• Rugby

Uganda provides a timely wake-up call

• 2 Days Ago 16 June 2025

Namibia’s Welwitschias ground out a last-minute 22-19 win against Uganda in their international friendly rugby match at Walvis Bay Private School’s Naartjie Park on Saturday.

Danco Burger, who had earlier scored two tries, was called upon to take a penalty from Uganda’s 10-metre line after the hooter went for full-time, with the two teams locked at 19-19.

Burger’s kick sailed through the uprights for the winning points, much to the relief of the Welwitschias selection, which had been expected to win the match by a more comfortable margin.

Both nations are fully focused on their build-up to the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in July, which will serve as the continental qualifier to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Although not regarded as an official test match, Namibia’s significantly higher world ranking (25th vs 41st) was expected to be reflected on the score board.

Blending the locally-based Namibian training squad with the recent arrivals of call-ups from professional clubs abroad within the required short time-frame will be a key priority.

On a hot afternoon of 30 degrees plus, the Welwitschias’ tackling around the fringes was aggressive and drove the Ugandans backward most of the time, while flank Max Katjijeko made at least two lineout steals.

Some of the key moments:

9 minutes: Fullback Aston Mukwiilongo sparks a counter-attacking run. Fly-half Godwin Silvanus and Danco Burger feed right wing Jurgen Meyer who accelerates past two defenders and send Burger away for his try with the inside pass. Meyer’s direct opponent Shakim Sembusi gets away with a tip tackle on Meyer that went unpunished. Silvanus misses the conversion (Welwitschias lead 5-0).

18 minutes: Uganda fly-half Yasin Wasswa lands a penalty just before the first water-break (5-3).

20 minutes: Uganda’s 7-flank and captain Byron Oketayot gets struck against the head while completing a tackle on Welwitschias centre Alcino Izaacs. He left the field on a stretcher and was taken to hospital.

34 minutes: Danco Burger’s second try comes off systematic phase play by the Namibians, until he crashes over under the posts for Silvanus to convert.

29 and 39 minutes: Yasin Wasswa miss penalty attempts (halftime 12-3).

43 minutes: Yasin Wasswa succeeds with a penalty (12-6).

49 minutes: The Welwitschias’ slender lead disappears when Uganda crosses the goal-line with a series of pick-and go phases. The try is scored by the captain’s replacement Brian Wandera and converted by replacement fly-half Liam Walker (12-13).

55 minutes: Liam Walker adds a second penalty (12-16).

61 minutes: Long-range penalty from just inside the halfway line by Walker falls short, under the cross-bar.

67 minutes: Welwitschias set up a penalty lineout maul around the jumper Riaan Grové and hooker Armand Combrinck scores the try. Danco Burger lands the conversion despite the angle (19-16).

70 minutes: Uganda reduced to 14 for the rest of the match when scrum-half Conrad Wanyama is yellow-carded for contact with Welwitschias replacement scrumhalf AJ Kearns while he jumped to catch a kick.

75 minutes: Liam Walker’s third penalty, from inside the 10-mmetre line (19-19).

78 minutes: The Welwitschias throw everything into a final lineout maul, drives over the goal-line and celebrate the try they claim, but referee Zaid Izaacs rules the ball was held up.

80 minutes: Uganda ruled offside. The hooter goes off as Burger sets up his kick from the 10-metre line, which sails through the posts, much to the relief of the home team and the crowd of more than 1 200 that braved the hot weather.

• Post-match reaction on page 4.