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ZIMBABWE’S Sables are faced with a near impossible mission today when they take on Portugal in their third and final game of the Hong Kong Cup of Nations Rugby Tournament where a lot of pride is at stake.
After suffering two heavy defeats, first a 30-11 hiding at the hands of the hosts then suffering a 50-5 drubbing by Russia, the Zimbabwe senior rugby side are hoping to come out with a win and end their 2015 season with something to smile about.
The two sides have only met three times before, the last being in 1987 and the case between the two sides is that the team at home has always won their games.
Portugal first got the better of Zimbabwe in a close 18-17 win in Lisbon in 1985 but two years down the line the Sables twice beat the Europeans – first with a 35-9 hiding then a 50-9 thumping seven days later.
But it won’t be easy for the Sables this time around.
It has been a bumpy journey for the Sables with the technical team receiving little attention from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union but the trio of coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, his assistant Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda and manager Sebastian Garikai have soldiered on.
With most foreign-based senior players turning their backs on Zimbabwe after the Sables failed to qualify for the recently 2015 World Cup in England, a few of them put up their hands together with rookies and some locally based players for this tour.
And though it was always going to be difficult for the Sables to prevail in Hong Kong, Mandenge, his technical team and the players led by captain Denford Mutamangira will have to give their all and soldier on today.
Versatile back-liner Gerald Sibanda, Scotland-based flanker Andrew Rose, Italy-based Jan Ferreira, the Germany duo of Manasah Sita and Tafadzwa Chitokwindo are some of the players expected to lead the Sables charge.
A win would not necessarily guarantee their chances of finishing third in the four-team tournament but would be good especially for the young players and the rookies who have just come aboard the Sables ship and it will be a base on which continue from next season.
Zimbabwe are placed fourth on the log standings, they have a points difference of -64 and this means that if they are to entertain any chances of finishing third, then they must beat Portugal by at least 47 points.
Given that Portugal are ranked above the Sables, this would be a mountain to climb for the Sables and any other win would just see them finish bottom of the group as Portugal already have a bonus point garnered from a close defeat to Hong Kong.
Online Reporter