ZIMBABWE rugby team coach Cyprian Mandenge believes Saturday’s bruising encounter against a physical Tunisian side was the ideal preparation they needed ahead of next month’s Africa Cup title decider against Namibia in Windhoek.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The Sables were given their first real test in this year’s Africa Cup Group 1A competition by a physical Tunisian side but were still good enough to come out with a 19-8 win at Prince Edward School on Saturday.
The victory stretched the Sables’ unbeaten run over Tunisia to four matches, dating back to May 1990.
It was also Zimbabwe’s second successive victory in the Africa Cup competition after the 28-20 win over Kenya last month.
Flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya contributed 11 points with the boot from a conversion and three penalties while his replacement Lenience Tambwera converted a late penalty just before the final whistle.
The Sables’ only try of the match was scored by lock Fortune Chipendu in the 26th minute.
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“There’s obviously some room for improvement, but looking ahead I think the way they (Tunisia) played is probably the same way that Namibia is going to play,” Sables coach Cyprian Mandenge said in his assessment of the team’s performance.
“If I can compare with the match against Kenya I believe this was a proper Test match because Tunisia had also come to play. I know people might say the team didn’t play well but I believe the boys stuck to their systems and we are definitely headed in the right direction,” he said.
Mandenge, who is hoping to lead the national side to their first win over old nemesis Namibia since 2001 said his charges had the self-belief that they can finally break the jinx.
“We just need to improve on one or two things. I was speaking to the boys after the match and they all want to beat Namibia. I believe it can be done, all we need is a bunch of happy players and I believe as a coach I have that at the moment and everyone is united for a common purpose,” he said.
Tunisia coach Mohammed Sahroui blamed his team’s defeat on their first half performance. “We didn’t play well in the first half, we made too many mistakes and the Zimbabwe team took advantage. I was happy that we managed to improve as the match went on and we dominated in the second half. Obviously we are disappointed to have been relegated to Group 1B but I’m confident we will come back. We have a young team which we believe will dominate in the future so that we not only come back in Group 1A but also qualify for the World Cup in 2019,” said Sahroui.
