Rugby Cranes XVs learn hard lessons
Coach Fred Mudoola.
What you need to know:
Facing the 2022 Currie Cup winners was always going to be a tall order and indeed, the Pumas’ ruthless execution exposed Uganda’s defensive frailties, game management lapses and perhaps a lack of depth in pressure moments. However, the team’s assistant coach Leo Lubambula insists the defeat served the purpose.
Rugby Cranes XVs concluded their high-performance tour of Southern Africa with a sobering 102-0 defeat to the Pumas in Nelspruit on Saturday, a result that exposed the vast gap between Uganda and some of the continent’s elite professional outfits.
The team returned home on Sunday in two batches to finalize preparations for the upcoming Rugby Africa Cup which kicks off July 8 at Namboole.
Facing the 2022 Currie Cup winners was always going to be a tall order and indeed, the Pumas’ ruthless execution exposed Uganda’s defensive frailties, game management lapses and perhaps a lack of depth in pressure moments. However, the team’s assistant coach Leo Lubambula insists the defeat served the purpose.
“The scoreboard wasn’t what we were looking at,” Lubambula said on arrival at Entebbe. “We wanted to see how deep the boys could dig. Some players really stood tall despite the result and that fight is a big positive.”
The tour started on a mixed note with a narrow 22-19 loss to Namibia in Windhoek that revealed tactical promise especially in Uganda’s structured play and kicking game. The Cranes recovered with a resounding 57-26 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls, a match where Adrian Kasito scored a hat-trick and seven other different players crossed the line.
The mixed fortunes reflected a team under construction but still adapting to the demands of elite international rugby. A five-day elite training camp in partnership with South Africa’s Blue Bulls helped shape systems but the final match against the Pumas showed just how far Uganda must go.
Lubambula noted that despite the bruising nature of the last match, the group remains mentally strong and intact.
“The boys have really gelled. Team cohesion has been amazing. We’re entering the final stretch in camp before moving into the tournament bubble.”
Uganda faces Kenya in the Rugby Africa Cup quarterfinals on July 8 in what promises to be a high-octane East African derby.
The tournament offers a ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia for the winner and a second chance via the repechage for the runner-up. Cranes head coach Fred Mudoola will name his final 28-man squad on Wednesday.
Results from tour
Namibia 22-19 Uganda
Uganda 57-26 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Pumas 102-0 Uganda
Match Day 1 (quarterfinals): Tuesday, July 8
Zimbabwe vs. Morocco – 10am
Madagascar vs. Mauritius – 12pm
Namibia vs. Senegal – 2pm
Kenya vs. Uganda – 4pm
