Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE recent Test rugby tie against Zambia had a polarising effect on the Zimbabwe Sables camp.
Fans and critics were expecting a total dominant performance and victories by big margins.
However, Sables coach Piet Benade, was more interested in giving as many players a run and trying out different combinations.
One player, who was given a solid run, is former Cheetahs’ captain Godfrey Magaramombe.
Magaramombe played in both matches, operating from the right wing, something that fed into his sevens rugby background.
He scored a total of three tries, including a brace during the first match held at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Grounds.
And now, he comes out to defend both his coach and fellow teammates.
“Listen, a win is a win and it deserves to be celebrated regardless of how hard it was to attain,” said Magaramombe.
“So, as a team, we are happy that we managed to win both those games.
Magaramombe believes that Zambia are a team on the rise and as such they deserve respect.
The Copper Eagles deserved a lot of credit for the way they came to play, going blow for blow, try for try during the first match and shutting out the Sables for the duration of the first half during the second. “Zambia were never a bad team to begin with,” said the Sables winger.
“We play them to give them a platform to showcase their skills and the more they improve the better it is for us as we get competitive matches out of them.“They gave us a good run during that second match at Hartsfield and I think, as a team, there are certain areas that we need to go back, look at and improve.
“The good thing to come out from that match, both even, is that there were a couple of individual players that did well and stood out.
“It’s always a good thing when people are rising above the chaos and putting their hands up.
“So, as a team we just have to go back to the drawing board, work specific areas and, hopefully, do better next time,” he said.
One particular area that Magaramombe believes needs special attention is ball retention.
“Yes, that is a key area that needs work,” said Magaramombe.“We need to work on ball retention, especially when we get into the strike zone.
“We just need to retain our ball, whether it’s from a scrum or lineout, and then we keep on attacking so that we leave the strike zone with points. “It’s one of the areas we lacked during the last game against Zambia.
“There were a lot of brilliant moments were we got into their 22 and five-metre line but we didn’t come out with points.“As much as the plays may be good, rugby without points is a bit hard to work around,” he said.
Mathew Masinge