The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(22) 57
Madagascar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15) 22
Jaqcue Leitao planted a hat trick of tries as Zimbabwe pulverised Madagascar in the World Cup qualifier opener played in Antananarivo yesterday.
As a result of the good show, the Sables earned a bonus point, which gives them an advantage over Kenya who beat Namibia 29-22 in an earlier match.
Zimbabwe was a bit shaky in front of a capacity crowd, but Lambert Groenewald set the tone with a try in the eighth minute.
Fly half Guy Cronje missed the conversion but quickly made amends with a 15th minute penalty before Leitao scored his first try a minute later.
Cronje took a quick penalty, which disoriented the Madagascan defence and Rionne O’Neil planted another for Zimbabwe. Two substitutions were made in the first half; Farai Mudariki and Njabulo Ncube came in for Kelvin Nqindi and Groenewald. Despite the early dominance, Zimbabwe’s plans were compromised by a few short comings, which will need to be rectified when they face Namibia on July on Wednesday.
Captain Daniel Hondo gave the hosts a chance when he earned a yellow card.
The effect of the sin-bin left Zimbabwe one crucial man down at a point when Madagascar had regained their confidence. The second half was a better reflection of Zimbabwe’s capability.
It started with the ball running down the line and the pressure applied helped Leitao strike in the 46th minute .
Madagascar came back with a try but it proved too little too late as the Sables got into the groove.
Leitao completed his hatrick in the 53rd minute after Scotland-based veteran prop Denford Mutamangira blazed the defence with brutal force.
Coach Brendon Dawson made more changes including replacing Guy Cronje with Lenience Tambwera in a move that applied more pressure to the already disintegrated home side. The highlight of the match was when Zimbabwe showed superiority in the forward, humiliating Madagascar by scoring a try, which came from a non- collapsing maul that bulldozed all the way from their 10-yard line.
Sables Squad
Starting XV: D. Mutamangira, K. Murray, K. Nqindi, S. Sibanda, J. Ferreira, G. Lawler, J. Leitao, L. Groenewald, H Mudariki, G. Cronje, S. Hunduza, R. O’Neill, D. Hondo (captain), T. Chitokwindo. T. Nemadire.
