BY FORTUNE MBELE
SABLES coach Brendan Dawson is expecting a tough test of character for his youthful side when they tackle a more experienced Kenya side in a Victoria Cup fixture at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds this afternoon.
The Sables and the Simbas are unbeaten so far in the competition, but the East Africans have the physiological advantage of having dominated their Zimbabwean counterparts in the last three years.
Last year, the Sables, who were under the tutelage of former Springboks coach Peter de Villers lost 45-36 in Nairobi while in 2017 the Simbas also won 22–41 at Hartsfield.
Dawson, who took over from De Villiers two months ago, is confident his boys could upset the Kenyans, although he is anticipating a tough challenge from the Kenyans.
“We expect nothing, but the best from Kenya. They are a top quality unit. Hard competitive rugby is what we expect from them. It is going to be tough because we have got a very young side, a bunch of youngsters that we are building to take over and go into the next World Cup qualifiers. It is going to be hard for them, 90% of them don’t have Test experience. Kenya are a very improved side and still have old boys in their set-up, but I am confident the boys can step up and give Kenya a good game,” Dawson said.
Skipper Hilton Mudariki said victory would not be the only focus for his charges against the Kenyans.
“We are going into this game wanting to win, but I think for us it is just about the process, achieving our game plan. We have done some analysis on Kenya. This game is about us and what we want to achieve as a team. We are not too focused on the Kenyans, but on the way we want to play. We want to play a certain brand of rugby and it’s what we are working on going into tomorrow’s game,” Mudariki explained.
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Meanwhile, Kenya coach Paul Odera, whose side managed wins over Uganda and Zambia so far in the competition says Zimbabwe are their toughest opponents in the Victoria Cup.
“Zimbabwe are our toughest opponents in this Victoria Cup. They travelled away to Kampala which is always tough for any team and they came out with a good result. They beat Zambia as well. So its two unbeaten teams and probably tomorrow’s result might decide the course of the Victoria Cup in 2019. That is not lost on us and we still have two more games to play but the result will go a long way in determining how we approach the next two games,” Odera said.
Sables team to face Kenya: 1 Tyran Fagan, 2 Keith Murray, 3 David Makanda, 4 Godwin Mangenje, 5 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Biselele Tshamala (vice-captain), 7 Brian Nyaude, 8 Njabulo Ndlovu, 9 Hilton Mudariki, 10 Dudlee White Sharpley, 11 Matthew McNab, 12 Ngoni Chibuwe, 13 Shingirai Katsvere, 14 Takudzwa Kumadiro, 15 Martin Mangongo
Replacements: 16 Matthew Mandioma, 17 Tatenda Rwenyu, 18 Royal Mwale, 19 Blithe Mavesere, 20 Aiden Burnett, 21 Tarisai Mugariri, 22 Kuziwakwashe Kazembe
