Latest / Cut The Kak / CTK-Katch Up 1: Zimbabwe Rugby Is Rising Fast | Tadiwanashe Gwashu & The Sables Story
Transcript
- Byron: All right, tonight's guest is from Mutare Zimbabwe. He picked up a rugby ball for the first time in 2017 and now he's heading to a rugby world cup. His name is Tariwanashe Gwashu. The boys call him the bus. Locke, flancard, flanker, wherever you need him, he shows up and gets it done. Two Africa Cup winners medals back to back and he was standing on the pitch in Kampala when Zimbabwe pulled off something genuinely special. They ended Namibia's seven tournament World Cup streak, seven straight World Cups gone, two points in the 79th minute. Zimbabwe will have waited 36 years to get back to a rugby World Cup. And now it is happening. Parents who grew up dreaming of seeing their country on that stage are watching their kids make it real. That is what sport is supposed to do. This squad did that and this man was a part of that. The buses in the building, And honestly, this might be the best rugby story we have told on the show. Most of you are hearing about it for the first time right now. This is exactly why we do this. Tariwanashe Gwashu, welcome to Cut the Cock, brother. the Bus: Thank you, thank you so much for having me, guys. I really appreciate it. Byron: Of course, no, we're happy to have you. For us, it's a genuine, genuine, I don't know, win is one way to look at it. It's just, awesome. I feel like a spoiled kid on Christmas. Chad: ⁓ good, the Bus: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's nice to be here, it's nice to be here. This is a good opportunity for me. I really appreciate you guys. Byron: Of course, thank you for coming. the Bus: Yeah, I know. Chad: Alright, well let's get stuck straight into it. So, Byron touched on it in his intro. You only started playing rugby in 2017 in high school. That's not a lot of time to go from picking up a rugby ball to be in a World Cup qualifying match and qualifying for the Rugby World Cup. Where were you before rugby and what actually got you into it? the Bus: Go. Yep. Yeah. So I grew up generally doing athletics. I was a pretty much quick kid. I did athletics and primarily ran the 100 meters and the 200 meters. Those were my main events. Then one of my brother, my brother was actually a rugby player when he was still in high school when he was young, but he left it a while ago. like, you know, I really like. totally didn't know anything about the sport. Then I think when I finished writing my form for exams, had like, we have like four months, four months, five months period where you're doing nothing, nothing, you're just maybe staying home or working. And I was at home then. I was watching TV, then I saw a Cardiff Cup game of the Stormers. I don't know which team they were playing. Then Senatlao scored a lot of tries in that game and I was like, this is an interesting game. Yeah, this is an interesting game. I would want to try it out. Fortunately, I went to a school for Form 5 where rugby was being played and it was like a culture. You were forced to play it. The moment you step at the school, you have to play it for at least a few bit of times. Then if they see that you're not good at it, they will just let you go. Byron: Hey, mi ciabello! Hahaha the Bus: That's how I really started playing rugby when I was 17. Byron: That's crazy. That's so cool. You said athletics, 100 and 200 meters, right? the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Byron: that speed on the field must be such a huge advantage for you. the Bus: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was much lighter during that time, even now if I'm a BTF, I can still shift myself a little bit quicker. yeah, it's a bit of an advantage for me. Yeah. Chad: We've seen. Byron: Oh yeah, we've seen your highlights and we've watched some of the games. I definitely don't want to tackle you, I can tell you that much. the Bus: Yeah, yeah. Chad: I was telling Byron before the show when we were just chatting now I was like if I saw the bus running towards me as soon as you got the ball I'd just say oh no I pulled the hamstring ref I mean sub me out I'm not gonna take this one it's not worth it Byron: hahahahah ⁓ the Bus: ⁓ Yeah, yeah. Chad: That's interesting. It was quite cool to hear you say that there's such a strong, at least in that school, ⁓ of a rugby culture that you, they expect you to play. It's quite unique. I wasn't expecting to hear that. the Bus: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it's a big culture, like, you know, when you're form one, you're getting, you're told you have to play rugby in another sport. Like you have to choose other sports besides rugby. So rugby is like the first thing you have to do before you do anything. generally it was a boys school. So like 1.5 boys often played rugby. Firstly, then they would like choose to go to other sports. yeah. Chad: Yeah, well. the Bus: I think it was an advantage for me to go to such a school where I was forced to play rugby because if I didn't, I don't think I would be here right now talking to you guys. Byron: Well, I mean, I'm glad you did. Chad: Yeah. the Bus: Yeah. Chad: I don't think your opponents say