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Old Mutual Zimbabwe coach Godwin Murambiwa believes his charges will win against Namibia in their final match today

From Percival Sizara in Durban, South Africa
OLD Mutual Zimbabwe will be hoping to end their 2016 Craven Week Under-18 campaign on a high note when they face traditional rivals Namibia in their final game at Kearsney College this morning.

Both teams have had mixed fortunes with each having won once and lost once therefore only making this final game a must win for either side.

For Old Mutual Zimbabwe, this game means a lot as they hope to put up a better show after the 78-5 humiliation to Griquas and most importantly end a five-year winless period against the Namibians.

Zimbabwe last defeated Namibia in 2010, a 30-21 triumph, at Welkom in Free State.

Whenever Zimbabwe and Namibia meet at any level, stakes are high and so this game shouldn’t be any different.

Head coach Godwin Murambiwa has seen how good his Young Sables can be on their day, as shown in the Griquas Rural victory and how terrible they can be as was the case in the Griquas heavy loss.

Murambiwa and his charges have had two full days to rectify their mistakes in preparation for the Namibia derby. It only remains to be seen which Old Mutual Zimbabwe will turn out today.

“Obviously on Saturday we will have our best team on show which we believe will be competitive against Namibia who are looking good this year.

“Against Namibia we have tried to go best foot forward and rewarded the boys based on solid performances from the two games played this week.”

Old Mutual Zimbabwe is only missing Desmond Annandale who was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a concussion in the first match while Samuel Garnett must wait for a clearance from the doctor.

Simbarashe Maringa is most likely to replace Garnett if the later is declared unfit to play.

In the last five games, Zimbabwe has lost to Namibia 7-29, 25-38, 10-33, 7-28 and 18-55, but there is hope that the boys will rewrite the results table.

“We know and feel the pressure because this is a full Test match . . . so we expect the boys to step up do their best and really get everyone’s confidence back as on Wednesday we really let ourselves down,” Murambiwa said.

Squads

Old Mutual Zimbabwe XV: Samuel Garnett/Simbarashe Maringa, Tinashe Chaza, Cleopas Kundiona, Daniel Hutchings, Godfrey Magaramombe, Stuart Marriott-Dodington, Tichaona Hwangwa, Tendekai Chigwendere, Connor MacMillan, Benjamin Meredith, Peter Davis, Matthew MacNab, Rodney Sachiti, Tapiwa Marimira, Martin Mangongo.

Namibia: Andre Rademeyer, Darius Van Solms, Jano Rieckert, Armand Kotze, Loandro Erasmus, Prince Gaoseb, Pieter Diergaardt, Oderick Mouton, Handre Klazinga, Denzo Bruwer, Elmarco Beukes, Chrishen Olivier, Chad Plato, Rudi Pretorius, Andre Van der Berg, Jan Basson, Patrick Schickerling, Andries Jacobs, Dylan Farmer, Wynand Breytenbach, Tertius Lambrechts, Gerswin Mouton and Nico Horn.