Sables silence critics

critics about their pedigree to win Victoria Cup this year.
They also gave notice that their resurgence was a reality.
Playing with a lot of character on Saturday, the Sables meant business from the word go, and registered their biggest win in the Victoria Cup since the inaugural tournament last year. By winning the Saturday game, the Sables equaled the 1987 winning sequence of four straight victories, having beaten Uganda home and away, Kenya at home and Madagascar in the Africa Cup Group 1B tournament in Uganda a few weeks ago. There were moments of sloppy play on the part of the Sables against Uganda at the weekend.
But there were more positives than the negatives which powered Brandon Dawson and his men to victory over the Cranes – a win that came with a bonus point.
The bonus point, though, is not the biggest thing Zimbabwe were celebrating as there was the more important news of moving one place on the Intarnational Rugby Board World Ranking, at the expense of Sweden, to settle at 39 – their highest since the ranking system was introduced in 2003.
Having beaten Kenya, also with a bonus point, the Sables cemented their position on top of the Victoria Cup tri-nations tournament standings with 14 points, followed by Kenya and Uganda who are yet to register a win in the tournament so far. The win also saw the Sables maintain their unbeaten home record against Uganda, two weeks after they also registered their first victory over Uganda in Uganda.
The Sables backline was mobile with wingers Tangai Nemadire and Gardner Nechironga putting up spirited performances while fullback Danny Robertson proved a vital cog both in defense and attack. Captain and inside centre Daniel Hondo – who will not be available for the return leg against Kenya due to family commitments – was substituted due to concussion and Robertson ably took over the midfield role.
“It was a very good win for us, we enjoyed the victory as we have maintained an unbeaten run, winning all the four matches we have played so far this year and I think this is the beginning of good and exciting rugby in Zimbabwe and I am sure we will work our way forward from this win.
“We have played a number of games together now and I am sure we are getting better by each game because we are now understanding each other and we have a good age-range in the side, with mostly youthful and experienced players.
“I am sure we will be together for a long time and we will get far. Uganda noticed that our forwards were not as strong and we could contain them in the back line and that was why they resorted to using the forwards but it was good we managed to turn that around and won the game,” said Nemadire.
The Sables showed their intentions of winning the game, from the first whistle, overcoming questionable refereeing from the Kenyan officials who let the Ugandans go unpunished on several occasions.
Nechironga was kicked in the face, dynamic scrummy Charles Jiji, who exhibited moments of individual brilliance, was punched in the face and substitute Lloyd Machanjanire had to make try-saving tackles off forward passes that were not punished. Nechironga was the top scorer in the game, with a priceless 14 points that came of two tries and two conversions, while Nemadire, loose forward Fortune Chipendo, outside centre Cleopas Makotose and front rower Denford Mutamangira chipped in with a try apiece.
Flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya also came in with his boot while the Ugandans replied with three converted tries from centre Michael Wokorach, while the duo of hooker and captain Alex Mubiru and Romano Ogumal weighed in with pushover tries early in the second half.
The Sables lead 20-7 at half time, but the Ugandans capitalised on the weaknesses in the Sables forwards following the substitution of lock Costa Dinha and Norman Mukondiwa.
But the introduction of hooker Tatenda Karuru stablised the Sables pack and the hosts regained composure in the rucks and mauls while flankers Jacques Leitao and Shingi Mpofu, front rower Mutamangira and Brian Makamure gave Uganda a tough time.
The technical department, comprising Dawson, his assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge and manager Noddy Kanyangarara, were happy with the win and are now aiming to get another win in Kenya in three weeks’ time.
“The boys are on a roll and we are not stopping, we keep getting better with every outing – the first game against Uganda we scored 25 points, against Kenya last week we scored 42 and now 49. In the next game against Kenya we hope to do the same and it is possible as the guys are working more as unit now and the more games we play the better we are getting. A bit of complacency had gotten into us and we gave them a reason to believe that they could do it but we got back to our game plan and started doing well,” said Mandenge.
Dawson said: “It was a tremendous game though the boys got a bit sloppy in the first 20 minutes of the second half but we managed to contain them in the last 20 (minutes) where we did exceptionally well,” said Dawson.