Twelve matches later and we are down to the final four at the 10th edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series. This year, the semi finals adopt a slight different structure. Contrary to previous years where both semi final matches were played at Nairobi’s RFUEA grounds, this year’s edition sees the semi final fixtures evenly spread between Nairobi and Kampala, adding a different twist to what are already intriguing fixtures, at least on paper. The four teams in action this weekend are the Lions, UAP Rhinos, Dimension Data Rwenzori and the SDV Transami Cheetahs.
We begin our preview in Nairobi where the 2008 champions Lions host the defending champions UAP Rhinos at the RFUEA grounds.

Lions v UAP Rhinos
Saturday 26 May 2012
RFUEA Grounds, Nairobi
4.00pm
Gate Charges Ksh 300

The last time these two sides met was in a Pool B fixture on Saturday 14 May 2011 at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, the Rhinos beating the Lions 24-19 to book a semi final berth and send the big cats home. The Lions came through Pool A unscathed, finishing top courtesy of wins over the Coastal Bulls, Nguvu Sharks and the SDV Transami Cheetahs. Their reward for their table topping exploits? A semi final match up against the UAP Rhinos. They have been efficient in the run up to the semis, the leadership of Dennis Mwanja and Collins Injera complimented by the goal kicking exploits of Fabian Olando, Lavin Asego’s playmaking skills and Peter Mutai’s control and decision making when distributing ball from the set pieces and breakdowns.

They have managed to score an average of 28 points per game, conceding an average of 10 points per game, which tells a story about their offensive and defensive capabilities. This however is a winner take all scenario, and such situations have in the past proved to be no respecter of statistics. Lions coach Meli Wanibuli welcomes back Joseph Oriwo, Dennis Ombachi and Danny Sikuta who were part of the Kenyan team that reached the Roma Sevens final in Italy but will have to do without back row man Anthony Ogot who starts a one match ban after being cited following an incident during last weekend’s group game against the Cheetahs.

Last week, for a moment, Erick Situma’s Rhinos, five time winners of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series were on the opposite end of the scoreline against the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes during their final Pool B match at the Nakuru Athletic Club, rallying from an 18-15 score at half time to edge the plucky Buffaloes 25-18 and set up Saturday’s date with the Lions by virtue of finishing second in their pool. Admittedly, the Rhinos, five time champions, were slow off the mark in that one, but it sure served as a wake up call and they definitely take the game to the Lions as they seek to return to the finals for a sixth successive time since 2007. They have managed an average of 27 points per game, conceding an average of 14 points per game.

They will rely on the boot and playmaking of Eden Agero, the versatile half back comfortable playing at either nine or ten, loose forward Brian Nyikuli, Edwin Makori and Victor Sudi to carry them on the day. Dennis Muhanji was taken off during their match against the Buffaloes and is doubtful for this fixture as is scrum half Edwin Achayo.

A few match ups that should light up the match will be the front battle between Joel Ng’ang’a and Moses Amusala, Wilson Kopondo against Danny Sikuta at lock, Dennis Mwanja against Brian Nyikuli at back row, Peter Mutai probably up against Eden Agero or Edwin Achayo at number nine, Victor Sudi versus Collins Injera on the wing.

It goes without saying the fans at the RFUEA grounds have a match on their hands

Dimension Data Rwenzori v SDV Transami Cheetahs
Kampala Rugby Grounds, Kampala, Uganda
4.00pm

Hosts Dimension Data Rwenzori host the SDV Transami Cheetahs in a ground breaking match, ground breaking because this is the first ever BRSS semi final fixture being played outside its traditional venue at Nairobi’s RFUEA grounds. Rwenzori won Pool B with a 100% record, posting wins over the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes, the UAP Rhinos and local rivals KCB Victoria. Playing in Kampala, Rwenzori will not only look to home ground advantage but also the free scoring Steve Ogwete, current joint top try scorer with the Buffaloes Bram Shikanda on four tries, Anthony Kinene, Marvin Odongo and Justin Kimono will also be key for Rwenzori as they seek to go where no Ugandan side has gone by reaching a first ever Bamburi Rugby Super Series final.

The SDV Transami Cheetahs, champions in 2004 and 2006 were second in Pool A behind the Lions, winning two and losing one of their three pool fixtures. They make the journey to Kampala looking to return to a third successive final since 2010. Vincent Mose is their leading try and points scorer and will be key to the side’s success in Kampala. Kenya number eight Lawi Buyachi will also be a vital player for the Cheetahs who will whoever have to do without winger Les Ochieng who is banned for the rest of the tournament after being found guilty of stamping Lions winger Darwin Mukidza last weekend.

As mentioned earlier, Rwenzori will bank on their good run, and home ground advantage as they dream of making the trip to Nairobi to compete for the 2012 Bamburi Rugby Super Series crown but must be wary of the Cheetahs, beaten finalists the past two years. Kampala fans are in for a quality game of rugby.

Collated Fixtures
BRSS Semi Final Saturday
Lions v UAP Rhinos, RFUEA, Nairobi, 4.00pm

Dimension Data Rwenzori v SDV Transami Cheetahs, Kampala, Kampala,4.00pm

Match Day three at the 10th edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series takes place on Saturday 19 May 2012 with four matches on the cards. There will be two Pool A fixtures at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Park, and two other Pool B fixtures in the Kenyan Central Rift Valley town of Nakuru and the Ugandan captial Kampala.

We start our BRSS match day three preview in Nairobi.

