By Kuchineyi Lewis
Zimbabwe’s quest to return to the global stage received a major boost on earlier today as the Sables thrashed Morocco 43–8 in their opening Rugby Africa Cup match, reigniting hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Playing under rainy skies at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, the Sables delivered a complete performance, weathering an early Moroccan onslaught before shifting gears to dominate the remainder of the contest.
Flyhalf Ian Prior was at the heart of the victory, orchestrating play with precision and earning most valuable player of the match honours.
His two early penalties settled Zimbabwe after Morocco had stunned them with an unconverted try inside the first five minutes.
What followed was a determined first half marked by heavy rain and a fierce battle up front, with both packs slugging it out.
Zimbabwe settled into the game and showed a lot of class as the weather eased and the conditions improved.
Prior’s accurate kicking and the Sables’ disciplined forward play gradually turned the tide with solid possession and sharper backline execution, stretched Morocco’s defence and began to score at will.
The second half belonged entirely to the Sables, who ran in a series of well-worked tries that showcased the depth and flair in both their starting lineup and their “bomb squad” of finishers off the bench.
Morocco managed a late consolation try, but the game was long out of their reach.
Captain Hilton Mudariki, who marked his 54th cap, lauded his team’s character and strength in depth.
“We are very happy with the win. Quite a bit of grit was needed because of the weather in the beginning, but the boys held on well.
“I particularly loved how our bomb squad came on in the end and followed through with the same momentum.
“It shows depth in our squad. Like I said before the tournament started, we will take it game by game,” Mudariki said.
The emphatic win guarantees Zimbabwe a place in the semi-finals, where they will meet either hosts Uganda or fierce rivals Kenya, depending on the outcome of their encounter.
