Elgon Cup on a knife edge
Kabras RFC captain and flanker George Nyambua (with ball) in action during their training session for Kenya Cup Rugby final match against KCB on March 09, 2023 at Kakamega Showground.
What you need to know:
- Kenya Simbas, who have dominated this series for the last decade, take a slim 27-25 first leg victory to Kampala, will be hoping to affirm their superiority against their Rugby Cranes, who impressed in the first leg despite the defeat.
- The Rugby Cranes narrowly defeated Kenya 21-20 in the first leg of last year’s series at Kings Park Arena, but they suffered a 20-13 defeat in the reverse fixture at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
Just who will blink first at the Kings Park Arena, Kampala, Uganda?
That is the question as Kenya Simbas coach Jerome Paawater kept his faith with his starting line up while his Uganda Rugby Cranes counterpart Fred Mudoola made one change ahead of their highly anticipated Elgon Cup return leg duel today.
Kenya Simbas, who have dominated this series for the last decade, take a slim 27-25 first leg victory to Kampala, will be hoping to affirm their superiority against their Rugby Cranes, who impressed in the first leg despite the defeat.
The Rugby Cranes narrowly defeated Kenya 21-20 in the first leg of last year’s series at Kings Park Arena, but they suffered a 20-13 defeat in the reverse fixture at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
Out of the 17 series played, Kenya have win 10 times while Uganda has won seven times.
Paawater has only one change on the bench, bringing in the burly forward Hillary Mwanjilwa for Ernest Obat Kule with Sidney Gongodyo taking up injured Rugby Cranes skipper Byron Oketayot’s place.
Mwanjilwa joins the quality Simbas bench that has fullback former Fijian Jone Kubu, who made a return from a long injury layoff with the winning penalty in Nairobi. Also on the bench is evergreen scrum-half Samson Onsomu.
Kenya Under-20 international flanker Andycole Omollo and winger Griffin Chao, who made their senior international debuts in the first leg, will get to start.
Scrum-half Brian Wahinya, who landed a brace in the first leg, should pick up from where he left with the midfield of Walter Okoth and the exciting Tyson Maina .
Skipper George Nyambua will marshal the forwards battle at the back-row that has Omollo and Jeason Misoga with Emmanuel Silungi and Hillary Odhiambo operating at second-row.
The Simbas dominated in the scrum and lineouts but fell short on discipline at the breakdowns in the first leg.
“Discipline is what will win the match for us. We have tried to address what really made us dish out penalties at the breakdown," said Paawater. "We must avoid lapses and stay on our feet and line of execution."
Paawater reckoned that Rugby Cranes will come out with a new approach and they will be on the lookout for that.
“We expect more intensity if the weather holds," said Paawater. Kampala has been experiencing rains over the last few days
Enterprising flanker Gongodyo replaced Oketayot early in the first leg match after he got a concussion and keeps his place for today’s match alongside Pius Ogena and Moses Zziwa.
Influential scrum-half Conrad Wanyama wears the Uganda captain’s armband and will be keen to have a say in the duel.
