Jurenzo Julius bagged a hat-trick as the Sharks put Benetton to the sword in their Vodacom URC dead-rubber clash in Durban on Saturday.
The hosts ran in eight tries to hammer their Italian visitors 46-7 on a balmy winter’s evening.
The first half at Kings Park was a stop-start affair, with both sides guilty of overplaying and repeatedly handing possession back through poor discipline and handling errors.
Benetton created the first genuine chance in the sixth minute when they found space out wide, but centre Tommaso Menoncello threw a wayward pass with two support runners in position to score.
The Sharks struck first in the 12th minute. Slick handling in the backline, including a clever chicken-wing pass from fullback Jaco Williams, sent winger Edwill van der Merwe over in the corner.
The Sharks’ backs continued to ask questions, and outside centre Julius showed his strength and footwork to power over for the home side’s second try.
The Boogieman spotted the gap & worked his magic
🪩
The rest was Play-Off rugby.
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Benetton’s discipline then let them down when hooker Bautista Bernasconi was shown a yellow card for a low, grasscutter tackle on Vincent Koch. The Sharks capitalised immediately, with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi crashing over from a rolling maul.
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There was concern for the home crowd and Springbok supporters when veteran winger Makazole Mapimpi was stretchered off after a high shoulder charge from Benetton flyhalf Jacob Umaga, who was shown a 20-minute red card.
On the stroke of half-time, Van der Merwe produced a fine finish, using his footwork and power to score his second try of the match.
The Sharks failed to convert any of their four tries, but still took a commanding 20-0 lead into the break.
Captain André Esterhuizen crashed over just three minutes into the second half for the hosts’ fifth try, with scrumhalf Bradley Davids adding the conversion.
Lineout secured.
Then Andre Esterhuizen came charging through.
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It then became the Jurenzo Julius show.
The exciting midfielder, nicknamed the “Boogieman”, struck twice in the space of three minutes to complete a brilliant hat-trick and put the result beyond doubt.
The Sharks’ clinical finishing and willingness to attack from all areas of the field proved too much for the Italians, as the Durban-based side finally produced the type of performance their supporters had been waiting for.
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Replacement winger Litelihle Bester added an exclamation mark to a statement performance with a try on the stroke of full-time.
Attention will now turn to next week’s final fixture against Zebre, where the Sharks will hope to deliver another convincing display as they bid to give Kolisi a fitting farewell in his final appearance before returning to the Stormers next season.
SHARKS – Tries: Edwill van der Merwe (2), Jurenzo Julius (3), Siya Kolisi, André Esterhuizen, Litelihle Bester. Conversions: Bradley Davids, Jean Smith (2).
BENETTON – Try: Cristiano Tizzano. Conversion: Alessandro Garbisi.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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