The already eliminated duo of Nguvu Sharks and the Coastal Bulls face off in the day’s opening fixture at the Jamhuri Park from 2.00pm, East African Time. The Nguvu Sharks 2012 campaign came to a halt when they succumbed to a second straight loss to the Lions on match day two, the 15-8 result meaning Paul Odera’s charges would not be returning to the semi finals.

The Sharks will come into this fixture playing for pride, looking to end their 2012 Bamburi Rugby Super Series campaign on a high. For the Coastal Bulls, their sophomore campaign has seen them grow in leaps and bounds. While they are yet to win a BRSS match to date, the experience they have picked up is nothing short of valuable. Bearing that in mind, they will definitely come all out against the Sharks, hoping to pull off a favorable result.

The already qualified duo of the SDV Transami Cheetahs and the Lions meet in the 4.00pm kick off at Jamhuri Park. Having won their opening two matches against the Bulls and Sharks in particular order, and creating an unassailable lead between them and the rest of the pack,it is a given that both teams have made it to the BRSS semi finals but this doesn’t water down the significance of this tie. Qualifying top of Pool A will be key for both sides, and this is very likely to influence team selection with either side’s technical bench putting out their strongest available sides. This should be an closely contested encounter, the team that emerges victorious here is a sure bet to make it all the way to the championship match on Saturday 2 June 2012 at the RFUEA grounds.

Shifting our focus to Pool B and the top of the bill clash is what is being refered to in Uganda as ” the BRSS true clash of the titans” pitting KCB Victoria against Dimension Data Rwenzori at the Kyadondo Rugby grounds from 4.00pm East African Time. Victoria bounced back from their match day one 46-9 defeat to the UAP Rhinos in Nairobi by registering a 17-7 away win over the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes in Mumias on match day two. With their noses scenting a semi final berth, Herbert Wafula’s will leave nothing to chance against fierce rivals Rwenzori. Faisal Gamma and youngster Philip Wokorach will be some of the players to watch on the Victoria side.

Fresh from breaking the UAP Rhinos three year, 16 match unbeaten BRSS run with that 17-15 win on match day two,Dimension Data Rwenzori could statistically have done everything to book their semi final berth, but they would probably have to wary of the phrase, “it ain’t over till its over.” A whole combination of factors could see them not make it beyond the group stages. Bearing this in mind, they should come full throttle against their countrymen, looking to not only retain local bragging rights for the next twelve months but most importantly earn the chance to play their semi final encounter at home and the only way to achieve this is by, you guessed it, beating Victoria.

Steve Ogwete has been in fine form for Rwenzori, his tournament leading four tries part of the reason his side lead Pool B and he will be expected to replicate this form on Saturday. Justin Kimono, if selected, will make his eighth BRSS appearance since his debut late as he seeks to add to his BRSS career tally of six tries. It will be interesting to see how he does on Saturday, particularly as he seeks to outshine his fellow youngster Philip Wokorach on the Victoria side.

All in all this should be a battle royale.

The last fixture on the day is the 4.30pm Pool B kick off at the Nakuru Athletic Club where hosts and defending champions UAP Rhinos play the visiting Mumias Sugar Buffaloes in the 60th match since the tournament’s inception in 2003. The Rhinos mission in Nakuru is straightforward,registering a win as they seek to earn qualification from Pool B, anything short of this complicates their onward movement and it would take a lot of phone calls, text messages and calculators to collect results from elsewhere and do the math to determine their fate. The Rhinos will be motivated to win and for good reason. They will seek to bounce back from the 17-15 loss to Rwenzori in Kampala, a result that saw them lose a BRSS match for the first time since the 33-9 loss to the Lions in the 2008 final. The champions must reassert themselves

Already out of contention after losing their opening two pool matches, the Buffaloes head to Nakuru looking to play the spoiler. They have shown glimpses of brilliance and will look to burst into life against the Rhinos. They will dig deep for the self belief to pull it off and end their official interest in the BRSS on a high.

In other Bamburi Rugby Super Series news, there will be a CSR activity at the National Spinal Injury Hospital on Sunday 20 May 2012 from 1.00pm. The exercise will entail a visit by members of the BRSS Organizing Committee, tournament sponsors ,players and representatives from the various franchises as well as wellwishers interested in being part of this activity. For further details about the CSR activity, kindly contact Josephine Nekesa Were via email address

Collated Match Day Three Fixtures
Pool A
Nguvu Sharks v Coastal Bulls 2.00pm, Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, LIVE ON DSTV

SDV Transami Cheetahs v Lions, 4.00pm, Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, LIVE ON DSTV

Pool B
Dimension Data Rwenzori v KCB Victoria 4.00pm, Kyadondo RC, Kampala, LIVE ON DSTV

UAP Rhinos v Mumias Sugar Buffaloes, 4.30pm, Nakuru Athletic Club, Nakuru

We are heading into match day two at the tenth edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series on Saturday 12 May 2012 and this could be the weekend when semi final berths are secured, teams are eliminated or the competition becomes a lot more difficult courtesy of unpredictable results.

Back to the rugby and we again have four fixtures on the cards, two at a changed venue in Nairobi and one each in Mumias and Kampala, Uganda.

Nairobi’s fixtures take place at the Jamhuri Park, a move that has been necessitated by the deterioration of the playing surface at the host venue, the RFUEA Grounds, as a result of the heavy rains that have pounded Nairobi and it’s environs. The fixture in Mumias takes place at the Mumias Sports Complex while Kampala’s fixture takes place at the Kampala RUFC grounds.

We get down to the weekend preview.

BRSS Saturday 12 May 2012.

LIVE ON DSTV