Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HILTON MUDARIKI has heaped praise on neighbours Zambia after yet another enthralling chapter in the “Battle of the Zambezi”.
The two nations met in back-to-back rugby ties in Harare and Bulawayo with the Sables winning both encounters rather unconvincingly.
Zambia held their own in the first match despite going down 43-31 at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Grounds.
The second was a low-scoring affair, one which Zimbabwe took 17-7 at Hartsfield this past weekend.
And Mudariki has acknowledged the Copper Eagles’ vast improvement and believes both teams come out the latest chapter in their rivalry better than they were going in.
“Zambia have improved significantly over the past few years,” said the Sables skipper.
“You can see the structure in their play and their confidence is right up there. “They were well-organised and very physical.And they have developed into a side that can challenge us consistently,” he said
Of the two matches, the Hartsfield match was the most eye-opening as the Sables were made to work for it at both ends.
Offensively, the Sables were found wanting as Zambia managed to shut them out for an entire half after which Zimbabwe only managed to walk away with the win, courtesy of tries by Godfrey Magaramombe, Liam Larkin and Kudzi Mashawi.
The kicking was again suspect with David Hayes having his first bad game in a Sables’ jersey during his short international career. After he was taken off, fullback Tapiwa Mafura stepped up to convert Magaramombe’s try.
However, Mudariki is still a relieved man as his Sables team managed to eke out the all-important win.
“We are definitely pleased to come away with the win,” he said.
“Zambia are always a tough opponent and they made us work for every moment, so getting the result is something we are happy with.
“After reviewing the footage from the ties, there are positives in terms of our intent and phases of control, but also areas where we lacked consistency. We had good passages of play, but we know we can be more clinical. Positives would be our resilience and ability to close out key moments. Negatives would be some lapses in concentration and execution, especially under pressure.Those are areas we need to tighten up going forward.
On the return to Hartsfield, Mudariki added: “It was good for us.
“It’s always special playing there, and I think the occasion lived up to expectations.
“The players responded well to the environment and the support,” said the Sables skipper.
With the battle now slowly fading in the rearview mirror, next up is the South Africa A side.
Zimbabwe have been invited to play the South Africa A side, formerly SA Emerging side, on June 28.
The match will curtain raise the Springboks season-opener against the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It will also be Zimbabwe’s last stop before they take part in the inaugural edition of the Nations Cup during the July international window.
Zimbabwe open their Nations Cup campaign with a match against Tonga on July 7.
And Mudariki believes there are lessons his team can take from their match-ups against Zambia that will serve them well against South Africa A.
“Going forward, we will focus on improving our decision-making, accuracy in execution, and maintaining intensity for longer periods,” he said.
“The small details will make a big difference at this level.
“The South Africa A match is an important step for us and we are building towards it.
“While we are not yet where we want to be, we are definitely moving in the right direction in terms of preparation for both that match and the Nations Cup.The plan, for now, is to review, recover, and then get back into structured training.
“We will gradually build up towards the SA A fixture with a focus on sharpening our systems and cohesion as a group,” he said.
