Uganda Rugby Cranes assistant coach Leonard Lubambula has outlined key areas that he believes cost his side in their Elgon Cup return leg against the Kenya Simbas at Kings Park.
The Cranes had narrowly lost the first leg in Nairobi, falling 27-25, sparking hopes of clinching their fourth Elgon Cup title. However, those hopes were dashed as the Simbas dominated the opening stages in Kampala, scoring 21 points in the first 25 minutes. Kenya eventually secured the title with a 48-30 aggregate victory.
Uganda Rugby Cranes coach
Speaking in a post-match interview, Lubambula admitted his side might have underestimated the challenge following their strong performance in Nairobi. He highlighted a lack of physicality from the forwards and early lapses that forced the team into a reactive game.
Kenya Simbas celebrate in a past clash,against Uganda. Photo Courtesy/World Rugby.
“I think the boys took it for granted. They went into their comfort zone, especially the forwards, who were bullied the entire game. We conceded in the first quarter, and that is one of the things we need to address heading into next year. It’s the same team we’ll face in the Rugby Africa Cup quarters. Conceding early is a syndrome we must clean up. You can’t score 25 points away and only five at home,” Lubambula explained.
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The coach also pointed out issues with set-pieces and decision-making, which left the team struggling to assert themselves.
“To be honest, the game is 80% about set-pieces, and if you don’t get that right, you lack a platform to score points. In the first 30 minutes, we played mostly in our zone, even when we had possession. Our set-pieces were poor, and that’s something we must improve on next year,” he noted.
Lubambula emphasized the mental aspect of the game, suggesting the team’s mindset contributed to their downfall.
“The boys dropped their mental focus; maybe they thought they would win easily after the first leg. Decision-making was poor, and we needed to keep the ball away from breakdowns. The Simbas are physically bigger, and we didn’t adjust well,” he added.
Uganda confident of 2025
Despite the setback, the coach expressed optimism for the future, suggesting a greater focus on the Rugby Africa Cup could yield better results.
Action between Uganda Cranes 15s and Zambia. Photo/Uganda Rugby
“If you told me to lose today but win next year, I’d take that. We’re going to win next year,” Lubambula concluded.
The Cranes will now shift their focus to preparing for the Rugby Africa Cup in 2025
