Sports
Junior Cranes learn costly lessons from Zimbabwe defeat
The Junior Rugby Cranes have plenty of work to do if they are to match the Junior Sables and the other opponents they will face in the Performance Division next year.
Uganda's Elijah Kantinti, with the ball, breaks through the Zimbabwe opponents during the Test match at Wankulukuku on Saturday. Zimbabwe won 53-32. (Photo by Johnson Were)
By: Johnson Were, Journalist @New Vision
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Uganda’s 53-32 defeat to Zimbabwe in the U20 rugby Test match provided valuable lessons for coach Martial Tchumcam and his technical bench ahead of next year’s U20 Barthés Cup Performance Division.
The Junior Rugby Cranes have plenty of work to do if they are to match the Junior Sables and the other opponents they will face in the Performance Division next year.
Uganda beat Zambia 81-0 and 27-12 in the two legs to earn promotion to the Performance Division next year.
To start with, coach Tchumcam will have to address conditioning to build the players’ physical strength and enable them to counter opponents who are not only physical but also have greater mass.
Their opponents in the division, Namibia, Zimbabwe and defending champions Kenya, have addressed that aspect, and their players are more physical and explosive.
Tchumcam conceded that Uganda needs to improve in this area and urged Uganda Rugby to facilitate the team to address the lessons learned from the Zimbabwe fixture.
“I am happy the boys did their best. The 53-32 defeat is not an issue because we achieved our target of learning the areas we have to address before next year,” he said after the game.
The Zimbabwe player dives to score a try. (Photo by Johnson Were)
Their opponents in the division, Namibia, Zimbabwe and defending champions Kenya, have addressed that aspect, and their players are more physical and explosive.
Tchumcam conceded that Uganda needs to improve in this area and urged Uganda Rugby to facilitate the team to address the lessons learned from the Zimbabwe fixture.
“I am happy the boys did their best. The 53-32 defeat is not an issue because we achieved our target of learning the areas we have to address before next year,” he said after the game.
“The only challenge, we do not have time. We must start now to identify the players we shall have next year and start conditioning them, polishing other key areas of concern before we enter the competitions,” he explained.
The tactician and his technical bench will also have to address lineouts, players’ support at breakdowns and the need for players to perfect strong, hard and low passes to counter opponents who have a height advantage.
With Uganda’s solid, stout players, the Junior Cranes technical bench of Asuman Mugerwa, Timothy Kisiga, Alex Mubiru, Simon Wakabi and Martin Karikaho should adopt a running game and avoid a physical-contact-based game structure.
Joshua Lamot scored two tries, while Gideon Kisangala and Allan Nyonyintono added one try each for Uganda.
For Zimbabwe, Brendon Musekiwa and Joshua Chitewe scored two tries each, while Vimbiso Kasosve, Wayne Gandiwa, Curtis Mashonganyika, Tavonga Chirinda and Blessed Mukuviri scored the visitors’ tries.
The tactician and his technical bench will also have to address lineouts, players’ support at breakdowns and the need for players to perfect strong, hard and low passes to counter opponents who have a height advantage.
With Uganda’s solid, stout players, the Junior Cranes technical bench of Asuman Mugerwa, Timothy Kisiga, Alex Mubiru, Simon Wakabi and Martin Karikaho should adopt a running game and avoid a physical-contact-based game structure.
Joshua Lamot scored two tries, while Gideon Kisangala and Allan Nyonyintono added one try each for Uganda.
For Zimbabwe, Brendon Musekiwa and Joshua Chitewe scored two tries each, while Vimbiso Kasosve, Wayne Gandiwa, Curtis Mashonganyika, Tavonga Chirinda and Blessed Mukuviri scored the visitors’ tries.