Rugby Cranes raid Kenya to fix poor Gold Cup start

What you need to know:

  • Rugby. Coach John Duncan admitted that his side knows it’s not going to be easy but at the same time not ruling out upsetting the odds by getting one over Kenya.

KAMPALA. The Rugby Cranes opened their Gold Cup/ World Cup Qualifiers’ campaign not in the best of fashions.
They were on the receiving end of a 55-6 margin against Namibia in Windhoek reducing their World Cup qualification and Gold Cup hopes.
Two weeks later, they find themselves in a backyard they have barely enjoyed playing at.
Ngong Road, RFUEA grounds has never been a good hunting ground for the Rugby Cranes with a sole win in the last 10 outings.
Today’s meeting will definitely echo what transpired last year when two East African rivals met at the same grounds. Uganda started slow but picked up and proved to be a pain to the Simbas, had it not been a penalty try at the death, Uganda would have added on their sole win at the home of Kenya rugby.
Coach John Duncan admitted that his side knows it’s not going to be easy but at the same time not ruling out upsetting the odds by getting one over Kenya.
“A result is vital in Kenya. The players have responded well to the intensity of training and there is a positive vibe in the camp,” South African coach Duncan told SCORE.
“They are under no illusions that it’s going to be tough, but not impossible to get the desired result.”
A lot has changed since in both camps. Kenya has a new coach in New Zealander Ian Snook and the Kiwi has stamped his signature on the side with a different style of play. On the other hand, Uganda seem to have shifted a gear down but games like today’s always provide the best platform to rediscover the missing finesse.

RUGBY AFRICA GOLD CUP

Kenya vs. Uganda, 4pm
Ngong Road, Nairobi