Critical to start well in tough Rugby WC race

Today is the start of Uganda national team’s rather grueling and perhaps most important rugby season. Rugby Cranes host eternal foes Kenya in the annual Elgon Cup.
The annual ritual remains a big crowd puller but it’s importance has dwindled with the introduction of the Africa Gold Cup.
“Yes, we still want the Elgon Cup but the main focus remains on the other one (the Gold Cup,” coach Robert Seguya reminded the media on Wednesday.
The statement is a copy and paste from exactly 12 months ago. Yes, watering down the oldest rivalry is smart. However, today is a critical moment for the superseding period.
Rugby Cranes would love to upstage Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia to book a ticket in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan or at least finish second to go into the playoff round.
To do that, a good start to the year will send a message of intent for the next two months. Today is a chance to set the tone. Like is often the case with amateur, the only certainty is change.

Captaincy change
It would be great for coaches John Duncan and Seguya to build on the successes of the recent past, especially last year when Uganda won three, lost two and drew one of the six games.
Now, the team has to deal with a sea change. For the first time since 2008, front row Brian Odongo and Michael Wokorach, the captain and vice-captain of the recent past respectively, aren’t in the set up.
Odongo is injured while Wokorach has been ‘rested’ ahead of July’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, USA.
Their captaincy roles have been taken by Asuman Mugerwa and Justin Kimono. The pair are the total opposite of Odongo and Wokorach. They often lead by showing the way and not talk.
Seguya backed them. “I need someone who will lead the side as the rest look up to him and he has it all. They are devoted, committed and respect everyone without compromising the vison of the team.”
New front row
With the captaincy conundrum done, Odongo, arguably Uganda’s best prop of the last decade, leaves a gaping hole in the scrum.
Three of the six front rowers will earn their first cap. Edgar Pajob, Paul Ssekate and Nathan Bwambale will play for the first time.
Neither Adnan Mutebi, only picked last year, nor Saul Kivumbi, who joined the set up in 2016, can boast five caps. Both are yet to start a game.
Ssekate will do the hooking and like former skipper Adrian Bukenya said on NTV Pressbox this week, “Most of what they will do at the line-out is muscle memory.”
The Sadolin Mongers combined well with Toyota Buffaloes’ lock Simon Olet in the trial games against The Barbarians last month. Marvin Odongo is the other ‘jumping’ option.
At least, the bulk of the back row is intact from last year with the two halfbacks, Ivan Kirabo and Ivan Magomu, resuming their symmetry.
In addition, a lethal fullback in Philip Wokorach is worth every penny paid at the gate. Ahead of a long season, the less-desired Elgon Cup could as well be the most important game after all.

STARTING XV:
Asuman Mugerwa (captain), Paul Ssekate, Edgar Pajob, Simon Olet, Robert Aziku, Brian Asaba, Eliphaz Emong, Marvin Odongo, Ivan Kirabo, Ivan Magomu, Justin Kimono (vice-captain), Pius Ogena, Eric Mula, James Odongo, Adrian Kasito.
SUBSTITUTES:
Saul Kivumbi, Adnan Mutebi, Nathan Bwambale, Byron Oketayot, Musa Muwonge, Ian Munyani, Philip Wokorach, Aaron Ofoyrwoth.

RUGBY CRANES SCHEDULE

ELGON CUP – TODAY
Uganda vs. Kenya, 4pm
BUILD UP GAMES
MAY 29: Uganda vs.FS Cheetahs B
JUNE 2: Uganda vs. FS Cheetahs B
AFRICA GOLD CUP FIXTURES
JUNE 16: Namibia vs. Uganda
JULY 7: Kenya vs. Uganda
(also Elgon Cup)
AUGUST 4: Uganda vs. Tunisia
AUGUST 11: Uganda vs. Morocco
AUGUST 18: Uganda vs. Zimbabwe