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Glasgow Warriors grind out victory over Bulls in Scotstoun

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Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls United Rugby Championship Nathan McBeth of Glasgow Warriors scores a try for his side during the United Rugby Championship match at the Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow. (IMAGO / Focus Images)

Glasgow Warriors delivered a spirited fightback to overcome a resilient Vodacom Bulls side 21-12, sending the home faithful into raptures and propelling Franco Smith’s men to the summit of the United Rugby Championship table heading into the international break.

Key moments

4′ – Tuipulotu scores opening try for Glasgow following powerful forward surges
10′ – Jacobs hits back immediately for Bulls after De Klerk break
48′ – Le Roux puts Bulls ahead with second-half try
59′ – Bulls’ potential third try through Arendse ruled out for knock-on
64′ – Penalty try swings momentum back to Glasgow after Bulls collapse maul
70′ – McBeth powers over for Warriors’ third try to secure victory
80′ – Adam Hastings surpasses 500-point milestone for Glasgow

In front of a passionate Scotstoun crowd, Franco Smith’s side were forced to dig deep after falling behind early in the second half. The Warriors showcased their set-piece superiority in the final quarter, with their dominant maul proving decisive as they scored 14 unanswered points to see off Johan Ackermann’s Bulls outfit and cement their position as early-season contenders.

The Warriors started with intent, immediately putting the visitors under pressure. Locks Scott Cummings and Max Williamson provided the early impetus with powerful carries, creating the platform for Adam Hastings to release Sione Tuipulotu, who carved through the Bulls defence to open the scoring. Hastings added the conversion to give the hosts a 7-0 lead after just five minutes.

The South Africans, however, demonstrated their counter-attacking prowess with an immediate response. Sebastian de Klerk collected a loose ball around halfway, exploiting space in the Glasgow defensive line before offloading to Stravino Jacobs, who raced away to score. Keagan Johannes missed the conversion, leaving the Warriors with a slender 7-5 advantage.

What followed was a frenetic period of play, with both sides showing ambition but lacking the clinical edge to convert pressure into points. The tempo eventually slowed as defences gained the upper hand, with the opening half concluding without further scoring after Johannes’ long-range penalty attempt fell short on the stroke of half-time.

The Bulls emerged from the interval with renewed purpose and seized the lead three minutes into the second half. A Glasgow attack broke down when David Kriel intercepted a pass, sparking a counter-attack that culminated in Willie le Roux gliding under the posts untouched. Johannes converted to push the visitors ahead 12-7.

With momentum firmly behind them, the Bulls thought they had struck a potentially decisive blow when replacement Kurt-Lee Arendse finished a sweeping counter-attack, but their celebrations were cut short when the television match official spotted a knock-on by Ruan Nortje in the build-up.

That reprieve proved pivotal for the Warriors. Energised by the let-off, they launched a powerful maul from a lineout that the Bulls illegally collapsed near their try line. Referee Craig Evans had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and showing replacement prop Francois Klopper a yellow card, shifting the score to 14-12 in Glasgow’s favour.

With the numerical advantage and momentum now firmly behind them, Glasgow struck again. Substitute prop Nathan McBeth, who had earlier spent ten minutes in the sin bin, delivered the final blow with a close-range finish. Hastings’ conversion extended the lead to 21-12, giving the Warriors breathing space in the closing stages.

Despite pushing for a fourth try in the dying minutes to secure a bonus point, Glasgow had to settle for the win, which sees them head into the month-long URC break on a high note after winning four of their opening five fixtures.

Key performances

Jack Dempsey was immense for the Warriors, earning the player of the match accolade with his powerful carrying and defensive work. The 31-year-old number eight provided crucial go-forward ball at pivotal moments and was central to Glasgow’s resilience when under pressure.

For the Bulls, Sebastian de Klerk continued his impressive form, causing problems for the Glasgow defence with his pace and elusiveness. Willie le Roux’s experience was also evident throughout, with the Springbok fullback a constant threat in attack and assured under the high ball.

Controversial moments

The match turned on two significant TMO interventions in the second half. First, Bulls replacement Kurt-Lee Arendse had a try ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up, which would have given the South Africans a commanding lead.
Minutes later, the officials deemed the Bulls had illegally collapsed a maul near their try line, resulting in a penalty try for Glasgow and a yellow card for Francois Klopper.

Statistical significance

The victory sends Glasgow to the top of the United Rugby Championship standings ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures, with four wins from five matches this season. For the Bulls, it marks the end of their northern hemisphere tour with just one win from three matches.

Adam Hastings surpassed the significant milestone of 500 points for Glasgow Warriors during the match, highlighting his consistent contribution to the club since returning from Gloucester.

Quotes from both sides

Glasgow Warriors captain Kyle Steyn: “Real tough. They kept firing shots. We played a lot of good rugby in the first half and didn’t get rewards for it. I was really proud of the boys that when it got tough, they stood up and made it happen. Massive to have Jack Dempsey back. He’s a big-game player for us.”

Player of the match Jack Dempsey: “It was tough, but with boys like Kyle, it makes it easier. When you get to my age – I’m 31 now – you learn to find form quickly.”

Glasgow Head Coach Franco Smith (pre-match): “We know we must be at our best this weekend, as we look to finish the first block of fixtures on a high. The Bulls possess one of the strongest and deepest squads in the BKT URC; they are consistent in the quality of performances they produce.”

