Flyhalf Kurtley Kiewiet racked up 20 factors as UJ scored six tries to smash Johannesburg rivals Wits and declare their first win of the season at UJ Park on Monday evening.
The spectacular 49- 26 victory sees UJ’s five-game shedding streak come to an finish with a implausible show of attacking rugby.
This UJ staff love a little bit of razzle dazzle ⚡️
The Orange Military goes loopy within the stands with Malgas and Finca combining brilliantly 🟧
English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans commentary ⏬🎙️ pic.twitter.com/a6HbmcsipA
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 25, 2024
Having began the penultimate spherical preventing relegation, UJ have reduce the hole on sixth-placed CUT to 4 factors with one spherical to play. Wits, in the meantime, have missed out on a spot on the semi-finals, as they now path fourth-placed Maties by 9 factors.
The lead was prolonged instantly off the kickoff with centre Likhona Finca rounding off a implausible length-of-the-field assault for an additional point-of-origin attempt.
Regardless that Wits centre Liyema Matyolweni crossed the attempt line, the momentum firmly swung in favour of the hosts. UJ capitalised with two fast tries from wing Boldwin Hansen and lock Connor van Buuren, extending their result in 42-19 with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Each side then traded tries with substitute again David Cary crossing the whitewash for UJ earlier than fullback Setshaba Mokoena grabbed a comfort rating for Wits.
Photograph: Christiaan Kotze