Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SABLES’ skipper Hilton Mudariki has ruled out any talk of complacency and refused to press the panic button following Zimbabwe’s narrow 25-19 win over Zambia in a Zambezi rugby series clash at the Leop-ards Hill PoloCrosse Club in Lusaka last Saturday.
Expectations had been high that the Sables would repeat the dominant performances they had shown against their Southern African neighbours – Zambia and Botswana—in part one of the series at Harare Sports Club last month.
And now, with the reverse fixture away to Botswana officially off the table, there is fear that the Zambia game could be the Sables’ final Test before they travel to Uganda for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup.
While the Sables did manage to get the win and maintain their unbeaten run in the competition, it could prove to be a cause for concern for coach Piet Benade as Zimbabwe were far from their usual best.
Yet Zimbabwe had threatened to overrun their opponents when they raced into an early 17-7 first-half lead courtesy of tries from skipper David Makamba and Mudariki.
The second half then turned into a low-scoring affair, with the visitors just managing to add to their tally courtesy of a converted try by Dion Khumalo and another penalty from flyhalf Lenience Tambwera.
In fact, Zambia had a better second stanza and outscored the Sables 12-8.
But for Mudariki, it is maintaining the winning culture that matters.
“It was good to get the double and keep the winning streak going.
“I thought we were good in certain areas and in some we weren’t that great.
“Our lineouts did not function as well as we wanted them to as it has been a great strength of ours over the past couple of months.
“To drop down in that area was not good for us as we know that in Test rugby set pieces are of paramount importance.
“It is definitely one of the areas we will work on when we resume camp and prepare for the Uganda trip.
“We will definitely take the lessons from this game,” he said.
Mudariki ruled out suggestions that complacency may have crept in.
On the opening week of the series, the Sables thumped Zambia 70-15 before powering to an 80-12 win over Botswana seven days later.
Those convincing wins had raised expectations of another stroll in the park, especially after the Sables had welcomed back some of their foreign-based stars, who include Tyran Fagan, Edward Sigauke, Dylan Utete, Simbarashe Mandioma and Takudzwa Musingwini.
“I don’t think complacency was an issue here.
“Zambia brought a lot of physicality, they really stepped up their game and we have always known that they are a quality side at home.
“Credit to them for the work that they put in.
“If you re-watch the game, you will see that Zambia were good in some areas and we were also good in some areas.
“There is definitely no need to worry or panic; we will continue to work as hard as we can and try to polish up on some areas.
“There are still a lot of boxes to be ticked off, a few more players that need to join the squad and I don’t feel there is a need to panic or worry.
“We just need to stick to our processes, continue to keep improving in all aspects of the game and tick as many boxes as we can.
“As a squad, we know that there are a lot of conversations going on about what the other Africa Cup teams are doing, but the most important thing for us is how we are preparing and what we need to do to get the best result,” Mudariki said.
