Magomu strengthens his hand with change looming
Dash To The Dust. Marvin Odongo (with ball) was unstoppable as he left Kenya’s Eric Kere (R) in his wake enroute to scoring a try. PHOTOS BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
WAVE OF CHANGE. Many observers have been stating with blanket certainty that Ochwo will be the other change for Aziku at lock. One lock who has ruled himself out of the selection puzzle is John Wandicho.
This past Monday, Robert Seguya, who could pass for pretty much anything in the Rugby Cranes backroom staff, stood in the gathering dusk at Legends Club and promised ‘four changes’ to the side that will face Kenya in an international Test on June 24.
It is safe to say that any question mark on Ivan Magomu’s position as Uganda seeks to overturn a five-point first leg deficit will come as a vulgar surprise. Much unlike his Test debut at RFUEA Ground last year where he shone in patches, the young stand-half’s second cap will be remembered with sentimental fondness.
Kenya’s customary running style dictated that Magomu be quick to make up his mind and resolute in defence. The fly-half also needed to be judicious with his kicks out of hand if he intended to come through the Test unscathed and, with any luck, his reputation enhanced. The discomfort of Kenyan fullback Tony Onyango under the high ball was a crippling weakness that was literally begging to leave a considerable blot on the tourists’ copybook. Magomu combated Kenya’s line speed by continually kicking - be it through a mixture of chips, cross-field kicks and grubbers. One of his chips sensationally set up James Odong’s try as the tourists trailed by eight points at the breather.
Kenya of course did score 13 unanswered points to draw first blood in the 13th staging of the Elgon Cup. The nine-time champions held Rugby Cranes scoreless after the breather by making it difficult for the hosts to clean out the rucks.
Little wonder, Magomu told this column that Rugby Cranes intends to ‘work on a few things such as chop defence, line speed in defence, and clearing our rucks’ ahead of the June 24 Test.
Which brings us back to the changes Seguya alluded to in the week that’s just ended. There was no room for Eric Mula in the back division despite the first centre having had a strong season with Rimula Rhinos.
Loose forward Pius Ogena was instead preferred at 12. The Buffaloes player did put in some crunching tackles, but, in the main, there was no 10 and 12 coordination. In truth, his was a lacklustre attacking performance.
Could there be an appetite for a ball-carrier at 12 during the return leg, which also doubles as a Rugby Africa Gold Cup match, on June 24? Maybe.
Many observers have been stating with blanket certainty that Mathias Ochwo will be the other change for Robert Aziku at lock. One lock who has ruled himself out of the selection puzzle is John Wandicho. The Entebbe Mongers second row forward announced his retirement from international rugby in a terse Facebook post.
There was a little giveaway line in the post with Wandicho citing ‘personal reasons’ as to why he’s retired aged just 26. Many point to a rift between the player and Seguya.
Wandicho isn’t the only player finding himself on different wavelengths with Seguya. With Test matches set to kick in quick and fast for Rugby Cranes during the next three months, many bodies will no doubt be needed to get Uganda across the finish line.
Losing someone like Wandicho couldn’t be more damning! It is for all intents and purposes a vulgar surprise!
