Tonderai Chavhanga can't wait for Parade Euro showdown (From South Wales Argus)
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Tonderai Chavhanga can't wait for Parade Euro showdown
8:00am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport
By Iwan Davies
DANGER MAN: Tonderai Chavhanga in action for Newport in Saturday’s British & Irish Cup win over Connacht Eagles
DRAGONS v BAYONNE (Saturday, KO 8.10)
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons star Tonderai Chavhanga is raring to go as he prepares to make his long-awaited return for the region in this weekend’s home Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Bayonne.
The speedster played his first match in six months on Saturday, starring for Newport in their 18-14 British & Irish Cup win over Connacht Eagles.
The South Africa international wing needed surgery after badly hurting his knee in the Dragons’ heavy defeat away to the Ospreys in April.
Chavhanga, 28, played 22 minutes for the Black and Ambers last weekend to give him some much-needed game time.
The lightning fast Zimbabwe-born danger man, a hugely popular figure at Rodney Parade, said his comeback match was badly needed and he can’t wait to get back into action for the Dragons: “I’m glad I got through it – I didn’t get to do much and I could have gone on a bit longer.
“And I’ve got a 100 per cent record with Newport now! The lungs and legs were feeling a bit heavy but I’m feeling good and I was glad to be out there.”
Chavhanga, who won four caps for the Springboks, said he feels in great shape: “Hopefully I will be ready for the weekend. It did me a lot of good getting a few minutes before I hit the big time.
“I’ve done a lot of training with my rehabilitation and the conditioning but nothing beats game time.”
He has endured a tough time away from the game: “I’ve never had an injury like this one before. For just over two weeks I was in a long cast from my hip to the ankle and I couldn’t really move.
“I was bedridden for a little while which was really frustrating.
“It’s probably been the biggest injury I’ve ever had but the medical staff have really managed me well.”
Chavhanga added: “The more I play, the more confident I will get. You just need to get over the little battles – that first tackle and that first run.”
If the Dragons don’t beat French Top 14 strugglers Bayonne, their European campaign will be up in smoke after last Saturday’s 38-25 defeat away to Wasps.
Bayonne beat Italian no-hopers Mogliano 71-7 in their first match last Friday.
Comments(8)
SWBorderer
says...
2:40pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Great thinking from DE, put a match winner on the wing then don't give him the ball.
On another note, are they hoping to develop Amos as a tight head?????
Euwan Usami
says...
6:22pm Wed 17 Oct 12
SWBorderer wrote:Yeah I heard that too, apparently Wil Harries at lose with Johnathon Evans at hooker because he knows how to throw a pass they tell me. Tondi is being supplied with a selection of magazines for the match but, to his credit, has said he would rather help out Nathan Buck at full back.
Can he wear a special hat with a flag on it so the rest of the team know where he is, they had great difficulty finding him last year.
Great thinking from DE, put a match winner on the wing then don't give him the ball.
On another note, are they hoping to develop Amos as a tight head?????
Robert Shillabeer
says...
8:34pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Euwan Usami wrote:Will Harries checks in at 111kg, but has not played there before I don't think and Johnathan Evans is the only scrum half available so can't really see that panning out.
SWBorderer wrote:Yeah I heard that too, apparently Wil Harries at lose with Johnathon Evans at hooker because he knows how to throw a pass they tell me. Tondi is being supplied with a selection of magazines for the match but, to his credit, has said he would rather help out Nathan Buck at full back.
Can he wear a special hat with a flag on it so the rest of the team know where he is, they had great difficulty finding him last year.
Great thinking from DE, put a match winner on the wing then don't give him the ball.
On another note, are they hoping to develop Amos as a tight head?????
SWBorderer
says...
9:59pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Robert Shillabeer wrote:I thought you had sources at the top table Robert, didn't you know this is all part of Darren's master plan. I've even heard Dai Watkins has been seen on the training pitch, could he be the added muscle we're looking for, after all he did once punch Colin Meads.
Euwan Usami wrote:Will Harries checks in at 111kg, but has not played there before I don't think and Johnathan Evans is the only scrum half available so can't really see that panning out.
SWBorderer wrote:Yeah I heard that too, apparently Wil Harries at lose with Johnathon Evans at hooker because he knows how to throw a pass they tell me. Tondi is being supplied with a selection of magazines for the match but, to his credit, has said he would rather help out Nathan Buck at full back.
Can he wear a special hat with a flag on it so the rest of the team know where he is, they had great difficulty finding him last year.
Great thinking from DE, put a match winner on the wing then don't give him the ball.
On another note, are they hoping to develop Amos as a tight head?????
SWBorderer
says...
10:01pm Wed 17 Oct 12
CaptainB
says...
6:52am Thu 18 Oct 12
Robert Shillabeer
says...
5:38pm Thu 18 Oct 12
SWBorderer wrote:No not at the top table, only did that at my daughters' weddings and don't hob nob that well.
Robert Shillabeer wrote:I thought you had sources at the top table Robert, didn't you know this is all part of Darren's master plan. I've even heard Dai Watkins has been seen on the training pitch, could he be the added muscle we're looking for, after all he did once punch Colin Meads.
Euwan Usami wrote:Will Harries checks in at 111kg, but has not played there before I don't think and Johnathan Evans is the only scrum half available so can't really see that panning out.
SWBorderer wrote:Yeah I heard that too, apparently Wil Harries at lose with Johnathon Evans at hooker because he knows how to throw a pass they tell me. Tondi is being supplied with a selection of magazines for the match but, to his credit, has said he would rather help out Nathan Buck at full back.
Can he wear a special hat with a flag on it so the rest of the team know where he is, they had great difficulty finding him last year.
Great thinking from DE, put a match winner on the wing then don't give him the ball.
On another note, are they hoping to develop Amos as a tight head?????
Euwan Usami says...
12:02pm Wed 17 Oct 12