Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR the past six months Zimbabwe flyhalf Ian Prior has been training, he has not been obsessed with tactics or muscle memory, but with rhythm, routine and repetition, all in pursuit of perfection.
A little shimmy here, a breath, a glance, then boot to ball — again and again.
“You never really know how you’re going to hit them until you’re in the game, so I’ve been visualising kicking on that ground for the last six months,” said the 33-year-old playmaker.
“It’s all about the process. Get that right and the rest takes care of itself.”
That preparation paid off last week in Kampala, as Prior delivered a near-perfect performance during Zimbabwe’s 43-8 dismantling of Morocco in the Rugby Africa Cup quarter final.
Controlling the tempo with the calm of a veteran and the precision of a surgeon, Prior contributed 23 of the team’s 43 points, every one off the boot.
Whether it was kicking for territory or for posts, he barely missed a beat.
Even the rain could not spoil the show.
For those who braved the soggy stands, or streamed the match from home, it was a masterclass in control. And for many, his unorthodox pre-kick ritual stole the spotlight.
“The kicking routine is something I developed as a ‘lightie’ kicking at trees in the park with my dad,” he said. “A few steps back, a couple to the side, some deep breaths and a nice easy tempo.
“With the new rule that says you’ve got to kick within 60 seconds after a try, the simpler the routine, the better.”
His performance earned him the player-of-the-match award and sent Zimbabwe straight into the semi-finals. There, they will face their old rivals, Kenya, this morning, with everything on the line.
“It was nice to get a first-up win in some tough conditions,” Prior said. “You’re always a little nervous and excited going into the first game.
“To come away with a convincing win was pleasing. I feel lucky to have received that award, especially when so many teammates deserved it.
“The forwards laid the platform, and the backs made my job easy. The real credit goes to them.”
Now, with the celebrations behind him, it is back to business.
This year’s Rugby Africa Cup doubles as the qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and the stakes could not be higher.
A win in the semi-finals puts Zimbabwe just one game away from a ticket to Australia. Even the runner-up gets another chance via the global repechage tournament. Zimbabwe and Kenya meet in the first semi-final, while Namibia take on the rapidly improving Algeria in the other. And once again, Prior, Zimbabwe’s most seasoned campaigner, will be at the heart of the Sables’ plans.
“Kenya are a talented, athletic and dangerous team. We’ll need to be at our best,” he said. “They’ve got a strong Sevens programme, so their game is based on skill and speed. We’ll need to be sharp.”
He is not worried about the pressure. In fact, he believes the Sables are built for it.
“We had a training session in heavy rain before the Morocco game, so that helped us a bit. As a game controller, you’ve got to tweak your tactics for the conditions. I think the team’s done a great job adjusting so far.”
When asked about added pressure, Prior did not flinch.
“They’ve got threats all over the park in attack, and they’re bruising in defence. It’ll be a great test for us,” he said.
In these tournaments, there’s always pressure because of what’s at stake. But it comes down to doing the simple things well, and making sure your effort and intent are there.”
The Sables squad will also be watching the second semi-final closely. Zimbabwe knows both Namibia and Algeria well, having beaten both on their way to the 2024 title.
“The other semi-final will be a great game between two excellent teams,” said Prior. “I’m expecting it to be physical, and it should make for great viewing.”
Online Reporter