UJ Koshuis Final: Clash of the forwards
A hard and physical clash of the forwards can be expected during the UJ Steinhoff International Koshuis League Final in Johannesburg tonight when Bastion and Dromedaris battle it out to be crowned Koshuis League winners for 2009.
These teams faced each other twice in the round-robin stage of UJ's Steinhoff Koshuis League, and Bastion triumphed both times. The outstanding Men from Bastion are, in fact, still undefeated in the league.
Everybody knows that a final is a different story though. 'Drom' - UJ's representatives in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - lifted the trophy last year when these teams also battled it out, and won 9-6. The boot of Dromedaris flyhalf, E Baartman, proved to be the difference of the night.
Bastion boast a huge and very experienced pack of forwards that has dominated against all teams in the league matches thus far. Their loose forwards Francois Conradie, Marius Burger and Ignis Potgieter also contest well for the ball at the breakdowns, with Potgieter also enjoying running with the ball and crashing through the opposition defence.
'Drom' also have a well-balanced and experienced pack, but they seem to be slightly lighter than Bastion. Their lineout work is exceptional, with experienced campaigners like Brett Claassens and Richart Keyser making it difficult for the opposition and ensuring plenty of possession for their own side.
Both teams' backlines were consistent throughout the league, with solid centres, quick wingers and flyhalves with huge and accurate boots. One gets the feeling, though, that most of possession will be kept with the forwards and it is here where the match will be won.
'Drom' No.8 John Buxman told varsitycup.co.za that he was very excited for the match and looking forward to "a physical battle up front".
"Our scrums and lineouts are excellent, but contesting for the ball at the breakdowns is going to be the most important aspect of the match," said Buxman (pictured, top right).
"We are also going to focus more on playing structured rugby (tonight), and may kick for possession rather than run it up. Thirteen of the guys that are playing tonight also played in last year's final, so we do have the big match temperament and experience to take it," he added.
The man packing at the back of the scrum for Bastion, Ignis Potgieter (pictured, top left), is playing his last match for his residence and is relishing the moment to go on to the field and give it his all - one last time.
"Dromedaris is always a hard and physical match, and tonight is not going to be any different," Potgieter told varsitycup.co.za.
"Our pack is a tight-knit unit, that has been playing with each other for a while now - we know each other and play very well together.
"This year we also have a flyhalf with an excellent boot on him, so if it comes down to a kicking game we do have the back-up. Our forwards want to dominate though and are hungry for a win in the final," he concluded.
Both residences' teams will also play in the second division final and nothing less can be expected in their finale either.
The final of the first division kicks-off at 8pm, directly after the second division final which gets underway at 7pm. The UJ Steinhoff International Barbarian team will also be announced tonight at the awards ceremony after the matches.
The teams:
Bastion: J Tripp, N van Zyl, B Lizemore, L du Toit, RJM Modisenyane, L Fourie, T van der Merwe, I Potgieter, M Burger, F Conradie, A Coetzee, H de Kock, B Esterhuizen, F Muller, P de Bruyn.
Dromedaris: S de Villiers, W Daniel, P Floyd, A Fali, J Snyman, N Zulu, J Jacobs, J Buxman, H Coleman, J Snyman, W Erasmus, R Keyser, E Nel, B Claassen, J de Jager.
By Riaan Bam