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Mehluli Sibanda in Johannesburg, South Africa
AFTER heavy defeats by their South African opponents in their opening fixtures at the Under-18 Coca-Cola Youth Weeks being held at St Stithians College on Tuesday, the Old Mutual Junior Sables will be hoping for improved performances this morning.

The Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week side was humbled 17-72 by Leopards on Tuesday and take on Eastern Province Country Districts this morning.

The national Under-18 Academy Week team was also put to the sword by Golden Lions XV, who hammered them 62-14. The Zimbabwe youngsters play against Border Country Districts today.

Just like Zimbabwe, Eastern Province CD lost 20-42 to Griquas, while Border CD were beaten 20-51 by Valke Platteland on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe’s record against Eastern Province CD over the past few years is not impressive. In 2014, the Junior Sables lost 54-43 in a high scoring encounter in Middelburg. The following year, Zimbabwe were beaten 51-20 in Stellenbosch.

Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week team coach Scott Gray will be seeking to redeem himself with an improved show when his lads tackle Eastern Province CD.

His game plan was thrown into disarray in the thrashing by Leopards when winger Tafadziswa Bunu was sent off early in the second half.

The lanky Bunu had been shown a yellow card for a high tackle in the first half and spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. Referee Johre Botha had no choice but to send him off when he spear tackled an opponent a few minutes after serving his temporary suspension.

Yesterday, Gray described the fixture against Eastern Province CD as a tough one, but also saw it as a chance for his lads to prove their capabilities.

“It is going to be another tough game for us as the physicality level is very high and we have to step up to it. In saying that though, it is a great opportunity to put in the performance that the team is capable of, so we are looking forward to the challenge,” Gray said.

As per the Coca-Cola Youth Week’s regulations, every player that is part of the squad of 23 must at least be involved in a full 70 minutes of rugby at the tournament, which means the two Zimbabwean teams have to make changes for today’s fixtures.

For the Craven Week, eight changes have been made, with all players that didn’t play on Tuesday in today’s starting line-up. Similar changes have been made to the Academy Week team.

On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week side conceded 11 tries, seven conversions and a penalty goal. They managed to breach the Leopards’ defence three times.

They were also brilliant at lineout time, but their defence was porous; which they have to fix to avoid defeat against Eastern Province CD.

 Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week team to play Eastern Province CD:

Kudakwashe Mashonga, Marcus Nicole, Cody Rensburg , Dexter Trail, Prince Mupfurutsa, Jack Charsley (captain), Ronald Mirimi, Simbarashe Chingono, Michael Mhute, Leroy Kagodora, Lebukgang Mokuele, Mazvitaishe Nyamarebvu (vice-captain), Tadiwa Muchemwa, Lameck Vheriwa, Tapiwa Marimira
Replacements: Tadiwanashe Mabhudhu, Rivaldo Kwidini, Brendan Mudzikitiri, Davin King, Ryan Smith, Dillon Brain, Tinashe Hombiro, Tafadziswa Bunu

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 Academy Week team to play Border CD:

Takunda Magondo, Brian Chakoma, Brendon Sibanda, Alce Melo, James Owuru, Matthew Owuru, Sean Mupanemunda (captain) Louis de Plessis, Joshua Allardice, Anesu Haki, Takudzwa Siyawamwaya, Sean Maenzanise (vice-captain), Edwin Mutseyekwa, Siampunga Sindaza, Takunda Machaya
Replacements: Adrian Zivanai, Kundai Mashingaidze, Thokozani Mrewa, Takudzwa Mutumukira, Nigel Tinarwo, Innocent Mpariwa, Taine Roelofsz.

@Mdawini_29