ZIMBABWE’S dream of appearing at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is still very much alive despite the Sables’ dismal show in this year’s Gold Cup which saw them lose four matches and picked up just one win in the competition.

The Cyprian Mandenge coached Sables lost 38-12 to Uganda on Saturday to finish fifth in the six-team log standings. Rugby Africa confirmed that only Senegal have been axed from the Gold Cup while Morocco have been promoted after winning the Silver Cup.

“Namibia finish first, Kenya second, Uganda third, Tunisia, fourth, Zimbabwe fifth and Senegal have been relegated, Morocco promoted,’’ said Lola Barthes, the Rugby Africa communication and media manager.

Next year, the winner of the Gold Cup will automatically qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan while the runner up will head off to a repechage qualifier against other runners up from other continents.

It has been a poor campaign by the Denford Mutamangira led Sables who started off with a 28-16 triumph over Senegal in Dakar at the end of June. They went on to lose their remaining four matches, beaten 31-26 by Namibia in Windhoek, 41-22 by Kenya in Bulawayo, 31-23 by Tunisia in Harare and Saturday’s defeat to Uganda in Kampala.

Namibia, who have qualified for the past five Rugby World Cups were crowned Gold Cup champions on 29 July when they beat Kenya 45-7 in Windhoek.

Mandenge’s future as Sables coach is said to be under heavy scrutiny with chances high that he will be shown the exit door in a few days time as Zimbabwe Rugby Union look for a replacement who will ensure that the Sables mount a serious challenge for World Cup qualification next year.

@Mdawini_29