adminSenior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior national 15s rugby team, the Sables made a bright start in their quest to qualify for the 2015 International Rugby Board Rugby World Cup in England when they defeated Madagascar 57-22 at the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar yesterday.
Zimbabwe, who play favourites Namibia at the same venue on Wednesday took a 22-0 lead, and were 22-15 at halftime, shot to the top of the four team qualifying log standings with five points. Earlier on at the same venue, Kenya won 29-22 over Namibia which sees the Kenyans occupy second spot on the log with the same number of points as Zimbabwe but Zimbabwe are on top due to a superior points difference.
Loose forward Jacques Leitao scored four tries on an outstanding day for the Cheetahs with the other five –pointers coming from debutants centre Rian O’Neill, winger Stephan Hunduza and another debutant Farai Mudariki.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 14 men when skipper Daniel Hondo was sent to sin bin for 10 minutes for a dangerous tackle.
The Sables now play Namibia on Wednesday and then Kenya on Sunday. A top finish at the tournament will see Brendan Dawson’s men automatically qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England and if they finish second they will still have a chance of qualifying through the repachage process which is an inter-confederation play off to determine the final qualification spot.
Zimbabwe selected seven uncapped players in their match 23, these being loose forwards Graeme Lawler, Lambert Groenewald, prop Farai Mudariki, backline players O’Neil, Peter Du Toit, lock Schalk Ferreira and flyhalf Guy Cronje.
Online Reporter