Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Canada……………………….. (16) 23
Zimbabwe…………………….. (0) 19
THE Sables’s 19-23 loss to Canada at the Princess Auto Stadium yesterday outlined their biggest weaknesses as indiscipline, turnovers and inability to last the full 80 minutes proved to be their Achilles Heel.
In the tournament opener against Tonga, the Sables had a final 20-minute surge that saw them bring some respectability to their 36-26 loss.
And last weekend, Zimbabwe surrendered a three-point halftime lead to go on and lose 31-15 to the United States.
It was once again a match of two halves against hosts Canada.
The two sides met for the first time, with both looking to avoid ending the first half of their Nations Cup campaign without a victory.
Unwavering defence defined the opening exchanges as neither side could find an early breakthrough.
However, it was the Canada fullback who broke the deadlock with two penalties that put the hosts in front.
The game then experienced a 30-minute delay due to lightning near the match venue.
When play resumed, Zimbabwe’s disciplinary problems resurfaced as they conceded their first try of the game with Mason Flesch crossing over.
Nelson duly converted, sending Canada into halftime with a 13-0 advantage.
Zimbabwe’s misfortunes were further compounded as the Sables lost their talismanic fullback Tapiwa Mafura, who was forced to limp off the pitch in discomfort.Zimbabwe, however, came back from the breather a totally different outfit, led by the bomb squad quartet of Ian Prior, Cleopas Kundiona, Dion Khumalo, and Liam Larkin.
The trio of Kundiona, Larkin, and Khumalo touched down for Zimbabwe, while Prior added two conversions.
Unfortunately, Nelson proved to be the difference-maker as the Canadian fullback added another penalty and converted Calixto Martinez’s try, as the hosts survived the late Sables surge to come away with their first win of the campaign. The Sables could have stolen it at the death when they launched one last attack from deep inside their own half, but a crucial handling error brought the game to an end.
Sables’ captain, Tino Mavesere, said:
“There are a lot of positives to take and, unfortunately, today we just couldn’t quite catch up.”
Mavesere was not entirely wrong, as Zimbabwe dominated every crucial statistic for possession and territory.
The Sables had 54 percent possession to Canada’s 46.
Zimbabwe also made more passes in attack with 136, compared to the hosts’ 121.The Sables won 14 line-outs and seven scrums, compared to Canada’s 13 and six.
However, it was on the defensive end that Zimbabwe were found wanting. The Sables conceded 13 penalties compared to the hosts’ eight.
Canada also made 180 tackles defensively, compared to Zimbabwe’s 101.
The hosts were left the happier of the two sides, with Canada captain Andrew Quattrin saying:
“We righted the wrongs of seven days ago.“We did a phenomenal job tonight, especially with our kick-chase.”
