Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (24) 43
Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(12) 31
ZIMBABWE’S Sables were back in action as they hosted Zambia in the first of back-to-back rugby Tests, but their overall show at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Stadium showed that the hosts still have to find their fluidity after nine months of inactivity.
On a day when coach Piet Benade handed debuts to five players, the Sables were not perfect, the rust that followed their 2025 Africa Cup success in Uganda still visible.
But they still found a way to get the job done with one of the debutants, David Hayes, easily the best player on show with some precise kicking. Benade has sought to use the matches against Zambia and a South Africa A side to try different combinations, while also assessing the newboys in the squad.
The local rugby community did their part as Harare Sports Club was a sea of green and white, with online tickets sold out by Friday morning.
Fans came out in large numbers and were in full voice for the most part of the match as Zimbabwe got their tries via Tadiwanashe Gwashu, Vuyani Dhlomo, Aiden Burnett, Liam Larkin, Tapiwa Mafura and a brace from Godfrey Magaramombe.
It was to be new arrival Hayes who stole the show with some of the best kicking seen in a Sables Jersey in recent years.
Flyhalf Hayes, who has been based in England, showed tactical awareness and his kicking for touch and territory was as close to perfect as any performance could get, but it was his conversion that left some questions.
Benade would be happy to have depth in a key area for which the Sables rely heavily on Ian Prior.
What makes his performance even more impressive is that Hayes only joined the Sables camp a few days before yesterday’s match and could offer more when he gels into the team.
He also caught the eye of Zambia skipper Ali Bhika, who felt Hayes had made the difference on a day when the visitors punched above their weight.
“Yeah, the guy (Hayes) had a fantastic game,” said Bhika. “I think Zimbabwe kicked fantastically, whether it was for space or territory.”
Zambia also deserve credit as they gave as well as they received, matching Zimbabwe pound for pound and try for try.
The visitors got on the scoreboard through tries from Gift Mwila, Rodgers Mukupa, Misheck Mbala Likusa and a brace from Alex Mwewa, who also chipped in with three conversions.
While the scoreline was not what the fans wanted, Sables skipper Hilton Mudariki welcomed the win.
He was also happy to get the huge monkey off his back as the Sables finally managed to play their first Test match in nine months and the first home match since clinching their ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“We are happy to get the result as this is our first Test match of the year and first match for some time now,” said Mudariki.
The Sables have a short turnaround before the two teams meet again at Hartsfield on Saturday.
