After a disappointing loss to Namibia that shook both morale and momentum, the Junior Sables responded in emphatic fashion on Tuesday with a commanding 78-20 victory over Tunisia in the 2025 Rugby Africa Barthes Trophy. The win comes at a crucial time, reviving hopes and pride after a bruising 41-22 defeat at the hands of Namibia.
The match against Namibia had exposed key areas of concern for Zimbabwe’s under-20 side, particularly in the first half where Namibia ran in four unanswered tries. Despite rallying back in the second half with a spirited hat-trick of tries, Zimbabwe ultimately couldn’t close the gap. That loss made the Tunisia clash a must-win, not just for points but for confidence and continuity.
From the first whistle against Tunisia, the Sables looked transformed. Fast-paced, aggressive, and focused, they quickly took control of the match with a flurry of early tries. Their physicality at the breakdown and dominance in set-pieces gave them the upper hand throughout. Tunisia, although improving steadily as a rugby nation, struggled to match the power and precision of the Sables. The North Africans, known for flashes of French-inspired flair, were unable to express themselves under sustained pressure.
A noticeable shortfall for Tunisia continues to be size and physical endurance. In tournament rugby, this often results in cumulative fatigue and a drop in performance, particularly during the latter stages. Zimbabwe exploited this, running in multiple second-half tries to seal the comprehensive 78-20 victory.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Namibia and Kenya faced off in what was widely regarded as the unofficial final. Namibia maintained their dominance, edging Kenya 32-22 in a tightly contested battle. With two wins under their belt and only Tunisia left to play, Namibia are well on course to qualify for the Junior World Trophy.
For Zimbabwe to progress, they must defeat Kenya by a sizeable margin—at least 30 points—and hope for an unlikely Tunisia upset over Namibia. It’s a tough ask, especially after months of rigorous preparation under head coach Shaun de Souza, but the Junior Sables will be looking to finish strong when the final round of fixtures takes place on Sunday, 27th April.
