Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE are out of the running for a place at next year’s World Rugby Junior Trophy.
This follows the Junior Sables going down to perennial rivals Kenya 35-23 in the semi-final of the Barthes Trophy at Mutesa II Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday.
The loss means Zimbabwe will now play Tunisia on Tuesday in the third-place playoff, while Kenya proceed to the final to meet defending champions Namibia.
The winner of the final will book their place at next year’s World Rugby Junior World Trophy, the hosts and dates of which are yet to be announced.
Namibia were the first to book their place in the final after scraping past a resilient Tunisia side in the first semi-final of the day.
Granted, both Namibia and Tunisia did not play their best rugby, as overnight rains resulted in a wet and damp outfield at the match venue, forcing both sides to rely more on their kickers.
By the time Zimbabwe and Kenya took to the field around midday local time, the sun was out, with the only remaining obstacle being slight winds.
In the end, however, that weather counted for very little, as Kenya outclassed the Junior Sables, taking a 23-6 lead into the break. Zimbabwe never really recovered.
The East Africans got on the scoreboard through tries from winger Brian Kipanu, Abdul Onyango, Michael Oduor, Kelvin Kinyanjui and Ezekiel Okello.
Fullback Faith Mukami added two penalties and two conversions.
In turn, Zimbabwe could only muster two tries from Vimbiso Gwashawamayi and replacement Kudzai Kadzimu, while flyhalf Connor Lovatt added three penalties and a conversion.
Another replacement, Denzel Dhave, added a further conversion.
Zimbabwe will rue their chances, as Kenya made them pay for an awful start to the game.
Their limited raids into the Kenya 22 saw the Junior Sables shoot themselves in the foot, as either they made unforced errors or the final pass eluded them.
In turn, Kenya defended well, and the East Africans only conceded their first try deep into the second half.
They got on the scoreboard through tries from Kipanu and Oduor, both against the run of play, as Kenya utilised their backline players to full effect.
The deficit could have been bigger going into the break, but fullback Kadzimu missed both conversions.
Onyango then added a converted try to make it 23-6 at the break.
At this juncture, it looked like a total blowout was on the cards, but Zimbabwe came back stronger in the second half thanks to a pep talk from their gaffer, Shaun De Souza, during the break.
Lovatt slotted his third penalty soon after the restart.
With Kenya a man down after forward Ezekiel Otuoma was sent to the sin bin for foul play, Zimbabwe made full use of their numerical advantage.
This time it was Gwashawamayi who touched down for the Junior Sables’ first try of the game.
Lovatt duly converted to put Zimbabwe within two converted tries of tying the match.
Unfortunately for Zimbabwe, Kenya hit back immediately and decisively, as tries from Kelvin Kinyanjui and Ezekiel Okello put the game beyond their reach.
Mukami converted one of the tries, but that was enough to guarantee the win as the clock ran out and Kenya defended well.
Zimbabwe did get a consolation try from the bench, as Kadzimu touched down, with Dhave converting.
Speaking after the match, Junior Sables skipper Takudzwa Matsvimbo alluded to the poor first-half display as one of the chief reasons behind the loss.
“Yeah, we did not come out the blocks with our best foot forward and, pretty much, never recovered after that,” said Matsvimbo.
“We didn’t capitalise on our chances and Kenya punished us for that,” he added.
His opposite number, Kenya’s Kyavon Amunga, was ecstatic to get the win.
“We trained and executed our coach’s plan very well,” he said.
“We fought from start to finish and I am very proud of the boys,” he added.
On the final, the Kenya skipper said: “We go back to the drawing board and work on our mistakes before the final.
“We last won this trophy back in 2024 and we want to win it again.
“We will fight from start to finish against Namibia in the final.”
