Mapimpi sharks

Makazole Mapimpi of the Sharks passes the ball to Curwin Bosch of the Sharks (R) in for an unmanned try during the round four Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Sharks at Mars Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Watch: Makazole Mapimpi selflessly gives away his hat-trick try

Makazole Mapimpi is a proving to be an absolute superhero for the Sharks this season and he impressed again in Ballarat.

Mapimpi sharks

Makazole Mapimpi of the Sharks passes the ball to Curwin Bosch of the Sharks (R) in for an unmanned try during the round four Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Sharks at Mars Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Sharks romped to a 36-24 win over the Melbourne Rebels at the Mars Stadium in Ballarat with Makazole Mapimpi starring for the visitors.

Mapimpi showed that he is one of the game’s finest finishers as he scored a brace of tries to help the Sharks bounce back from a disappointing display in Wellington last week.

Fassi sets up Mapimpi’s opening score

Aphelele Fassi was the architect of the Sharks first try gathering a box kick just inside his own half and evading the chasers to put his side on the front foot. After offloading to Curwin Bosch, Fassi took over at first receiver, putting in a lovely grubber that sat up for Sikhumbuzo Notshe. Notshe quickly shovelled the ball to Mapimpi who had one man to beat. The Bok finisher did what he does best, combining pace and power to beat the tackle and open the scoring.

Mapimpi Sharks
Sharks player Makazole Mapimpi (L) evades the tackles of Rebels player Andrew Deegan (R) during the Super Rugby match between Australia’s Rebels and South Africa’s Sharks in Ballarat on February 22, 2020. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Tries for Andre Esterhuizen and Madosh Tambwe gave the Sharks a comfortable lead of 22-10 at half time.

Mapimpi’s second score had an air of the dubious about it, but slow motion replays appeared to show that he was able to place the ball over the line despite the attentions of the Rebels defenders.

The Sharks all but sealed the match when they broke from their own line and went 95 metres to score. Esterhuizen stripped the ball in a tackle and ran it out of the 22 before passing to Curwin Bosch. Bosch set Mapimpi away with a simple draw and pass. Mapimpi sprinted over but then selflessly gave his try away to Bosch. 

Watch Highlights of the Sharks 36-24 win over the Rebels

Mapimpi has been in stunning form during the Super Rugby campaign and would have gone joint-top of the tryscoring standings for the 2020 season had he claimed the score himself.

He has scored four times in four matches for the Sharks, making six clean breaks.

The try and conversion helped Bosch up to 46 points for the season.

Fassi and Notshe have also been standouts for the Durban-based franchise making 84 carries between them. Sharks fullback Fassi has also beaten 25 defenders this season a figure only matched by the Crusaders David Havili. Fassi has also carried a whopping 397 metres