Armentum: Victory the only option
Nothing but a win will be good enough for Huis Armentum this afternoon. Of course, Armentum, from University of the Free State, will clash with Dromedaris (UJ) in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuis Championships Final (kick-off 5pm).
Armentum have been playing very good rugby over the last couple of weeks and they would surely like to finish their 2009 campaign with one last win in order to be crowned as the best hostel rugby team in the country.
The Men from Shimlas came very close to winning this title back in 2006 when they played in the then Superbowl competition; losing in the final to fellow Kovsie hostel Reitz.
One of Armentum’s successes in 2009 has been their depth; almost every guy has put up his hand in some stage and players like Johnny Schoeman (No.8), hooker Toffie van Tonder and flanker and captain Dedrik Pretorius have all been outstanding up front.
In the semi’s against Maroela, Van Tonder had a fine match showing some great skills at times. He reminds one of the Stormers hooker Schalk Brits; very mobile with great ball skills.
Van Tonder has the luxury of having four lineout jumpers to aim at. Both locks Joubert Horn and Michiel de Wet, along with Pretorius and Schoeman are all good lineout men. But if they have a secret weapon, it would undoubtedly be their strong scrum.
Maroela’s scrum was totally destroyed – in last week’s semifinal – which led to a tighthead for Armentum five metres from their opponents’ tryline. One got the impression, however, that Armentum did not always feel the need to give it their all in the scrums, but this is definitely an asset they can fall back on whenever they are under pressure.
At the back, flyhalf Inus Kritzinger has grabbed his chance with both hands and established himself as one of the key players in the team. He has now amassed 64 points in four outings and hardly ever misses at goal. Outside him, No.13 Morkel Hoffman is very quick and a constant threat on attack.
Dromedaris will have to be on their game defence-wise; Armentum are very dangerous when they enter their opponents’ 22-metre area and seldom leave without scoring points.
All in all, Monday’s final should be a cracker; if you are in the Stellenbosch area come along and watch, otherwise make sure you tune into SuperSport One for the 5pm kick-off!
Huis Armentum XV: 15 Kobus Neethling, 14 Michael Bosch, 13 Morkel Hoffmann, 12 Jannie Myburgh, 11 Gareth Lourens, 10 Inus Kritzinger, 9 Enrico Schultz, 8 Johnny Schoeman, 7 Dedrik Pretorius (captain), 6 Niekie Potgieter, 5 Joubert Horn, 4 Michiel de Wet, 3 Ian Potgieter, 2 Toffie van Tonder, 1 Cobus Greeff.
Replacements: 16 Herman van der Watt, 17 Chris Mans, 18 Thys-Koch Burden, 19 Mynhardt van der Walt, 20 Pieter van Zyl, 21 Janneman Kotzé, 22 JP van der Berg.
By Ruan Bruwer
