Uganda hold their own in Namibia rugby test

________________

Rugby Friendly

Uganda 19 Namibia 22

Uganda’s Men’s XV rugby side showed plenty of confidence as they narrowly lost 22-19 to the Namibia Welwitschias in the first of their international friendlies in the Southern Hemisphere.

After a period of intense preparation on the training ground, the Ugandans finally had the chance to assess their progress, and the signs were largely positive.

Uganda’s front row faced a major test against Namibia, and although their pack was noticeably lighter, they managed to win several scrums. This should be seen as a significant positive, with the tournament just a month away.

“I am happy for the boys because we are trying to put things together, and the results show that we are almost there. We haven't polished everything yet. But going back home, we shall review the video and see where we went wrong. We came as underdogs, and it was a good show and contest for us,” stated Uganda captain Byron Oketayot.

The positives outweigh the negatives, but improvements are still needed, particularly in kicking for poles.

Yasin Wasswa struggled with the conditions, while Liam Walker was much more effective with the boot. The front row also appeared more robust compared to previous line-ups.

The Ugandans retained possession well and played in phases with patient build-up, which allowed them to dominate possession, something that should give the team added confidence.

Uganda conceded fewer penalties than usual, which helped keep the score close, although Namibia clinched the match with a late penalty kick. In summary, the game against Namibia may not reveal everything, but it provided glimpses of what the team could become with better organisation.

The national sevens players are set to join the squad as soon as the Africa Cup concludes.