The Sunday News
ZIMBABWE take on Kenya today at the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar, with an automatic qualification for the 2015 International Rugby Board Rugby World Cup at stake.
The Sables, in second place on the four nation log standings with six points will have to beat Kenya who are on top of the log with 10 points by at least 10 points, secure a bonus point while at the same time preventing the East Africans from getting any bonus points. A bonus point is given to a team for scoring four or more tries and for losing by seven points or less.
Zimbabwe saw their bid to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup come off the track when they were beaten 24-20 by Namibia. Had they won against the Namibians last Wednesday, that would have made the task even easier against Kenya.
Seasoned forward Fortune Chipendu was summoned over to Madagascar as an injury cover for the injured duo of lock Jan Ferreira and loose forward Njabulo Ndlovu. With the two unlikely to play against Kenya, Chipendu is expected to find his way into the starting line-up.
Kenya dethroned Zimbabwe as the Africa Cup champions last year when they defeated the Sables 29-17 in Madagascar. Zimbabwe made amends a few months later when they won 29-14 over Kenya when the two teams met in the Windhoek Draught Tri-Nations in Namibia in November last year.
Sables coach Brendan Dawson would be looking for that kind of performance from his team with such a lot at stake but he is well aware that it is not the same Kenyan team that they conquered last year. The Jerome Paarwater coached Kenyans prepared for the qualifiers by playing in the South African domestic competition, the Vodacom Cup and also played South African provincial side Western Province while Zimbabwe had poor preparations with no practice matches against tough opposition.
Kenya also have their sevens stalwarts like Collins Injera, Humphrey Kayange, Andrew Amonde, Lavin Asego and Patrice Agunda.
Fullback Tangai Nemadire was the star performer for the team against Kenya in November and is in top form after scoring two tries against Namibia. Loose forward Jacques Leitao is another player who is on top of his game after scoring four tries in the 57-22 thumping of Madagascar in Zimbabwe’s first match last Saturday.
Should things not go Zimbabwe’s way and they are forced to settle for second place, their dream of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup since their last appearance in 1991 would be still alive as they will proceed to an inter confederation play-off for a place in England next year.
Namibia, in third place on the log standings with five points still pose a threat to Zimbabwe’s ambitions depending on how they play against already out of contention Madagascar. If Zimbabwe lose to Kenya and Namibia hammer Madagascar, then Namibia will secure the play-off spot.
Sables squad
Denford Mutamangira, Matthew Mandioma, Kevin Nqindi, Jan Ferreira, Sanele Sibanda, Schalk Ferreira, Fortune Chipendu, Njabulo Ndlovu, Jacques Leitao, Lambert Groenewald, Hilton Mudariki, Guy Cronje, Stephan Hunduza, Rian O’Neill, Daniel Hondo (captain), Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tangai Nemadire, Keith Murray, Pieter Joubert, Lawrence Cleminson, Graeme Lawler, Kingsley Lang, Danny Robertson, Farai Mudariki, Peter Du Toit, Lenience Tambwera , Gerald Sibanda
Technical team
Director of rugby: Liam Middleton
Head coach: Brendan Dawson
Assistant coach: Cyprian Mandenge
