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Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S hopes of playing in next year’s International Rugby Board Rugby World Cup in England ended yesterday when they went down 23-15 to Russia in a play-off staged at Central Stadium in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.The Daniel Hondo led Zimbabwe Sables had to win yesterday’s match against the Russian Bears in order to proceed to the next round of qualifiers.
Russia will now play the winner of the match between Asian runners-up Hong Kong and the South American second best team Uruguay in a two legged play off for a place in England next year. Uruguay and Hong Kong met in Montevideo yesterday. The winner of what the IRB have termed the repechage process will slot into Pool A which already has Australia, England, Wales and Fiji at next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Loose forward Lambert Groenewald scored the first try for Zimbabwe which was converted by Guy Cronje after Russia had been the first to score. Cronje weighed in with a penalty goal to bring Zimbabwe to just three points from Russia. A converted try put Russia 20-10 up and then Russia slotted in a penalty goal to go 23-10 up and while Zimbabwe did score a try through winger Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, it proved not enough as Zimbabwe came out second best.
The Brendan Dawson coached Sables lost out to Namibia on an automatic qualification slot at the African qualifiers played in Madagascar last month which saw Zimbabwe proceeding to the play off against other second best teams from other continental qualifiers.
Zimbabwe Sables
Pieter Joubert, Keith Murray, Kevin Nqindi, Jan Ferreira, Sanele Sibanda, Graeme Lawler, Jacques Leitao (vice-captain), Lambert Groenewald, Hilton Mudariki, Guy Cronje, Stephan Hunduza, Rian O’Neill, Daniel Hondo (captain), Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Danny Robertson
Replacements: Lawrence Cleminson, Matthew Mandioma, Farai Mudariki, Takunda Chifokoyo, Fortunate Chipendu, Kingsley Lang, Peter du Toit, Lenience Tambwera, Shayne Makombe.
Online Reporter