Rugby Cranes’ Conrad Wanyama (with the ball) skips a tackle from a Zambian player during the Victoria Cup game last weekend
Until last Saturday, October 28, when Uganda beat Zambia 30-8 in the opening fixture of the Victoria Cup, the rugby Cranes 15s side had not played an international test match since July 2022.
That happened to have been the 2023 rugby World Cup qualifiers held in France. After suffering a walloping by Kenya 7-42 in the quarterfinals of the qualifiers, Uganda won two academic placement games against Senegal 30-29 and 18-17 over Ivory Coast to finish fifth out of the eight African nations that competed at the final round of qualifiers.
Unfortunately for Kenya, they also suffered a 0-36 annihilation at the hands of Namibia, the second of two African nations that were at the 2023 World Cup. Yet, Kenya, ranked 33 in the world, remain a formidable opponent for Uganda, who are ranked 42, meaning that this weekend’s clash in the Victoria Cup at King’s Park in Bweyogerere should prove a watershed moment as to where Uganda stand in 15s rugby on the global stage.
Rugby Cranes coach Fred Mudoola said: “It is going to be a huge test for us. Considering that we have not played any competitive rugby for over a year, it is inevitable that you stagnate. But we have been working hard in training, and I am impressed by the players’ good spirit.”
Yet, even with good spirit, Mudoola does not hide away from the fact that although they beat Zambia, it was still evident that they have a lot to work on.
The speed of play and overall application of the team is still low. First, team cohesion is definitely not fully there because Mudoola is also bedding in a number of new players.
It will take time before the likes of Nathan Bwambale, Hakim Ssembusi, Nicholas Kato, Mark Omoding, Joaquim Chisano, and Sydney Gongodyo, among others, hit to the water like ducks. A test against a team like the Kenya Simbas could not have come at a better time for them and Mudoola!
Source: The Observer
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