Muzanargwo 4. Gary Porter 3. Michael Kumbirai 2. Simba Mandioma 1. Victor Mupunga.

Subs: 16. Bryan Chiang 17. Tijde Visser 18. Cleopas Kundiona 19. Tadiwanashe Gwashu 20. Simbarashe Siraha 21. Tyrone Gombe 22. Bruce Houston 23. Dion Khumalo.

Tyrone Gombe will be the replacement scrumhalf for Zimbabwe against Tonga while Keegan Joubert (in the background) is not part of the match-day squad.