Safari 7s is here GAME ON Enjoy

The biggest Seven's tournament in Africa will be held this coming weekend at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa's grounds on Ngong Road Nairobi. This year the tournament has grown to yet its former past as we see more and better teams have confirmed their attendance.

Uganda is a regular participant and in fact they and Kenya Shujas are the only two teams to yet miss any since its inception in 1996. Uganda's best performance to date has been winning the Plate finals in 1999 and in 2006. In its first ever appearance in 1996, Uganda beat Kenya in the pool stages but lost to them in the Plate final.

The Uganda team will like many African teams USS this year's competition as part of their preparations for next month's Rugby Africa's Sevens Championships which will also double as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers with all the top 12 teams participating apart from South Africa who qualified automatically after finishing among the top 4 teams in the HSBC World Sevens Series.

The team has been undergoing intense sessions under the head coach Tolbert Onyango and we expect the best from the team this year despite a very intimidating cast from all over the world as potential opponents. The draws are yet to be released by the organisers. The defending champions Samurai will be in attendance same as the Russia Academy which is already in Nairobi under legend Waisale Serevi as their coach.

The Uganda team will once again be captained by the evergreen Mr. Okorach Michael and will attempt to go further than any other team in our history. This year the URU targeted the Olympics qualifiers as its topmost priority and hence the heightened interest in the 2019 Safari Sevens.

Some of the teams that have confirmed participation are Samurai, Seventise (France), Blitzboks (South Africa), Portugal, Spain, Red Wailers, Apache, Zambia, Zimbabwe, KCB, Uganda, Burundi and Russia Academy.

The Rugby Cranes Sevens team to the tournament is composed of players Michael Okorach (c), Pius Ogena, Ian Munyani, Adrian Kasito, William Nkore, Timothy Odong, Brian Oketayot, Desire Ayera, Jude Kermundu, Solomon Okia, Nobert Okeny and Aaron Ofoirwoth.

The team officials are Tolbert Onyango (Head Coach), Michael Wandera (Team Manager) and Noah Kayongo (Physiotherapist). Our team is proudly sponsored by Guinness.

We wish the Uganda Sevens team all the best in the 2019 Safari Sevens. The lessons picked will be very crucial as Uganda targets the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games qualification.

*Rugby 256* also salutes the efforts of the Uganda Rugby Union and the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby let’s enjoy the World Cup 2019 and also spread “The World Rugby Core Values are: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect.. “

We always appreciate you liking our official facebook page @rugby256 ,instagram @rugby 256er and following us in twitter @rugby 256.Check out our blog rellrugby256.blogspot.com. For more information

2019 Rugby World Cup Quarters Predictions

The squabbles over the years over the World Rugby Rankings took a heavy toll over the weekend with all the Quarterfinalists among the current top 8 globally when the latest rankings were released on Monday 14th October. Well we shall get to that later. At hand we have the Quarter finals and Japan is the standout team according to our pre tournament predictions here. We as Rugby256 had predicted Scotland will finish second in Pool A before the start of the World’s premier Rugby Competition. Japan ended topping the pool followed by Ireland. We had also predicted that Argentina will qualify but the French had other ideas.

Any team which reaches this stage is capable of advancing to the semis and it is our unenviable task to make those dreaded predictions once again. Predicting games at this stage stuff for the very thick skinned people. It got more interesting with some teams missing their last games due to the life taking Typhoon Hagibis. Some pundits have already stated that the missed games will either work in favour or against those teams citing various reasons. One reason being the stalled up momentum built over the weeks. We believe that the top professional teams are well aware of the threat and have inbuilt systems so as their players remain fresher than those which played.

England vs. Australia

There are 3 World Cups between these age old adversaries and our technical team was most split about this first quarter final match which will be held at the Oita Stadium, Oita Prefecture from 10:15 am (EAT) on Saturday 19th October. Our in house team gave it to England to overcome Australia. England topped their group C despite missing the last match against France. England finished with 17 points against the French’s 15. The English have gone through their games almost quietly but very decisively. England is currently ranked 3rd overall and Australia 6th. The English coached by Australian Eddie Jones have an enviable strong squad among its 31 players squad and it will be interesting to see the selected players for the 2003 Champions.

Australia who won the cup in 1991 and 1999 have had a bit of an unsettled team and some strongly feel that their head Coach Michael Cheika has tinkered with the team a lot that it is the hardest team to predict the match day team which will be named on Thursday. Four years ago, Australia under Cheika embarrassed England with a 33-13 drumming of the hosts England at Twickenham in the pool stages. Nobody in their normal sense can completely rule out an Australian surprise win.

New Zealand vs. Ireland

The defending Champions have had a smooth run to this point apart from their opening fixture against South Africa which they won. Ireland came into the competition as the World’s top ranked team but a surprise loss to Japan has seen them slide to 4th globally. Several months ago some pundits genuinely believed that the Irish were favourites to win the RWC masterpiece and Japan happened!

We believe that despite their well known resilience the Irish will come short to a fresher All Blacks team led by Kieran Read. The All Blacks have seemed average by their standards in the later pool games but are well capable of turning on the heat when the opportunity arises. This being the last tournament for both the Kiwi Coaches it will be quite intense for both sides and many neutrals would want to see an upset but according to us, New Zealand will win this game which will come on screen on Saturday at 13:15 hrs from the Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo.

Wales vs. France

This was probably the easiest for the Rugby256 team to agree on. Our prediction is that Wales will triumph over the 2023 hosts France. The Welsh unleashed a ‘scary’ opening first half against Australia in the pool stages and if they can get similar or better cylinders they will overcome any team on their good day. We expect that this Sunday will be such a good day. The French though have a tradition of being the most unpredictable team.

