The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
DESPITE their morale-sapping defeat to arch-rivals Namibia that ended their 2023 Rugby World Cup dreams, Zimbabwe’s Sables have regrouped and are keeping their heads high as they seek to secure a third-place finish at the Africa Cup.
They face Algeria in the play-off at 6pm tonight, which will precede the Africa Cup final between Kenya and Namibia in Marseille, France.
The winner of the final will get an automatic ticket to the World Cup, which will also be held in France next year, while the runners-up would have to go through another round of qualifiers – the Repechage – against runners-up from other zones.
A win over Algeria tonight will be critical to continental and world rankings.
Zimbabwe have been rising up the ladder in the last three years and are currently rated 27th.
Speaking from France, Sables coach Brendan Dawson acknowledged that his dressing room was forlorn after the 34-19 defeat to Namibia ensured Zimbabwe would have to stretch their wait for World Cup qualification to at least 34 years.
He was, however, happy that despite the huge disappointment, his charges had regrouped and trained well ahead of the clash against the North Africans.
After putting everything into the Africa Cup campaign, including a three-month training camp in Cape Town, South Africa, during which they featured in the Currie Cup First Division, the Sables had every reason to be down.
“Yeah, the mood in the camp right after the game against Namibia was down, as the boys were really dejected,” said Dawson.
“The boys put everything into that game, threw their bodies on the line and did everything that we asked them to do.
“The effort that they committed and what they did in the game was faultless, and we couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“Naturally, it has to be disappointing. It has been a three-year hard graft and hard work to get out of being ranked 48 to where we are now … We are now 27th; it’s a great achievement,” he said.
Skipper Hilton Mudariki, who chipped in with two conversions against Namibia, rallied his troops to switch their focus to a strong finish, where pride is also at stake.
“It was not the result that we wanted and one that will be a bit of a tough one to swallow.
“We must give credit to Namibia though, as they played some really good rugby and they were the better team on the day.
“We are disappointed, mostly because we came here (France) with a mission to win the tournament.
“Now, we have to get over that loss quickly and move on,” he said.
They face an Algerian side who had their own disappointment after allowing Kenya to come from behind and snatch a close 36-33 win.
Dawson has tweaked his team from the side that started against Namibia.
He has handed starts to the forward trio of Victor Mupunga (loosehead prop), Liam Larkan (hooker) and tighthead prop Bornwell Gwinji.
Left-flanker Aiden Burnett returns for the Algeria tie after serving a one-match suspension for being sent off in the quarter-final.
There are also rare starts for Godwin Mangenje, Kelvin Kanenungo, Takudzwa Musingwini, Ngoni Chibuwe and Martin Mangongo, who have replaced Sean Beevor, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Marcus Nel, Takudzwa Chieza and Shayne Makombe.
Despite the changes, the objective to win the third-place play-off has not been lost on both Mudariki and his coach.
“The tournament is definitely not over yet and we are very excited about the match against Algeria on Sunday.
“It is an opportunity for us to get a win and finish the tournament well.
“This is the most important thing and it is what we have been talking about as a group in our meetings.
“We know it will be tough, as we have watched some of their matches, and they are hurting as much as us, so we definitely have to make sure we are switched on and play to the best of our abilities,” Mudariki said.
Dawson also revealed he was already looking ahead to the campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
He believes finishing on a high will give the team momentum going into future assignments.
Sables Team:
Victor Mupunga, Liam Larkan, Bornwell Gwinji, Godwin Mangenje, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Aiden Burnett, Kelvin Kanenungo, Nyasha Tarusenga, Hilton Mudariki, Takudzwa Musingwini, Shingi Katsvere, Ngoni Chibuwe, Matthew McNab, Martin Mangongo, Tapiwa Mafura
Replacements: Tyran Fagan, Cleopas Kundiona, Matthew Mandioma, Johan Du Preez, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Kyle Galloway, Riaan O’Neill, Takudzwa Chieza