the same thing. the Bus: Yeah, yeah, this is crazy. Byron: No, definitely not. Anyone who has to tackle you is hoping that you didn't pick up a rugby ball in 2017. the Bus: ABA Chad: Um, so can you take us into what it's like? Um, so it's like a week in the Sables as a player. What does it actually look like in the Zimbabwean program? the Bus: Like, let me just give you maybe a typical like, like when you're in camp or generally like, what I, like do you want to know when you're in camp or when you're not in camp, like a general date? Chad: You pick. Byron: Yeah, I think Temp would be cool. I mean, for us, I guess the interest is I'm not a professional, he's not a professional. Like, what is it like? it, you know, are you training every day? Do you train twice a day? What's it all like? the Bus: So like we train pretty much like almost every day a week. So Mondays we usually start with gym in the morning, know. Firstly we do walkthroughs in the morning like at eight. With Joel and I walkthroughs, back line do their moves. Then maybe for 30 to 45 minutes. After that we go for gym. Maybe at 9.30 for 10. Then we have an hour and an hour 30 minutes in the gym. After the gym, we might go for a line-up session. Like sometimes the back line players might be gymming, then we gym half of the time, then we go for a line-up session. Then after that, we go back to the camp, we eat, we chill for a bit, then maybe around two three, we go to the field, we do our full-field training session. So that's the typical day for like four times. Four times in the week because we train Monday and Tuesdays. Then Wednesdays, we usually have a walkthrough in the morning, then we're off the whole day and we recover it. Then Thursday we're back at it. Friday, maybe capitals run. Saturday, we're in the game, we play. Sunday we're resting, then Monday, same thing. So that's the typical week we have. Chad: It's, I don't think I could make it past Monday. Byron: That's so cool. I don't know, like that sounds like a dream for me. the Bus: It's job. Sometimes it looks like a dream but it's a bit tough to survive in such situations. Byron: Hard work. Chad: Yeah, I'd get to Monday and be like, yeah, it's been real. Thanks, boys. I'll see you. See you next week. the Bus: Nah, Monday, Monday, Monday is the hardest day of them all. Monday is the hardest day, especially if you're coming from a game. It's tough. It will be tough. Byron: Hahaha. Chad: Yeah. And so is it, would it look very similar? So I know that you guys are heading down to the Blue Bulls training camp. Are you guys expecting to have that same kind of structure in there or what's that going to look like? the Bus: I think it's going to be maybe bit tougher because we need to be pushed, our bodies need to be pushed to the limit. I think we'll train more times than usual. think maybe in a day we'll have maybe three sessions a day. I think that's what they want and that's why we went to Globals. It's because they want us to push our bodies and to test us and to like... give us something that's different from the normal because we were going, it's going to be a totally different story. World Cup, Nations Cup, the teams right there are up there so we need to up our game. So I think it will be tougher, much, much tougher than what we used to. Chad: That's cool. Byron: I like that. I like that. Especially like you said, preparing the body for what's to come. the Bus: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, Yeah, boys are going to face some tough opponents, right? So the body needs to be solid and injured everywhere, Byron: Exactly, we were talking about it. ⁓ Obviously in the Nations Cup you're playing them and they're in your group for the World Cup is Tonga. the Bus: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Tunga. Yeah, we have Tunga. have Kim. Byron: And we know that they've got some big strong boys in there as well. So that makes a lot of sense. the Bus: Yeah, yeah, it's gonna be tough. We're playing them on the 4th of July. That's our first game in the Nations Cup. So it's gonna be tough. It's gonna be tough, definitely. Byron: Chad, you wanted to ask something about that game, didn't you? Chad: Well, I'll talk about when we get to the games at the end when you talk about that the World Cup section there. You can take the next question. Byron: Okay, perfect. ⁓ actually I'm very curious about this as well. ⁓ The final against Namibia, you won by two points when the final whistle came. ⁓ In the 79th minute when Swanapur was lining up that penalty, ⁓ what was going through your head when that was happening? the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think it was ⁓ a ⁓ weird feeling. For us, most of the players were like, you know, can't be kicking his face kick and he's taking a 50 meter penalty. Everyone was like, this doesn't make sense. He definitely won't make it. That's one thing that made us feel like, he might miss because I think that was his first penalty. I think he had just... Byron: You Chad: you Byron: Yeah. the Bus: came into the game in the 68th minute or something, then he wants to kick his 55th minute pin or the 50th minute pin or the minute. There's a chance that he might miss. And