Sables face Madagascar

tri-nations tournament at Kyadondo Rugby Club this afternoon.
Coming on the back of the 25-15 win over hosts Uganda in the 1B division on Sunday, the Sables are hoping to continue with their good form this afternoon.
Four changes have been made to the Sables side that went into battle against Uganda on Sunday and this will see veteran flanker Prayer Chitenderu getting a start.
Sports Club flanker/eighthman Shingi Mpofu has also been named in the starting XV and the duo will come in for Devon Esbach at hooker and Jan Ferreira as a loose forward.
Winger Lloyd Machanjaire also comes in to replace Tangai Nemadire who suffered a concussion.
Dynamic scrummy Charles Jiji will start from the bench as Mike Coleman will start at number nine with manager Nody Kanyangarara, saying the move was meant to stabilise the pack.
In the first half of Sunday’s game, the Sables struggled in the forwards and second half technical changes to the pack saw the side snatch victory.
“Prayer Chitenderu and Shingie Mpofu will come in to replace Esbach and Ferreira because the Ugandans dominated us in the rucks and mauls in the first half.
“And after we made those two substitutions at half time we stabilised at the scrum and we started holding and pushing them.
“Coleman comes in for Charles Jiji in a tactical move by the coach than anything else,” said the National Rugby League president.
And the Sables have a number of players that have faced the Indian Ocean Islanders over the past two years, including fullback Danny Robertson, eighthman Norman Mukondiwa, lock Fortune Chipendo and utility back Gardner Nechironga.
However, Madagascar play a more physical game compared to both Zimbabwe and Uganda and the Sables will need to boost their game if they are to register another win this afternoon.
The last meeting between the two sides was on July 3 in the Africa Cup qualifiers where the Sables emerged 28-22 at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds in Bulawayo.
Of the seven meetings between the two sides Zimbabwe have won four times and lost twice while the other one was a 22-22 draw in August 2006.
The last time the Sables fell to Madagascar was in the same tournament on July 7 2007 when they narrowly lost 29-30.
“The Malagasy are very physical and they like running a lot hence the decision to start Coleman ahead of exciting Jiji and we had our final team run this (yesterday) morning.
“After having moved five places up the ladder on the World Rankings the players know what is at stake and everyone of the team’s members know the importance of us winning.
“We need to win against Madagascar in the build-up to the Kenya game in Bulawayo next week.
“The team is in high spirits and are raring to go,” said Kanyangarara.
Zimbabwe Starting XV
Backs: Danny Robertson. Gardner Nechironga, Cleopas Makotose, Daniel Hondo, Lloyd Machanjaire, Tichafara Makwanya, Michael Coleman,
Forwards: Denford Mutamangira, Prayer Chitenderu, Kudakwashe Kambasha, Fortune Chipendu, Costa Dinha, Shingie Mpofu, Njabulo Ndlovu, Norman Mukondiwa
Substitutes: Raymond Dzvairo, Pieter Joubert, Jonathan Goosen, Samson Makuku, Charles Jiji, Dylan Bradshaw, Shayne Makombe.