Coach Duncan demands precision amid changes

KAMPALA.

To beat a side as gigantic and as structured as Namibia, Uganda will need to be precise and accurate, coach John Duncan has warned ahead of the Africa Gold Cup duel at Legends Rugby Club tomorrow.

It could as well come down to a penalty or try-saving tackle. “I believe in games like this you get a few chances and you need to convert those chances into points,” Duncan told Daily Monitor.

“So we are looking for precision and accuracy,” he observed. The South African tutor knows how challenging it can be playing against the five-time Rugby World Cup finalists, losing 31-40 in his second year as Cranes coach.

Namibia lead the six-team log on 15 points having bagged maximum points in all three games thus far. Kenya are second on 13 with Uganda on 11.

However, Duncan and his colleague Robert Seguya could point to 2007 when Uganda beat the southern Africans 20-19 at the venue for tomorrow’s game. Winning back then confirmed how much the Rugby Cranes had grown so much and winning the 2007 Africa Cup only affirmed how good and resilient that team was.

Some of the tackles made by hooker Alex Mubiru and centre Timothy Mudoola made them ‘heroes’. Mubiru and lock Mathias Ochwo are the only survivors from that team.

Further changes have been made to the team for tomorrow’s test after the 78-17 rout of Tunisia last Saturday with the team losing wing James Odong due to injury.

None of those changes is in the tight five where the front row of Asuman Mugerwa, Mubiru and captain Brian Odongo is retained. Ochwo has Charles Uhuru for company on the second row.

Ronald Musajjagulanyago moves to his preferred blindside flank position after an average display at eighth man. He takes Byron Oketayot’s slot with the latter dropping to the bench.

Scot Oluoch returns to replace Musajja at the base of the scrum after missing games against Tunisia and away in Dakar where Uganda beat Senegal 17-16.
In the backline, the coaches have resisted an instant recall for scrumhalf Ivan Kirabo. Aaron Ofoyrwoth retains the number 9 jersey with Ivan Markmot dropping out of the match-day 23.

An injured finger means James Odong, a starter in all five games this year scoring three tries, is out with Solomon Okia getting his first start this year.

He scored a try off the bench against Tunisia having been picked only three days to the game following Justin Kimono’s hamstring problem.

Importantly, fullback Philip Wokorach, scorer of 31 points last weekend including three tries, is fit to continue his pursuit for the top scorers’ gong.