it was so close if he scored it, but yeah. It was a really, really nerve-racking moment for us. It was a tough moment. Byron: I can only imagine, I can't imagine that sort of all that anxiety and everything just watching it and going, you know, if he misses this, one of the craziest storylines for the Sables comes true, you know. the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, even even even that I think I think we finished game with a scrum peanut also even that's cramp even that's cramp it was I just something else like because we just had to hold on to the ball for like maybe a Minute then we did something funny then they opted for a scrum and everyone's like yeah This the scum of our lives, and we just had to scum scrum everything and do everything Chad: building. the Bus: When the whistle blew, we didn't know who had the penalty, who had what. Then we saw lifting the lanterns, and then we were like, lifting people running into the game. Then everyone in the field in us like, the ref was like, the game is not over yet. I haven't blown the fan away, so stop, get out of the game. And yeah, it was just something. Yeah, was something. Byron: You Chad: you I saw the referee pushing him back. Byron: That's so cool. Yeah. Chad: Yeah, it was incredible to watch that whole competition. was a really exciting competition. You guys have such a unique style of rugby, your back lines, dangerous, fast, like a bit of flair to them. It's an exciting brand of rugby to watch and I'm excited for the rest of the world to see what African rugby actually looks like. the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Your favorite, right? Your favorite, right? Byron: ⁓ I've got a question going on that one then. ⁓ You know, it's been, by the time the World Cup starts, it will be 36 years since Zimbabwe has been at the Rugby World Cup. The last one being in 91. ⁓ There's parents and other people living in Zimbabwe that have never had that, that they've never had the opportunity to watch their country in a Rugby World Cup. Have you had people from the older generations come up to you and the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. Byron: tell you how much it means to them. the Bus: Yeah, yeah. I think the moment we came from Uganda, we met a lot of people at the airport, like people were happy, people were so relieved and saying that this is something that we always wanted to see in our lives before we even leave this earth. And even if you go around schools watching kids play, they're still grateful for this opportunity, even after a year. It happened a year ago, but they're still like always saying, you know, we appreciate, we appreciate your efforts. We appreciate what you did to Zimbabwe. And, know, it's a big thing for everyone in Zimbabwe. Almost like it's like the biggest thing in Zimbabwe right now. Byron: I'm so happy to hear that. the Bus: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chad: It is good. It does show what rugby does for people. It goes almost... the Bus: Yeah, definitely. It was beyond everything. Byron: Absolutely. Chad: Um, what that kind of transitions really well into, we've got a little bit of a segment about the rugby world cup, um, coming up. Um, we spoke about it earlier with the fixtures that you have coming up and the training camps and all of that kind of stuff. Um, we will definitely be watching. I don't know how, I don't know who we're going to support in the game, but we've got some Bob Webber's SAA. Um, the Bus: Yeah. Yes, aye. Chad: as the opening game for the Springblocks and the barbarians, games like that, how do you attack a game like that compared to the Nations Cup or playing against Namibia? Is it any different? Do you guys do the same gameplay? Do you believe in what you're doing or what's your thoughts there? the Bus: Yeah, of course. So I think we definitely will still believe in that we can still win the game. We definitely take this game as a learning opportunity because we're going to be playing a lot of professional rugby players, a lot of proper rugby players. So we want to win the game, we want to dominate, we want to do everything in our power to make the game competitive, but at the same time we really want to learn how they do their things, how they train. how they're playing, how they handle themselves on the field and off the field. It's something that will be good. And I think for Zimbabwe, we last played a tier one nation maybe in 1997 when we played Wales. I that was the last time we played the top tier country. playing South Africa is gonna be a very, very, very big opportunity for us. to show our talents, to show what we can do and also learn from other people who have done it for like forever. Byron: That's awesome. Yeah. Chad: No, I'm excited for their game. I think it's even the first time, I think ever, where I've watched a rugby game where South Africa's playing where I don't full heartedly support them. And ⁓ it's a terrible thing for me to say. But I think Byron and I have spoken about this before. As soon as we heard that Disabled Zoom was going to be in the Rugby World Cup, it was like our... the Bus: Yeah, it's a terrible, terrible feeling. Byron: Yeah Chad: