‘You play what’s in front of you’: Sables assistant coach says neighbours have been worthy opponents

BY SPORTSCAST WRITER

HARARE – Sables assistant coach Ricky Chirengende isn’t playing down the opposition’s level after Zimbabwe opened their Rugby World Cup qualification preparations with huge wins over neighbours Zambia and Botswana.

Zimbabwe hammered Botswana 80-12 at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, a week after the Sables thumped Zambia 70-15 at the same venue to begin groundwork for the defence of their Africa Cup title in Uganda early July.

The 2025 Africa Cup in the Ugandan capital Kampala will serve as Africa's final qualification tournament for the next World Cup, to be staged in Australia in 2027, making preparations for this year’s continental competition all the more important.  

With Zimbabwe’s main rivals for World Cup qualification having lined up tougher assignments in the build-up to July’s crucial showdown in Kampala, the Sables have started their programme without breaking a sweat against their lowly neighbours.

But Chirengende does not overlook the importance of those two warm-up games against Zambia and Botswana.

Sables assistant coach Ricky Chirengende.

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“In rugby, you always play what’s in front of you,” Chirengende told SportsCast on Monday.

“The last two weeks have been good for us, it shows that we have worked and we have prepared. You don’t put over 70 points twice in a row, against any opposition, if you haven’t prepared. So we are happy with our preparations.”

The Sables have played both matches against Zambia and Botswana without the bulk of the side’s key foreign-based contingent, giving an opportunity to the fringe members of the squad to raise up their hands for selection.

“The biggest thing is we’ve shown that our locally-based players can also do the job,” said Chirengende.

“So our depth is good, before we even add our guys that are based outside. So in terms of readiness, I think we still have some boxes to tick, it’s work in progress and we’ll continue working. Hopefully we can have some games in June before we head to the final showdown in Uganda but at this stage, we’re quite happy. We are happy with the time, we’re happy with where we are, we’re happy with the conditioning of our boys. It’s a good space to be in. But again, it’s not a given, our locally-based guys are hungry to be in Uganda so I think it’s a good space to be in. And massive thanks to our fans for coming to watch these last two games. I don’t think the Sables have had so much support in a while, so it was good to see Harare Sports Club packed and fans in loud voice.”