HARARE -The Zimbabwe national rugby team manager, Bruce Hobson, is not worried about the outcome of the Hong Kong Sevens draw in which his Cheetahs side have been pool together with Australia, Argentina and Canada. (Pictured: Cheetahs captain Jacques Leitao)
It is a challenge for us but we are preparing ourselves for it. We have beaten Argentina before and there are chances for us to do it again in Hong Kong. Canada is not much of a challenge, we can overcome them if we play to the best of our ability, Hobson said.
Playing Australia first could not have come at a better time. We have faced them before and we know how they play. They dont normally perform well in their opening matches and I hope that we will be at our best to take full advantage of that. An upset to the Australians in their opening match on March 25 will be a morale booster for their remaining matches, which will lead them to their destiny. The Cheetahs face Argentina and Canada the following day hoping to make it to the next stage.
They proved a strong force to reckon with when they beat Argentina 24-14 in their Dubai hunt last year despite later suffering heartbreaking 12-24 revenge in South Africas George Series.
Our aim is to make it for the Cup quarter-finals meaning we have to make up the top two in our group and progress to the next stage with a fine performance, said Hobson. It is really possible with the team we have. They play for each other and for the pride of their country. We have managed to mould the junior and senior players and the outcome has been fantastic.
Their sweet 5-41 victory against one of the continental giants, Kenya, in the shield finals of the George Sevens series will give them the confidence to march onto the pitch bubbling with confidence. Locally-based players began training last week at Old Georgians together with the Under-20 side preparing for the IRB 2011 Junior World Rugby Trophy.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News