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 Zimbabwe’s Young Sables, who are taking part in the IRB Junior World Cup Trophy, started their campaign on a bad note when they narrowly lost 39-36 to Japan in a match played at Murray Rugby Park in the US.
Zimbabwe had started positively when Sean Linfield scored a try before converting to take a 7-nil lead.
Japan soon levelled through a try and a conversion by Rikiya Matsuda but the Young Sables soon made it 14-7 through a Justin Coles try which was successfully converted by Linfield.
Japan overcame a late second half rally by Zimbabwe on a try from reserve fullback Yutaro Murai in the final seconds to capture a dramatic 39-36 victory over the Sables to open IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 in thrilling fashion.
The Brave Blossoms, as Japan are affectionately known, eventually overcame their slow start and used their speed to take control of the match running off three straight successful tries to close out the first half leading 34-14.
Coetzee stopped the bleeding for Zimbabwe when he scored a try from a five-metre scrum.
Linfield made the kick to cut it to 34-21. Tapiwa Tsomondo rumbled down the middle away from several trailing Japanese defenders to make it 34-28.
Soon the Young Sables made it 36-34 when Linfield scored a penalty but it was to be heartbreak for the Zimbabweans as Japan scored a late try to win the match 39-36.
Zimbabwe’s next assignment is against Georgia on Friday the 22nd.
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