By every measure, the Mongers have so far overachieved and could still have one more win left in them in the regular season.
Mongers have only suffered two losses this season, with the latest coming against the Buffaloes at Graveyard.
For two Game Weeks, Mongers were on top of the table until they met Pirates and crumbled at Kings Park Arena. These have been the biggest tests for the Mongers, who also managed to grind out wins against Impis and Walukuba.
Against Impis in Entebbe, the Mongers showed resilience for the whole 80 minutes and managed to win with a single point. That same fight was evident against the Buffaloes in the first half, but disappeared in the second, something Uganda 15s international Robin Odrua summed up in two words: Concentration and Communication.
“I think it all comes down to concentration. We tend to peak when the game has just started, but as it goes on, we lose that awareness. It also comes down to communication, because I believe we communicated better at the start against Buffaloes and that made defence easy,” remarked Odrua, who was part of the technical bench last Saturday.
Once the Mongers lock in for the full game and get their communication right, they are capable of getting a result from the Victoria Sharks. The Sharks tend to get frustrated when the game isn’t going their way, as we’ve seen against the Heathens. On the other hand, Mongers at home are a team of character and are still unbeaten in Entebbe.
Last season, Mongers narrowly survived the knife, but have come back stronger despite losing key players like Mark William Lukwago and their coach, Brian Makalama.
Odrua has missed the larger part of the regular season, but has hinted on a return in the playoffs, while crediting Mongers’ resurgence on team bonding.
“I believe rugby is a game that is won more off the pitch than on it. If there is chemistry between the players outside the field, then it becomes easier to replicate that on the field. The players are playing for each other, and I believe when you play for your brother, it’s always a big deal regardless of the odds,” notes Odrua in his technical capacity.
Mongers is one point ahead of the Sharks on the championship table, but that gap and position could change this Saturday.