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Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Sables technical team has made two changes to the starting line up of the team which defeated Madagascar 57-22 on Saturday for today’s 2015 International Rugby Board Rugby World Cup African qualifier against Namibia at the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Hooker Keith Murray makes way for Matthew Mandioma in the front row while on the side of the scrum, Ireland-based Graeme Lawler is replaced by South Africa-based Njabulo Ndlovu. Murray and Lawler have been relegated to the bench. Changes on the bench see Farai Mudariki, Schalk Ferreira and Danny Robertson completely dropped with their places taken up by yet to be capped prop Lawrence Cleminson, United Kingdom-based Kingsley Lang and Gerald Sibanda who plays club rugby in Scotland.
Liam Middleton, the team’s technical director, said the clash against Namibia presents a different challenge as that posed by Madagascar. On the changes made, Middleton feels that Mandioma and Ndlovu bring with them ball carrying abilities which should work well for Zimbabwe, especially in the first half.
“It’s very much a case of horses for courses. Madagascar, Namibia and Kenya are all very different teams. We feel that Mandioma and Ndlovu will bring the carrying ability that we feel will work for us in the first half.
“Keith Murray and Graeme Lawler both played well in the last game, so this is a tactical change as is the change of Sibanda for Robertson,’’ said Middleton.
Zimbabwe need a win over problematic Namibia to keep alive their hopes of automatically qualifying for the Rugby World Cup in England next year. While Zimbabwe recorded a resounding victory over Madagascar, favourites Namibia saw their campaign get off to a disastrous start when they were beaten 29-22 by Kenya on the same day, which puts pressure on the Namibians to win against Zimbabwe.
It is not going to be an easy task for the Sables since the Namibians have dominated the last few meetings between the two teams, even though their loss to Kenya must give Zimbabwe some hope.
Sables coach Brendan Dawson will once again look to Cheetahs skipper Jacques Leitao who had a terrific match against Madagascar with four tries with the other tries on the day coming from centre Rian O’Neill and loose forward Lambert Groenewald. Golden Lions flyhalf Guy Cronje kicked in six conversions while his replacement Lenience Tambwera weighed in with one conversion kick.
A win for Zimbabwe with a match on Sunday against Kenya still to come will almost guarantee the Sables of their first appearance at a Rugby World Cup since 1991. Even if Zimbabwe lose today, all hope would not be lost as they can still finish in second place which will see them going on to play in an inter confederation play off for a place in England next year.
Zimbabwe Sables starting lineup against Namibia
1 Denford Mutamangira 2 Matthew Mandioma 3 Kevin Nqindi 4 Jan Ferreira 5 Sanele Sibanda
6 Njabulo Ndlovu 7 Jacques Leitao 8 Lambert Groenewald 9 Hilton Mudariki 10 Guy Cronje 11 Stephan Hunduza 12 Rian O’’Neill 13 Daniel Hondo (captain) 14 Tafadzwa Chitokwindo 15 Tangai Nemadire
Replacements
16 Keith Murray 17 Pieter Joubert 18 Lawrence Cleminson 19 Graeme Lawler 20 Kingsley Lang
21 Peter Du Toit 22 Lenience Tambwera 23 Gerald Sibanda
Technical team
Director of rugby: Liam Middleton
Head coach: Brendan Dawson
Assistant coach: Cyprian Mandenge
derick.khumalo