The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe . . . . . . (13) 23
Tunisia . . . . . . . . (16) 23
TUNISIAN Center Chanseddew Khalifa emerged as the difference maker between the Zimbabwe Sables and the North African minnows, in a match best described as a ‘game or errors’.
Khalifa, duly given the man-of-the-math award, finished with 14 points as the visitors finished 31-23 victors in arguably the most comical encounter of this year’s Gold Cup campaign at Prince Edward grounds.
That it was encounter between the two lowest ranked sides of the Africa group A1 meant very few expected a quality encounter, and the two sides conspired to live up to those expectations.
Zimbabwe, the run-out favourites going into the match, were the biggest let down as virtually nothing went their way in terms of rugby basics.
Among their sins were their failure to complete phases and retain possession; all the while they missed their jumpers in the line-outs, gave away unforced turnovers and failed to utilise the strengths which in this case was speed.
Khalifa punished them at every single opportunity as his three penalties, and try from Salen Khanfovs, saw the North Africans race to an early 16-13 lead at the break.
Zimbabwe’s only contribution, during that disappointing half, came from a converted try by in-form scrumhalf Hilton Mudariki and two penalties from Vice-captain Tichafara Makwanya.
Unfortunately, it was all downhill from that point onwards, as Tunisia maintained their stranglehold on score through some good counter rugby, largely through the exploits of their center Khalifa.
For every penalty or try Zimbabwe made, and there were few and far in-between, the North Africans had a response.
Zimbabwe got on the scoreboard through unconverted tries from Kingsley Lang and Irvine Nduwa, in the 53rd and 66th minutes, only for Tunisia to reply through back to back tries by Chabi Jabri.
Makwanya missed both conversions for the homeside, while Khalifa converted Jabri’s second try on top of another penalty at the start of the half.
After the match, an irate Cyprian Mandenge, the Sables coach, said,” I am very disappointed.
“Tunisia came with game plan and stuck to it, we have got people in the right positions but they are missing tackles.
“I do not know how to defend for people like that, people have to be responsible.
“Last week we talked about fatigue, what do we talk about this week?
“Defence is about attitude, put in the tackles and the guys were missing tackles -three tries were scored straight from guys running us.
“At this level this is not acceptable,” he said.
