adminBoard World Ranking that were released yesterday.
Last week the Sables rose by five places to settle on 42nd place after beating Uganda but a 49-0 thumping of Madagascar on Wednesday saw them rise to 40, their highest since the ranking system was introduced eight years ago.
The Sables started the year ranked 49th but their performance in the Africa Cup Group 1A saw them rise to be the fifth best team in Africa from being number seven.
This means the Sables jumped Uganda (44) and Côte d’Ivoire (43) to settle at 40th place, under the guidance of stand in coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge of Harare Sports Club.
In Africa, the Sables are ranked below powerhouse South Africa (ranked third), Namibia (20), Morocco (26), and Kenya (35) who they are set to take on at the weekend.
Zimbabwe suffered their first home loss to Kenya last year at Harare Sports Club in their second game against the East Africans in the Africa cup following a 18-23 defeat.
But the hosts are preparing to maintain their winning run and turn the tables against the Kenyans when they square off on Saturday at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds in Bulawayo.
While Zimbabwe were in Uganda for the Africa Cup mini-tournament, Kenya prepared for the Sables with two games against South Africa side Ford Pumas.
First, the Kenya select side went down 22-48 before their senior side followed suit with a 27-41 fall to the Mpumalanga based Currie Cup side. Kenya coach Michael “Tank” Otieno is expected to name his travelling side this afternoon while the Sables are also yet to finalise their squad for the game.
The Sables started preparations for the game on Sunday though they are training in two groups at the moment Harare and Bulawayo and will go into full camp tomorrow.
Online Reporter