ZIMBABWE'S national rugby team, the Sables, began their Rugby Africa Cup title defence and 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign with a dominant 43 - 8 victory over Morocco at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday. The decisive win in the quarter-finals earned the defending champions a spot in Sunday's semi-finals against Kenya. Despite challenging weather conditions, the Sables showcased their resilience and skill. Head coach Pieter Benade acknowledged the team's adaptability. "I think you can see that Zimbabweans like to play in sunny conditions, so we managed to end the game well. Our trip to Korea certainly helped there when we were playing in torrential rain, handling the wet conditions," he said.Star flyhalf Ian Prior was instrumental in the Sables' victory, earning the Most Valuable Player award for his spectacular performance. Prior was a true catalyst, orchestrating the attack with delightful vision and a kicking masterclass. He amassed an impressive 23 points through penalties and conversions, showcasing his precision even in the wet conditions. The Sables' scoring was a team effort, with fullback Tapiwa Mafura, wingers Edward Sigauke and Trevor Gurwe, and replacement back-row Dylan Utete all scoring tries. Although Morocco's hooker Hassan Haimiche put his team ahead with an early try, the Zimbabweans quickly asserted their authority, particularly in a dominant second-half display, after leading 16-5 at halftime. Zimbabwe will meet Kenya in the semis on Sunday. The East Africans booked their place in the semis after beating Uganda 32-24 in the other quarter-final clash. Benade anticipates a tough challenge. "We are taking it one game at a time. This was a tricky assignment; the Moroccans have done well in the past year. We are playing a regional powerhouse, so we have to be at our best if we are going to win the semi-final." For Morocco, their Rugby Africa Cup campaign continues in the classification round, where they will face Uganda, battling to avoid relegation from the top tier of African