Our number two team, it's our next door neighbors, our brothers. want you guys to do really well. I'm excited to see all the fixtures and the preparations that are going before this game with the Nations Cup. think it's absolutely fantastic. So going into the Rugby World Cup, so in the previous episode, long, long ago when they just announced all of the fixtures, Byron and I did... the Bus: together. Chad: a thing where we predicted every single game in the Rugby World Cup and where they would end up. So we predicted for the first game, it's Zimbabwe versus Wales. Byron and I both agreed that Zimbabwe was going to beat Wales in that first game. the Bus: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Chad: Um, so, and you got obviously also have Tonga in your pool and you guys are playing them in the, um, in the upcoming nations cup. Uh, so that's just a little bit of context behind it all. going into that, that first game or that sort of pool F, uh, where does your head go? What's without giving way too much of what's the plan going into, into that, those first few games. the Bus: Yeah. on the nation's map. Byron: Nations Cup. the Bus: Yeah. The first game we were playing against, against Wales. Yes, think first of all, we just be grateful for the opportunity to play at the World Cup. think that's the first thing. We have to be grateful. We have to acknowledge that we deserve to be there and we have to know that among those teams, we deserve to be playing them. It's not by luck or by favour, it's purely by our own hard work. So we really want to give... are all in every game. Even if Wales are being ranked number one, we would want to them the run for their money because we don't know who where, because you don't know how they look at the game. So we really put all in the training sessions, do our scouting reports, know everything that's happening, try and exploit and showcase what we can do and try to use our advantage. be the team. think Wales is going to be the biggest match for us because it's the opening match. So we need to really start well and build on that going forward into the competition. Byron: It's so cool as well because for that game, it's the first time that that Sables jersey is going to be at a Rugby World Cup for so many years. And, you know, I just to have have the world see that and for for you and your teammates, you guys work hard, you play hard and you've earned every every moment. It's so cool. Yeah. the Bus: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's so cool, so cool. Yeah, you're very right. Chad: So a follow up question to that one. once Byron and I's prediction has come right and you guys have beat Wales in that opening game, how does the team come together and celebrate that win? Your first ever Zimbabwean rugby, Sables rugby, World Cup win. How does the team get together? Because obviously you can't go absolutely wild because you've got a game the very next week. How does the team celebrate? the Bus: Yeah. Yeah. I think, think, I think, yeah, definitely we will celebrate. Like, it will be, it will be great. I think us knowing that we actually just beat Wales, you know, we'll stay grounded and we'll just know that, you know, we can, like, if we win the next game, we are now in the round of 16. Like, it's something huge. So I think, you know, one thing is, we, it happened to us. Byron: You the Bus: in our first Africa Cup when we beat Namibia in the semifinals. It was the first time in like, I don't know how many years, maybe 10 years, 12 years. So after that win, we just knew that we just beat Namibia, yeah, it's okay, but now we have Algeria in the final. So yeah, you celebrate a bit, but you have to know that tomorrow it's we're back to job, we're back to trying to win the next game. And I think that's the same feeling. that happens to us, we're just going to try and celebrate then stay grounded and ⁓ keep grinding until the Ornamental Room ends. Byron: That's a fantastic mindset. ⁓ You're a stronger man than me. Chad: Yeah, that's good. ⁓ the Bus: Yeah. Chad: Oh yeah, Byron would be knocked kicked out of the rugby World Cup. Yeah. You touched on it a little bit when you said that if you win their game, it's possibly going through to the round of 16 and 100 % correct because you guys also have Tonga and you guys are playing Tonga so you're to get a little bit of intel from how they play, what it feels like to play against them. the Bus: That's Byron: Yeah, we'd celebrate way too hard. the Bus: You Chad: So it is a, it's a realistic thing to say that Zimbabwe is really in contention to make the round of 16, which would be, I cannot wait to see it. That'll be incredible. the Bus: Yeah Byron: Yeah, we'll definitely be celebrating harder than what should happen. the Bus: Yeah. Then you know, yeah, I give you a bit of honor on behalf definitely. Just a little bit of honor on behalf. Yeah. Yeah. Byron: Absolutely, you promise. Chad: Well, we absolutely will. Now we're excited to see that. ⁓ Byron: I had a question. ⁓ going into the World Cup, you're obviously, you know, you've already mentioned about the hard work that goes into it and the pride that you have going in. If you could pick ⁓ country from the World Cup to play against, doesn't matter if you win, doesn't matter if you lose, but just for the ⁓ the occasion, the story, who would you like to play at the rugby World Cup? the Bus: Yeah, I think it's either South Africa or the old blips. For me, I our peak is South Africa. Our peak. Byron: Woo! I think, I mean, I've never experienced that I've watched it from the stands, but I think being on that field when the All Blacks do the Hakka might be one of the most incredible feelings as a professional rugby player. the Bus: Yeah, it's kind of good. Yeah, it's a good feeling. