The Jinja Hippos and Rhinos face off today at the Dam Waters in Jinja tipping the scales in being the biggest fixture on match-day 10 of the Nile Special Rugby Premier League. In more ways than one, the rugby fans in Jinja are fortunate to have such a fixture, that has pitted two highly competitive teams being played in their backyard.
To spice it up even more, the visitors, the Rhinos are spirited and determined to end their four-game losing streak on enemy territory. A clearly confident Rhinos’ player Davis Shimwa said on the eve of this clash: “We are solely focused on winning this game. There are no second ways about it. After losing four games in a row, there is a huge disappointment. So, we intend to use that anger as a motivation to upstage the Hippos.”
By match-day five, the Rhinos were riding high, beating all and sundry, including the Rams, Warriors, Impis, Walukuba, and the Buffaloes. At that point, Rhinos were among the top seeds on the log, and a lot of praise came their way. Yet, after that run of results, what followed against Kobs, Heathens, Pirates, and Mongers did not make for good reading.
The Rhinos lost all those games and found themselves dropping to seventh on the log. For some, this is actually the true reflection of their footing. But Shimwa gives this whole situation a totally different perspective. “It is true that we lost to the big boys. But the difference is in the detail. We lost by a try or two, which is a big contrast from what we as Rhinos have been in the past. Previously, we would be heavily beaten, not today.”
Indeed, games involving Rhinos have generated a lot of excitement because of how competitive they have been. They have duly given teams a real run for their money. And they are not about to relent even as they take on the formidable Hippos.
For example, they lost to Kobs 12-19, which is a try and conversion. That was followed by a 12-26 loss to the current table leaders, Heathens, before they went down to the Mongers in Busambaga, Entebbe, 16-21, and then last weekend lost 11-17 to Pirates.
The outstanding thing about these games, Shimwa, who has featured in only the last four noted, is that they remained competitive for almost the entire game. But only lost it in the dying moments. Shimwa believes this is a mark of growth as far as Rhinos are concerned, and therefore, they cannot be overlooked by any opponent, least of all, the Hippos.
One can be sure that the Hippos will know that the Rhinos cannot be underestimated. But that is not something that has eaten up Hippos coach Edmond Inyoyi’s team thus far. It is for that reason that they are second on the league table. They have been effectively consistent, winning seven, drawing one and losing one this season.
Furthermore, the Hippos have not lost a game at home this season, which means that the Rhinos will be walking into a fortress. On the other hand, the Rhinos have won two and lost two of their games away from their home at the Legends. Rhinos’ away wins came against Walukuba in Jinja at Walukuba and Buffaloes at Kyadondo.
With that subplot, one can neither dismiss nor guarantee Rhinos’ chances to dislodge the Hippos. So, it is all up in their air, floating in unpredictability. That is a strong reason for one to keep their eyes glued on how matters at the Dam Waters in Jinja unfold by the end of action on April 13.
