Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Sables find themselves on the cusp of making history when they take on Namibia in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda this afternoon.
With more than bragging rights on the line, the winner of the match will automatically book their ticket to 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The loser of today’s match will, however, have a tougher route as they have to navigate their way through the Africa/Asia play-off before making their way to the Repechage tournament.
The Repechage, officially the last chance to qualify, will be held from November 8-18 in the United Arab Emirates.
This tournament will comprise of a pool of four teams, playing in a round-robin format with the winner – on competition points – qualifying for Australia 2027.
The four teams will be comprised of the Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 third place, South America/Pacific Play-off loser, Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 fifth place (Belgium) and the winner of the Africa/Asia Play-off match.
The Africa/Asia playoff match will comprise of the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup runner-up and the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship runner-up.
Benade sticks to his guns ….. match kick off is delayed
Tinashe Kusema
ZIMBABWE head coach Piet Benade has named a relatively unchanged starting line-up for the Rugby Africa Cup final against Namibia.
Benade seems to be leaning towards consistency as he opted for the team that started in the 29-2 semi-final win over Kenya last weekend with one forced change being flanker Dylan Utete coming in for Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa.
Goofy, as Nykufaringwa has been ruled out of the match after sustaining an injury in the semi-finals.
Utete, who impressed in the previous Africa Cup clash against Namibia last year, steps into the side as his inclusion sees Godfrey Muzanargwo shift into the second row.
Meanwhile, the kick off time for the match has been pushed back 45 minutes as the day-long programme in Uganda is running late.
“Please note that due to changes in the day’s match schedule, the kick-off time for the Rugby Africa Cup Final between Zimbabwe (Sables) and Namibia has been adjusted from 16:00hrs (15:00hrs Zim time) to 16:45hrs (15:45hrs Zim time),” read a media notice coming out of Uganda
“We kindly ask all media representatives and stakeholders to update their coverage plans accordingly.
Zim take early lead
Zimbabwe……………………………. 13
Namibia………………………………. 6
THE Rugby Africa Cup final between defending champions Zimbabwe and Namibia has quickly turned into a kicking party during the opening 15 minutes of the match.
The scores are currently tied at six points with kickers Ian Pior and Namibia’s Cliven Loubser sharing two kicks each.
Namibia got the ball rolling in the seventh minute when they were awarded a penalty outside Zimbabwe’s 22 metre line after which Loubser stepped up and converted successfully.
Prior then stepped up to convert a penalty, after which he traded kicks with the Namibian fullback.
Zimbabwe then got the breakthrough after Sables forward Kudzi Mashawi capitalised on a lapse in the Namibia defense and scored the first try of the match.
Prior duly converted afterwards.
Even stevens at the break in Uganda
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe………………………… (16)
Namibia…………………………….. (16)
THE scores are tied at halftime of the Rugby Africa Cup final between Zimbabwe and Namibia at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda.
Kickers Ian Prior and Cliven Loubser have each traded two penalties and a conversion while both Zimbabwe and Namibia have each scored a try each.
The two teams look evenly matched with the game likely to be decided on who have the better boot between Sables’ flyhalf Prior and the Namibia Welwitschias’ fullback Loubser.
In fact, the only two tries to come out of the half came due to both teams taking full advantage of the numbers after the duo of Namibia’s number nine Jacques Theron and Sables’ eighth-man Jason Fraser receiving yellow cards and being sent to the sin bin.
Zimbabwe scored their try through Kudzi Mashawi while Nambia skipper Prince Gasoseb hit back for his team.
Second half starts
Online Reporter