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. So I think even their brand of rugby is different. So you just want to have a feel of how they like fit into their thing and how they play. So yeah, will be a good feeling to watch. Byron: And then obviously this, since you mentioned the All Blacks, your nickname, The Bus, Ardi Sevilla has the same nickname. Where did it come from? the Bus: Thank Yes, yes. So I think I was a fan of his rugby. I really liked the way he used to bumble people and do his thing. So when I started playing in school, I tried to play like him. So people started calling me the bus, the bus, the bus because of that. And I didn't end up being my nickname till today. I am a book supporter. Byron: You ⁓ I love that. It's a perfect nickname. Chad: And it's, I was going to say it's very fitting. the Bus: That's an upside. Chad: and is there anything about the, the Sables or Zimbabwe and rugby that you want to tell our viewers is anything that we should know that the world doesn't know about the Sables. the Bus: Yeah, I think it's just our singing culture. We have a very big singing culture in our team. We love singing, we love making vibes, we love our fans, we love connecting with our fans. So I think when we went to Uganda for the past three years, we ended up singing with the fans, even the fans from Kenya, from wherever, because we just, you that's our culture. That's how we do our thing. yeah, I think we really like... want to connect with everyone that's interested in our vibe, in our team. we are really good people, very humble people. And if you see us in the streets, never shy away from asking or want to talk to us or ask for a picture. just, people will love people. We love the vibes. We love showcase, showing case our brand of rugby and how we made. So yeah, I think that's That's the only thing that. I can say for now. Byron: Perfect. Well, I hope that the fans that will come up to you in Australia get to hear this and get to experience something like that. That'll be awesome. Chad: That's good. the Bus: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Chad: Yeah, well, Byron and are going to try. It's still, it's, it's a of a dream at the moment, but we're going to try and go to that game in Adelaide. So we'll, uh, we'll, we'll hold you to that and we'll come. I'll probably won't sing with you because it would only in bed, but I'll definitely come. We can try and hang out. Byron: Yeah. the Bus: No, no, no, you can see. Byron: Ted, if we do land up going, we're singing. That's the end of the story. the Bus: ⁓ you can sing with us. Yeah, we have to. Definitely, we have to sing. We have to. We have to. Chad: Okay. Byron: I love that. ⁓ From me, just want to chat unless there's any more questions from you. You're good. Chad: I'm all good. We've kind of burned through them. haven't Baran I are normally terrible at this and we got off of rants and we'd have like a three hour podcast, but we've tried to stick to an actual sheet this time and be a bit more professional. Byron: Trying to be professional, So from Master, Gua Shu, I just want to say thank you so much for taking time out of your, as we know, very busy schedule ⁓ to come on, talk to us, tell the world more about you, tell the world about Sables Rugby and all the ⁓ exciting stuff to come. You know, like we mentioned already, you've got the ⁓ camps, the training camps coming up. the Bus: Thank you. Yeah. Byron: and very big games leading up into next year. So we just wanna say thanks and also the best of luck to you, the rest of the team, everyone behind the scenes. It's really incredible what you've achieved and we're gonna be watching every single moment and supporting you all along the the Bus: Thank you, thank you so much. I really appreciate you guys. This is a big opportunity for me and this is privilege to be talking with you guys. I think this podcast is a big podcast and you just having me is something that I really appreciate. Byron: happy to have you anytime you can come back. ⁓ Chad: Yeah, anytime. the Bus: Yes, please. Byron: Perfect. Chad: All right. I think that's that's it, Anise, from us. Thank you so much. Like what Byron said, you're an amazing player. Can't wait to see more of you. We'll be keeping big tabs on the Sables. Looking forward to that South Africa game and going to keep a real big eye on the Nations Cup coming up. the Bus: others. Byron: Especially against Tonga. Perfect. Thank you so much everyone. Thanks for watching. ⁓ I think we cut the cock. That's it. Thank you. Chad: Yep. the Bus: Yeah, it was amazing. Chad: Good? Thank you. the Bus: Thank you. Cheers.