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ZIMBABWE A secured a narrow 46-30 victory over the Manicaland Province select side at Harare Sports Club on Saturday but the match was far from a one-sided affair.
Despite dominating possession, Zimbabwe A featuring several Sables internationals who are expected to form the core of the senior national team, had to battle hard to overcome a spirited Manicaland team.
Such players like the returning Lenience Tambwera, Brian Nyaude, Aiden Burnett, Kudzai Mashawi, and Tonderai Chiwambutsa were among those who have previous Sables experience who lined up for Zim A.
Yet it was the visitors, supported by a vocal contingent of fans from Mutare, who made a surprising start, capitalising on Zimbabwe A’s indiscipline to take an early lead through three well-converted penalty kicks.
However, Zimbabwe A’s superior ball-handling and aerial prowess eventually paid off, as they began to exert pressure on the Manicaland defence.
The home side’s dominance was rewarded with several tries, but Manicaland remained in the contest thanks to their own attacking flair and opportunistic play. A couple of turnovers and some defensive lapses from Zimbabwe A allowed Manicaland to score three tries of their own, keeping the score close for much of the match.
Zimbabwe A coach Piet Benade, who is also the national team mentor, had emphasized the need to give opportunities to new players and experiment with different combinations ahead of the upcoming tours to the United Arab Emirates and Korea.
The match against Manicaland provided a valuable opportunity to assess the squad’s strengths and weaknesses.
It also provided players from either side with a chance to impress Benade and his watching team of selectors.
The stakes will be even higher in the next two weeks as Zimbabwe A faces off against the Zimbabwe Under-20 select side in a highly anticipated two-match series.
The clash between these two talented teams promises to be a thrilling spectacle for rugby fans in Zimbabwe.
Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza is looking at assembling a string side that will reclaim the Barthes Trophy which Zimbabwe surrendered on home soil this year.
Success in the Barthes also guarantees the Junior Sables a ticket to compete in the World Junior Trophy, itself a platform to stake a claim at the more glamourous “Big Boys Club” of the World Junior Championships.
Excitement has been building in the two national teams with Sables’ gaffer Benade and De Souza having their focus firmly fixed on 2025 Africa Cup success and the Barthes Trophy triumph respectively.
Online Reporter