Douglas Mazune
28 June 2009
Kampala — THE Rugby Cranes lingering hopes of making the 2011 Rugby World Cup came to a humbling end when they suffered another massive defeat in Tunis on Saturday.
Cranes who lost the first leg of the Confederation of Africa Rugby CAR semifinal/World Cup qualifier to Tunisia 41-17 in Kampala, had an equally disastrous return leg in Tunis which saw them fall 38-13 under sweltering temperatures.
The reigning Africa champions that fielded a largely new team from the one that lifted the continental trophy in Madagascar in 2007 will now have to go back to the drawing board to nurture the current young squad.
The star-studded Cranes squad of 2007 suddenly shrank as Kobs players, who formed the core of the team, retired from international rugby in the aftermath of the club's bitter row with Uganda Rugby Union.
Veterans Brian Makalamala (Pirates) and Heathens' Brian Tabaruka were called out of retirement to patch up the void but were found wanting. Tabaruka was instead appointed team manager while Malakalama was named assistant coach.
Uganda's diminishing fortunes were not helped by the injury to team captain John Musoke and prop Brian Odong in the first leg in Kampala, ruling them out of the return leg. The Ugandans will now focus on the Elgon Cup first leg in Nairobi, Kenya in August.
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