The zim with a lot of vim

By CHRIS RATTUE

Who is the quickest man in world rugby?

Stormers wing Tonderai Chavhanga certainly put his best foot forward as a candidate when scoring two tries to help sink the Blues at Eden Park.

The Zimbabwean-born and raised Chavhanga is tipped as a potential Springboks star when he becomes eligible for them next year, even though he is still a Super 12 novice and yet to play in the domestic Currie Cup.

Like all good stars he's found controversy, having played for the South African sevens and under-21s - including at the world tournament - while ineligible. The Republic's rugby bosses say this was a simple case of error.

Chavhanga was inspired by the exploits of Jonah Lomu and Chester Williams at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

Now he dreams of playing for the Springboks, and under the 36-month residency rule will be eligible for them in February, a situation similar to that for the Chiefs flying Fijian wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who wants to be an All Black.

So what about that speed which has fast-tracked him into the Super 12? He was nicknamed "Boeing 11" in the South African under-21 team, although the Stormers call him "Zim" which is short for his homeland. Vim, as in extreme pace, might be more appropriate.

The 20-year-old ripped past Joe Rokocoko to score from a Marius Joubert chip kick at Eden Park, although as Chavhanga points out Rokocoko had to turn and chase. And he whizzed infield to run off a De Wet Barry pass leaving the Blues in his wake for a second try.

There could have been a third had a runaway Adri Badenhorst opted to use the flier, who arrived from nowhere to support the No 8's intercept break.

Chavhanga was a national under-20 100m, 200m and 400m champion with a Zimbabwean 400m Olympic qualifying time and a 100m best of 10.5s.

His rugby speed is down to the gifts of nature honed by a rigorous off-season regime. The muscular 78kg Chavhanga puts on the spikes to join fellow track athletes as well as conducting solo sprint sessions in rugby boots during summer.

His businessman father - who passed away 10 years ago - and mother were separated and Chavhanga was brought up by an uncle before boarding at Prince Edward High in Harare, where Zimbabwe's favourite rugby son Kennedy Tsimba was also schooled.

The 18-year-old Chavhanga was still at school when he made the tough decision to leave his homeland and pursue his sporting dream in South Africa, where older brother Franco starred on the TV programme Gladiators.

Chavhanga says the man who would become his manager, Neil Minnaar, first spotted him playing in his mid-teens. It was only after Chavhanga played for Zimbabwe schools in the Craven Week tournament that Minnaar steered him towards Bloemfontein in the Free State, part of the Cats franchise.

"People said I should stay in athletics but I just loved rugby. Athletics was only ever a base for rugby," he said in the team's Auckland hotel this week.

Chavhanga made the Free State junior sides, the South African under-21s coached by new Springboks boss Jake White, and the national sevens team.

But he missed the Cats squad, so the Stormers moved in. Chavhanga made his debut as a replacement against the Brumbies in Cape Town in week five, scoring with his first touch from a generous Breyton Paulse set up.

Chavhanga's selection against the Blues, ahead of Springbok whiz Paulse, was significant. He repaid coach Gert Smal's faith, using his pace, defending strongly, and showing an instinct for the game.

"Jake White has talked to me a few times this season and been very encouraging. He says just keep working hard and things will happen. My ultimate goal is to play for the Springboks but I have a long way to go," he says. If the pundits are right, a Springboks jersey may be closer than Chavhanga thinks.

The facts

Name: Tonderai Chavhanga

Born: Masvingo, Zimbabwe, December 12, 1983.

Height: 1.84m

Weight: 78kg

Super 12 debut: v Brumbies, Cape Town, round 5, March 21.

Super 12 tries: 3.

Representative:

Free State under-19 and under-21. South Africa under-21 and national sevens team.

Athletics records: Zimbabwe 100m, 200m and 400m under-20 champion.