Nakuru — It's exactly 17 days to the Africa Zone of the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup (RWC) qualifiers in Tunisia on October 31 and November 1.

Uganda Rugby Cranes will be vying for one of Africa's three slots in the Tunisia-shoot out.

With every minute looking crucial, the ruggers' performance in the annual Prinsloo Nakuru 7s was supposed to be more than just an experiment.

Winning the Plate Cup in the rift valley district was meant to build the strength of character to win in Coach John Musoke's side.

"I am very satisfied with what we have managed to achieve though we need to use all the remaining time to be ready for Tunisia," Musoke whose team were residing at a squalid (no-star) lodging facility in a 'pub-infested' Nakuru downtown explained.

Spots of bother

First choice 7s captain Moses Soita (academic commitments) and star winger Felix 'Lomu' Lubega (injury) will miss the qualifiers and Musoke has the task of naming a skipper who will mirror a winning mindset. As many as five players captained the 7s side in the six games.

Musoke is set to name his final squad on Sunday before the team flies out to Tunis nine days later and many who starred in Nakuru are hoping to catch the flight north.

"It is very good that we played against teams we don't know which gave us a chance to test our game and take note of all our mistakes. We must come good (in Tunisia)," Joel Anguyo, scorer of five tries told Daily Monitor.

Cranes' Nakuru 7s tries tally R. Sseguya 7

M. Wokorach 6

J. Anguyo 5

J. Onen 5

T. Mudoola 3