Zimbabwe's Sables eye historic World Cup berth in ...

Zimbabwe's Sables eye historic World Cup berth in Namibia Showdown

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

The stakes couldn't be higher for Zimbabwe's national rugby team, the Sables, as they prepare to face perennial rivals Namibia this Saturday in the Rugby Africa Men's Cup final.

The victor in this highly anticipated clash in Namboole will secure a coveted spot at the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, a dream that has eluded Zimbabwe since their last appearance in 1991.

While Namibia have been a consistent presence at the Rugby World Cup since their debut in 1999, the Sables, reigning Rugby Africa Men’s Cup champions, are desperate to end their long qualification drought.

For Ian Prior, the Australian-born scrum-half with deep Zimbabwean roots, the prospect of representing his heritage nation on the biggest stage is a powerful motivator.

"These are the games that you play for as a player – Grand Finals. Games like this can change the course of people’s careers, not only players but also administrators, coaches. It’s really exciting and it’s great to be a part of it this weekend," said the former Western Force player.

Prior acknowledged the immense effort that has gone into reaching this point. "We’ve given ourselves a shot, which is very pleasing, given all the hard work that has gone in from a lot of people from inside and outside of the team over the last 12 to 18 months to get us to this position."

Despite reaching the final, Prior believes the Sables haven't yet unleashed their full potential in the tournament. "And now it is time to go and enjoy it for what it is. Playing for that spot in the World Cup is really exciting, and the cool thing from a team perspective is that we haven’t really played to our potential yet in this tournament."

Zimbabwe's journey to the final has seen them overcome challenging conditions and determined opponents. They comfortably dispatched Morocco 43-9 in the quarter-finals despite wet weather, before edging out Kenya 29-23 in a thrilling semi-final last Sunday.

Known for their free-flowing, attacking style and penchant for scoring fantastic tries from deep, the Sables have also found a new reliance on Prior's precision kicking. His boot has been instrumental in both knockout victories, contributing a remarkable 37 points – more than half the team’s total – including a crucial late drop goal against Kenya's Simbas.

"We had a wet game, first game, and in the second game, Kenya put us under defensive pressure, and they were quite physical, so we haven’t been really able to unlock our (attacking) game as much as we’d have wanted to," Prior explained. "But I think we have adjusted really well, to show we are a test match side in terms of how we have adapted our game to suit the conditions and to suit the teams we are playing."

Prior anticipates another physically demanding encounter against Namibia. The Sables famously defeated the Welwitschias 32-10 in last year’s semi-finals, marking their first win over Namibia in 23 years and only their third in history.

"They’re a quality side, they have shown that in the last seven (Rugby World Cup) campaigns," he stated. "They’re a well-drilled side, they’ll bring some defensive pressure, they’re strong in the set-piece, and it is up to us to make sure we utilise our tools in the game and put our best foot forward in the 80 minutes. At the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to, who executes it best for those 80 minutes."

At 37 by the time the next tournament kicks off, a Rugby World Cup appearance for Zimbabwe would be a fitting culmination to Prior's distinguished career. A Super Rugby winner with the Queensland Reds and one of only three Western Force players to reach 100 appearances, Prior gave up full-time rugby last year.

"I don’t know too much about the history of previous campaigns, where we have made it to the final and had a shot. I can’t remember the last time when that was as a nation. So to have earned our way here is really exciting," he confessed.

"Obviously, that World Cup carrot has been a goal of mine to keep going, to keep waking up at 5:30 and go to gym before I go to work and then coming back from work, picking up the kids and going to do extra training on my own, because I am not in a full-time, professional environment anymore, kicking balls down at the local park and at my local club, Associates RUFC," he elaborated on the sacrifices. "It’s almost taken me back to when I was trying to make it as a pro, doing all hours, outside of your work, outside of your study, and now I have got a young family and a wife. They’ve been very understanding of the sacrifices I have had to make; it is time away from them, so I am looking forward to making that count on Saturday."

In his six caps, Prior has amassed an impressive 80 points and remains undefeated in a Zimbabwean test jersey, a shirt he wears with immense pride. "For someone who has plied his trade in Super Rugby for 14 years and always had test ambitions, to represent my heritage nation where my family all come from – I am the only Aussie born in my family – is pretty special," he admitted.

On the opposing side, Namibia's head coach Jacques Burger embodies national pride. The former "devil-may-care" flanker played in three Rugby World Cups for Namibia and is now driven to guide his team to a fourth, ensuring his players experience the unparalleled thrill he knew in 2007, 2011, and 2015.

The Welwitschias are on course for an eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, having secured their spot in this year’s Rugby Africa Men’s Cup final with a 21-7 victory over Algeria.

"It’s a sense of pride you can’t explain, standing there singing your national anthem, and knowing people back home are supporting you, and obviously, people are supporting you there as well," said Burger. "Getting an opportunity to play against the world’s best rugby players is an unbelievable experience, and I have been fortunate enough to experience that. Everybody here, all the teams, that’s what they fight for, to get that opportunity, to represent their country at a World Cup."

Burger emphasized the lasting impact of World Cup participation. "Careers don’t last forever, but the memories you make as players are everlasting. We want to make sure we make some great memories together, and in order to do that, we have to be successful. We have to work hard, fight hard, and stick together through the tough times. The World Cup is the ultimate goal and we’ll make sure we do everything possible to qualify."

For the team that loses this weekend, the Rugby World Cup 2027 dream isn't entirely over. The runner-up will face the United Arab Emirates next weekend in the Asia/Africa play-off, with the winner earning a spot at the Final Qualification Tournament in November.