Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (16) 23
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 19
ZIMBABWE wrapped up their North American leg of the World Rugby Nations Cup on a disappointing note as the Sables went down 23-19 to Canada at the Princess Auto Stadium yesterday.
It was a performance that best outlined the Sables’ biggest weaknesses, as indiscipline, turnovers, and the team’s inability to last the full 80 minutes once again proved to be Zimbabwe’s undoing.
In the tournament opener against Tonga, the Sables had a final 20-minute surge that saw them bring some respectability to their 36-26 loss.
And last weekend, Zimbabwe surrendered a three-point half-time lead to go on and lose 31-15 to the US.
It was once again a match of two halves against hosts Canada.
The two sides met for the first time, with both looking to avoid ending the first half of their Nations Cup campaign without a victory.
Unwavering defence defined the opening exchanges as neither side could find an early breakthrough.
However, it was the Canadian fullback who broke the deadlock with two penalties that put the hosts in front.
The game then experienced a 30-minute delay due to lightning fears.
When play resumed, Zimbabwe’s discipline problems resurfaced as they conceded their first try of the game with Mason Flesch crossing over.
Nelson duly converted, sending Canada into half-time with a commanding 13-0 advantage. Zimbabwe’s misfortunes were further compounded as the Sables lost their talismanic fullback Tapiwa Mafura, who was forced to limp off the pitch in discomfort.
Zimbabwe, however, came back from the breather a totally different outfit, led by the bomb squad quartet of Ian Prior, Cleopas Kundiona, Dion Khumalo and Liam Larkin. The trio of Kundiona, Larkin, and Khumalo touched down for Zimbabwe, while Prior added two conversions.
Unfortunately, Nelson proved to be the difference-maker as the Canadian fullback added another penalty and converted Calixto Martinez’s try, as the hosts survived the late Sables surge to come away with their first win of the campaign.
The Sables could have stolen it at the death when they launched one last attack from deep inside their own half, but a crucial handling error brought the game to an end.
Sables’ captain Tino Mavesere, despite being gutted with their third loss, said, “There are a lot of positives to take, and unfortunately today we just couldn’t quite catch up.”
Mavesere was not entirely wrong, as Zimbabwe dominated every crucial statistic for possession and territory.
The Sables had 54 percent possession to Canada’s 46.
Zimbabwe also made more passes in attack with 136, compared to the hosts’ 121.
The Sables won 14 line-outs and seven scrums, compared to Canada’s 13 and six respectively. However, it was on the defensive end that Zimbabwe were found wanting. The Sables conceded 13 penalties compared to the hosts’ eight.
