Zimbabwe Sevens coach Liam Middleton learned this week that his charges have been given the honour of playing Wales in the opening match of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai, a ‘great occasion’ for the team at a tournament he hopes marks the beginning of a bright future for his nation.
Middleton has already helped to revive the fortunes of his homeland Zimbabwe, having offered his services back in 2003 to help Bruce Hobson find a way through the difficult times and securing qualification for RWC Sevens 2009 was a key element of this recovery.
“It was definitely important to qualify,” admitted Middleton. “Unfortunately after the World Cup in 2001 the structures broke down a little bit and in about 2003 I met up wit Bruce Hobson, who was then manager of Sevens, and we put our heads together. Bruce really had the organisational ability and was involved with the Union and I’ve probably got the performance side and coaching stock.
“I was in Dubai at the time when I met Bruce and Zimbabwe had lost all their games. We said look, there is a lot of potential, we can revive it, with the right coach input and organisation we can get back on track. It took a good two years to really implement good performance structures and now we have really started to see the benefits.
“If we had not qualified for the World Cup it would be something that held us back from our progression, because whatever you say it’s a huge thing, it comes around once every four years and some players only experience it once in their careers. Qualifying for this World Cup is a milestone in the country’s real development in Sevens.”
That qualification was assured once they had beaten Namibia 29-10 in the semi finals of the African regional qualifier in Tunisia on 1 November, the two finalists and third place playoff winner securing the final three places available at RWC Sevens 2009 in Dubai.
Rising to the challenge
Zimbabwe ultimately lost the final 26-14 to IRB Sevens World Series core side Kenya with Tunisia edging out Namibia for the third passage to Dubai, but one thing that impressed Middleton was the performance of the other nations in the African qualifier who tested the three fancied sides.
“I think it definitely wouldn’t be good from our perspective, we didn’t want to go to the World Cup qualifier where only three teams were in the running because it would not make for great competition and with players at this level they are really motivated by playing quality matches.
“Sevens has become a bit of cliché really in that you have got to be on your toes all the time and as Kenya found perhaps not take sides for granted … they were losing to Senegal but scored after the hooter, the next breakdown in play would have been the end of the game and end of their qualifying.
“It is great that the other African sides are able to compete with the really stronger sides like ourselves, Kenya and Tunisia. You just can’t underestimate anyone and particularly in a World Cup qualifier where a spot in an important event is a stake. It is great for there to be this other threat, it’s what makes Sevens such a great sport.”
The economic situation in Zimbabwe has understandably hindered preparations, but Middleton is determined the country’s difficulties will not be used as an excuse should his charges fail to live up to their own expectations in Dubai.
“Our preparation has been pretty good in the context of the real difficulties in the country and unfortunately we don’t want that part to overshadow what we do. I can humbly say how we prepare as an international side is not too different from how others prepare.
“We are very resourceful. We are hindered by the economic situation in the country, but from a coaching perspective it has been spot on. We qualified in late October and three weeks later we were preparing for Dubai and George, that was great preparation having the two IRB tournaments.
Realistic chance of progress
“We did pretty well, we had a couple of injuries which rocked the boat a little bit and we won the Shield in George which was another great performance and a confidence boost for us. After December we had a couple weeks break and in mid January we had a technical camp in Zimbabwe.
“We flew all the guys from the UK, including myself, and other players in for a really good three-day camp. The guys are training now, but separated around with a couple in the UK, a couple in South Africa and the others in Zimbabwe.
“I am able to have daily contact with the guys in terms of what they are doing by email and phone calls and we go into camp on the 16th. For us, with the resources we had, it has been the best preparation we could hope for.”
Zimbabwe’s first RWC Sevens competition since 2001 will see them meet Argentina and Uruguay as well as Wales in Pool F – a draw Middleton is happy with and one he believes offer the team a genuine opportunity to finish in top spot come the end of day two at The Sevens venue.
“I would say that all draws are pretty tough, but I think we tend to draw Wales and Argentina quite often. We played both of them in the last two legs of the Sevens World Series. That to me is really a pretty good confidence booster, not taking anything away from the teams in our pool.
“For nations like us, drawing New Zealand, Fiji or possibly South Africa is a stumbling block. In Wales and Argentina we have two teams we can compete against and we can win that pool. For me that is quite a good pool, of all the pools it is probably the most open pool. The team that puts in the most effort and takes it chances is going to win that pool. It is a very open pool.”
Zimbabwe's disadvantage
While Middleton is familiar with Wales and Argentina, he knows nothing about Uruguay – the first of the 15 nations to qualify for Dubai back in January 2008. However he will get an early glimpse when the South Americans play in this weekend’s USA Sevens in San Diego.
“I know nothing about them to be honest. I am going to be watching them in the San Diego Sevens. I have no idea what to expect from them, but as a World Cup qualifying side they must have something about them and to be invited to San Diego they must be relatively competitive.”
Middleton would have loved to have had the opportunity to play in either Wellington or San Diego – the third and fourth stops of the IRB Sevens World Series – to fine tune ahead of the World Cup and with their three opponents having that luxury, he admits it is not ideal.
“Definitely it is a disadvantage [for us not be playing there]. Our involvement in Dubai and George is very useful for us because it doesn’t matter how many other tournaments you play, it is never the same as playing in IRB tournaments at that level where it is extremely competitive.
“It is a big advantage to them. Even for Uruguay having the IRB tournament so close to the World Cup will be an advantage. For Argentina and Wales, having two back to back tournaments, the physicality of those two weeks, the benefits for them physically, technically and tactically for fine tuning, to be able to finalise their squad and to play against teams they will play in the World Cup.
“What we have to do is prepare as well as we can. We have invited Botswana and Zambia, two of our neighbours, to come down and join our camp in Harare and play some matches, the more conditional stuff. It is not ideal, but it is one step in that direction. There is nothing else we can do.”
Silverware the target for Dubai
These difficulties aside, what is Middleton hoping to see his side achieve in Dubai?
“I think this is a really difficult one. Every team wants to win the World Cup and everyone has got a chance. The thing about Sevens is everyone does have a chance. A smaller nation like Senegal can run Kenya close. We have turned over several core sides like Scotland and France and came within three points of Fiji in George.
“We are not going to put pressure on ourselves by saying we are going to win, we are going to the World Cup looking for a Plate or Bowl win and having sat down with the players in January in camp they were very much united on that.
“The goals really are to take one game at a time and beat every team we play. Realistically a Bowl or Plate final and a Bowl or Plate win would be a massive success for us, that is the ultimate for us, but first and foremost we are looking at process wise every game as we go.
“Taking nothing away we will give full respect to Argentina, Wales and Uruguay, but we see the pool as very open and we are going to do our best to get pools wins that day one and day two. Take every game as it comes, pick up several wins and a Bowl of Plate final.
“The opening match of any World Cup event in any sport is a great occasion and I feel that we are fortunate to be part of something like that. It’s a great opportunity for us to kick off our World Cup campaign with some exciting rugby and set the scene for everything else that follows.”
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