Wales are ranked 2nd and France 8th globally today. None of these teams have ever won the RWC to date. This game will be televised on Sunday at 10:15am (EAT) from the Oita Stadium.

Japan vs. South Africa

Some South African fans were quietly following the last pool game between Japan and Scotland and probably hoped to meet Scotland but well it is Japan. South Africa is ranked 5th and Japan 7th currently by World Rugby. Japan beat South Africa in the pool stages 34-32 four years ago hence causing the biggest upset by then and this has never been forgotten by many.

Rugby256 predicts that South Africa will not underestimate the brave blossoms of Japan and that the Springboks under Head Coach Rassie Erasmus will deploy all at his disposal to see off the Japanese challenge. Rassie must have by now watched how the hosts have managed to disappoint 2 ‘Home Unions’ Ireland and Scotland and he will probably come up with a very big and technical pack whose main purpose will be to deny the unpredictable Japanese backs any decent ball possession. This last quarter final match will be played from 13:15 pm on Sunday at the Tokyo Stadium.



You have our bold predictions. What are yours?

*Rugby 256* also salutes the efforts of the Uganda Rugby Union and the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby let’s enjoy the World Cup 2019 and also spread “The World Rugby Core Values are: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect.. “

We always appreciate you liking our official facebook page @rugby256 ,instagram @rugby 256er and following us in twitter @rugby 256.Check out our blog rellrugby256.blogspot.com. For more information

2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Finals

Jonny May of England against New Zealand in a past match.

Leigh Halfpenny of Wales to start for Wales against South Africa.

The 3 Barret brothers; Scott, Jordie and Beauden all set to play a role against England at the semi finals.

The All Blacks do the Haka Challenge. Expect a big one before the Semi final against England.

Winger Sbu Nkosi with the ball will the only change for South Africa against Wales on Sunday. He replaces Cheslin Kolbe.

Last week we were spot on with the Quarter finals and we dare enter the fray yet again with an open mind to assess and predict which sides will go onto the final on 2nd November at the International Stadium, Yokohama, Kanagwa Prefecture, Yokohama City. The losing semi finalists will play the Bronze final on Friday at the Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo. Both semi finals will be played at the International Stadium, Yokohama. Any team in the semis is good enough to win the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Semi final 1: England vs. New Zealand 11 am (EAT) Saturday.

Rugby matches don’t get any bigger than this. The English founded the game and New Zealand (All Blacks) has been the most successful team sport in the world for a while. The clash of their contrasting styles will come out into the open on Saturday and it will be a very close affair. New Zealand has won the last 6 games between these 2 great teams. In November 2018 at Twickenham, London the All Blacks nipped a 15-16 victory in the Autumn International. Before that they met in 2014 in November and the All Blacks again came on top with a 21-24 victory at the same venue.

New Zealand is ranked 1 in the World followed closely by England who put away the Australian Challenge so easily last Saturday. The 40-16 victory over their rivals marked a certain hunger and calmness which will have every watcher of this same final glued to their screens. The All Blacks not wanting to be left out drubbed Ireland 44-16 at the quarters. These scores are frightening especially being against tier 1 Nations.

Both sides have solid squads and the difference might be certain X players. The English can count on Manu Tuilagi of Leicester Tigers in the Premiership. He is a very reliable Center and at 114 Kgs will take lots of heart to stop. Sam Underhill is another to watch and he had a very huge game against the Aussies last week with his traditional back breaking tackles. New Zealand has a scary cast of stars and in fact it is hard to point out who will lead the charge in this game. It could be flank Ardie Savea, fullback Beauden Barret or Richie Mo’unga.

The English showcased world class defence and extreme patience playing against Australia and they have been the most disciplined team so far in the last four sides conceding zero yellow crads compared to the All Blacks 3. The overall penalty count shows England having been penalized only 20 times in 4 outings so far to New Zealand’s 21 in 4 games. The All Blacks have more flair but England might and just might edge them on structure.
The Rugby256 technical team has predicted a narrow victory for the All Blacks.


Semi final 2: Wales vs. South Africa 12 noon (EAT) Sunday.

Wales are ranked 3rd globally today while South Africa (Springboks) are 4th. Wales have won the last 4 games against the Springboks and none of those games have been in South Africa. The last time South Africa won against the Welsh was during the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter finals with a close 23-19 score. Of the 35 matches between these 2 sides, South Africa has won the lion’s share with 28 victories with one draw and 6 wins for Wales.

South Africa is the only team to reach this far after losing one game in the Pool stages. They lost to New Zealand 13-23 on 21st September after brief lull in concentration saw their opponents score 2 quick tries to end the contest. Their coach went ahead and stated how the team will go and win the remaining games. Well Wales and their Kiwi coach Warren David Gatland OBE would want to have their say too. They put away the Australians 29-25 on 29th September and beat France 20-19 in a nail biting encounter last weekend.

The Springboks have announced only one change to the team which masterly overcame Japan. Coach Rassie Erasmus’s hand was forced due an injury on winger Cheslin Kolbe who will be replaced by S’bu Nkosi. The Welsh fly half Dan Biggar is full time ‘sniper’ with his boots. The leadership offered by the Captain Alun Wyn Jones will see the men in red fight for each inch to the very end.

The Rugby256 team gives the nod to South Africa to qualify for the finals.

What are your predictions?

Rugby 256 also salutes the efforts of the Uganda Rugby Union and the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby let’s enjoy the World Cup 2019 and also spread “The World Rugby Core Values are: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect..  “

We always appreciate you liking our official facebook page @rugby256 ,instagram @rugby 256er and following us in twitter @rugby 256.Check out our blog rellrugby256.blogspot.com. For more information