It's a balmy July 19 in the Ugandan city of Kampala and Ian Prior is feeling the weight of a nation.
Almost 10,000kms from his family in Perth, the Western Force centurion finds himself steering the Sables - Zimbabwe's national side and world number 26 - in their most important game since the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
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The setting? An African Cup decider against seven-time RWC qualifiers Namibia.
The stakes? Automatic qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Prior, 35, has already wound back the clock with 15 points off the tee and a try assist to put Zimbabwe ahead 30-16 with 20 minutes remaining.
But the game is quickly slipping away from the Sables.
Two quickfire tries see Namibia roar back for a 30-28 margin and the Welwitschias earn a long-range penalty goal attempt with 90 seconds remaining.
Prior holds his breath. The kick sails wide - and still the drama builds.
Zimbabwe fail to hold possession as the seconds tick away and Namibia force an 81st minute attacking scrum inside the Sables' half.
It's here - in the 81st minute of a World Cup qualifier - that replacement loosehead prop Tyran Fagan rolls up the sleeves, crushes his rival tighthead to earn a penalty, and allows Prior to boot Zimbabwe over the sideline and into the history books.
"I just remember Tyran getting a good bind and our flanker Tino Mavasere raising his arms in celebration," Prior told rugby.com.au.
"We thought we had it in the bag at 30-16 and we'd had the chance to close it out before that scrum, so winning that penalty was just one of those moments where all things came together.
"You kind of ask yourself 'have we just done this?'
"We've had players and coaches who are ex-players miss out for the past 36 years but in the weeks leading up it felt like we had our messaging right, that we were there to create change and be a part of history.
"We wanted to win and show the young boys and girls in Zimbabwe that there's a pathway and a pinnacle you can achieve in rugby.
"There was a quiet confidence heading into the game and you could see the steel in everyone's eyes. You could just tell what it meant, and the scenes at full-time were incredible."
To understand how and why Prior - a former Australia U20 representative - helped end the Sables' 36-year World Cup drought, one must first understand his African roots.
Prior was born in Bundaberg, Queensland before his family returned to Zimbabwe in 1993, where they remained until 2000.
It's there Prior fell in love with both his heritage and the game.
"I played my first game of rugby over there, no shoes, full contact," he recalled.
"Growing up as a child there was amazing. It's a pretty wild country, unique landscapes, and my extended family were all farmers.
"We spent seven years there before heading back to Australia for school.
"Zimbabwe had actually reached out to me the last few World Cup cycles about playing but I'd always had Wallabies ambitions before.
"Once they approached me again in 2024, my contract was finishing up with the Force and I thought it would be a pretty cool opportunity to represent my family and play a bit of a role."
The experienced playmaker entered Sables camp two weeks ahead of their 2024 African Cup campaign with Zimbabwe needing a first-up win over Uganda to keep their 2027 dream alive.
Sure enough, Prior shone on debut at flyhalf and helped steer Zimbabwe past Uganda before ending a 20-year win drought against Namibia in the semi finals.
He would miss their 29-3 grand final win over Algeria with earlier Force commitments but the fire was already lit.
"I figured I might try and push it out another year," Prior laughed.
"From there, it was clear to see we were building cohesion and connection and we had a few more games against South Korea and the UAE through qualifying rounds.
"Rugby funding in 'Zim' (Zimbabwe) is pretty minimal, there's not much government funding but we had good people in the building and we had purpose.
"We knew we could do something special."
Fast forward to August 2025 and Zimbabwean rugby is at an all-time high.
The Sables have their nation's pride since qualifying for the 2027 World Cup with global jersey sales skyrocketing and a further six Test matches locked into their rugby calendar.
Prior describes it as a "galvanising, celebratory moment for all Zimbabweans".
"When we won that game, our kit supplier Umbro ran out of stock in about 10 hours."
"Zimbabweans are proud people and they're all over the world - we've seen blow-up screens in Australia showing the game, sports clubs at Harare just erupting watching the team and that win means so much to so many people.
"Now we've got World Rugby funding for two three-Test series and there's flow-on effects like funding for our U18s, U20s, coaches etc.
"That's a huge step forward from no warm-up games and we've now got the chance to help develop our non-overseas pathways and get more sponsors."
After more than 150 first-class games spanning 11 years at the top, Prior would be well within his rights to call it a day.
He's already won a Super Rugby title, represented Australia, raised the bat for his beloved Western Force, and begun forging his post-rugby career with Mettle Global Holdings.
But Zimbabwe's story is just beginning - and their new general is ready for one last push towards 2027.
"Two years is a long time in sport but there's ambition for sure - that World Cup carrot is there," Prior said.
"When I got home (from World Cup qualification), my daughter had made a 'Welcome Home Dad, we're going to the World Cup' banner and that was really special.
"I'm playing over here with 'Soaks' (Perth club Associates), my work's being flexible with my travel for rugby and the training reminds me of the grind as a 17-18 year-old trying to make it.
"Training in the gym at 5:30 am most mornings before getting the kids ready for school, getting down to the local field by myself and playing club too - it's been really cool.
"Hopefully I make it and the Sables can play in Perth during the World Cup, that would be amazing to play for Zimbabwe in front of my family and friends here.
"(Former Wallabies and Sables centre) Kyle Godwin's still in pretty good shape and he played a few Tests for Zimbabwe last year - who knows, maybe we can get him across too."
