Africa Gold Cup (Saturday)
Senegal vs. Uganda -7pm, Dakar
After starting their quest for the Africa Gold Cup with a 33 all draw against the Kenya Simbas, the Rugby Cranes will on Saturday face off with Senegal in their second and last away game of the campaign.
Uganda’s only win in the Africa Cup last year came on away soil, a 34-27 win over the Zimbabwe Sables in Harare ensured the Cranes avoided featuring in the relegation conversation.
Zimbabwe were meant to be relegated but survived due to the expansion of tier 1A from four to six teams.
For John Duncan’s charges, it is no longer a case of trying to avoid relegation but rather a fight for the crown.
Having conceded a late penalty try that denied Uganda the victory in Nairobi, the game against Senegal – just promoted from tier 1B, presents a big chance for the 2007 champions to grab their first win of the campaign.
Discipline
In the last two games played against Kenya, the Cranes have accumulated three yellow cards and have given away lots of penalties.
Marvin Odongo, Aaron Ofoyrwoth and Pius Ogena have all been sent to the sin bin in the last two games and their mistakes have not gone unpunished.
The center referee in the first game of the Gold cup was seen delivering messages to the Ugandan captain Brian Odongo about his side’s mistakes in the scrummages.
“We have to adjust, there are few things we need to work on,” assistant coach Robert Sseguya revealed after the Kenya game.
Against Senegal, who fell 16-28 to Zimbabwe last weekend, there will be no room for error.
Changes
With open side flanker Scot Oluoch not in Senegal because of work commitments, Ronald Musajjagulanyago will take his place and partner Brian Asaba and Marvin Odongo in Uganda’s back row.
Musajjagulanyago has not featured in the last two games as he wasn’t part of the team that played in the first leg of the Elgon Cup and was an unused substitute in Nairobi last weekend.
Kevin Makmot is also set to start at scrum half with Ivan Kirabo taking his place on the bench.
Wokorach magic
After putting up a below par performance in the first leg of the Elgon Cup, Philip Wokorach rediscovered his mojo in Nairobi to lead Uganda to victory.
He split the posts on six occasions, converting four penalties and three conversions to stage a man of the match performance.
It is that sort of performance Uganda will need from the Kenya based full back for a result in Dakar.
Line breaking show
Apart from Brian Asaba’s try, the other Cranes tries came off good line breaking runs by the backs.
The wizardry exhibited by Ivan Magomu and Michael Wokorach in breaking Kenya’s defence line in the lead to Mathias Ochwo and Wokorach’s tries is a sight Duncan and his assistant Sseguya will hope to see a lot more often.
Pius Ogena and Wokorach combined well in midfield to keep the Kenya at bay.
The half backs will have to turn to the backs a lot more often than has been the case before to make use of the pace and trickery in the Ugandan backline.
Probable Lineup
Asuman Mugerwa
Alex Mubiru
Brian Odongo
Charles Uhuru
Mathias Ochwo
Brian Asaba
Ronald Musajjagulanyago
Marvin Odongo
Kevin Makmot
Ivan Magomu
James Odong
Pius Ogena
Michael Wokorach
Lawrence Ssebuliba
Philip Wokorach
Substitutes
Cyrus Wathum, Collins Kimbowa, Musa Muwonge, Adnan Mutebi, Byron Oketayot, Ivan Kirabo, Gerald Ssewankambo, Justin Kimono.