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackermann (pre-match): “It’s a challenge playing Glasgow at home. They have been one of the most consistent sides the last couple of years under Franco Smith. They are well coached style-wise and tactics-wise with quality players.”

Implications for both teams

Glasgow Warriors will be delighted to head into the international break at the summit of the URC table. Franco Smith’s men have now won four of their opening five fixtures, establishing Scotstoun as a fortress once more. The resilience shown to overturn a deficit against quality opposition will particularly please the coaching staff, and they’ll look to maintain this momentum when they travel to face Scarlets when the competition resumes next month.

For the Bulls, this marks a disappointing conclusion to their northern hemisphere tour, returning to South Africa with just one victory from three matches. While they showed flashes of their quality, particularly in their counter-attacking play, Johan Ackermann will be frustrated by their inability to capitalise on a second-half lead. They’ll need to regroup before facing the Lions at Loftus Versfeld when the URC action resumes.

Match information

Date: Friday, 24 October 2025
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Weather: 10°C with light swirling breeze
Attendance: Not specified
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)

Team lineups

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (capt), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Seb Stephen, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Alex Samuel, Alex Craig, Euan Ferrie, Ben Afshar, Dan Lancaster.

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje (capt), Marcell Coetzee, Reinhardt Ludwig, Jeandre Rudolph.
Replacements: Juann Else, Etienne Janneke, Francois Klopper, JJ Theron, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, Stedman Gans, Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Scorers:

Glasgow Warriors: Tries – Sione Tuipulotu, Penalty Try, Nathan McBeth; Conversions – Adam Hastings (2)
Vodacom Bulls: Tries – Stravino Jacobs, Willie le Roux; Conversions – Keagan Johannes (1)

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BKT URC Round 6 Review – Stormers the only unbeaten team

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BKT URC Round 6 Review – Stormers the only unbeaten team
DHL Stormers celebrate first win at Thomond Park // Photo Credit: Inpho Photography

Stormers Storming Ahead

There is now just one unbeaten team left in the BKT URC with the DHL Stormers having taken the spoils in an epic top-of-of-the-table clash with Munster Rugby.

Both teams had won their opening five league matches, so something had to give at Limerick’s Thomond Park.

It looked as though Munster were going to capitalise on home advantage when they led 21-6 at half-time after running in three tries.

But the Stormers racked up 21 unanswered points after the break to win 21-27.

The game finished three tries apiece, but it was the goal-kicking of the league’s top points scorer Jurie Matthee that ultimately proved the difference.

The Player of the Match award went to the visitors’ flanker Paul de Villiers who said: “We knew we were going to be tested. Playing Munster in Limerick is a massive challenge.

“Being behind, we had to really dig deep and fight back. There were a few things that hadn’t gone our way, but the way we reacted to it and responded in that second half, hats off to the team.

“I read a quote before the game of someone saying ‘I believe in belief’ and I think that’s what we had and showed. Even though it was tough at times, that belief really came through. It was surely a team effort.

“It’s good for us building and for the rest of the season.”

It’s a win that puts John Dobson’s Stormers two points clear at the top of the table a third of the way through the regular season.

Cardiff Rugby are now up to second place having made it five wins out of six with 14-29 bonus point victory over Zebre Parma out in Italy, where hooker Daf Hughes scored a first-half hat-trick of lineout drive tries.

There were a couple of surprise results, with the Lions beating the Vodacom Bulls 33-43 in Pretoria, while the previously pointless Scarlets defeated Glasgow Warriors 23-0.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Connacht Rugby thumped the Hollywoodbets Sharks 44-17 in Galway and Edinburgh Rugby claimed a narrow 19-17 victory over the depleted, but brave Ospreys.

As for the two games on Friday night, they saw both Ulster Rugby and Leinster Rugby turn around half-time deficits to claim bonus point wins.

Trailing 13-12 to Benetton Rugby at the break in Belfast, Ulster then scored 35 unanswered points with wingers Rob Baloucoune and Werner Kok completing try doubles.

It’s a seven-try triumph which has taken Ulster up to fourth in the league table.

Their head coach Richie Murphy said: “I’m massively pleased.

“To come in one point down at half-time was a bit disappointing, but the guys regrouped really well.

We kept doing what we were doing and the pressure paid off in the end.

“Once we got into our flow, I thought we looked really good. It was a very satisfying five points.”

Ireland flanker Nick Timoney added: “It was incredibly enjoyable. There’s nothing like a Friday night at home for us. We love them.

“It was a tough first half. We got a bit frustrated and went in a point down. But we knew if we could keep the ball a bit better and keep our discipline that it was going to come for us and thankfully it did. We enjoyed ourselves in the second half and were happy with how we played.”

Meanwhile, champions Leinster came from 7-5 down at the interval to beat Dragons RFC 24-10 at Rodney Parade, with Springbok second row RG Snyman scoring the late bonus point try to cap a huge impact off the bench.

However, head coach Leo Cullen was far from happy with the overall team display.

“We are hugely frustrated with the performance,” he said.

“It was a great outcome for us to come away with a bonus point win, but we made very hard work of it at times.

“A lot of that was down to the Dragons, they came strong at us the whole game, but a lot of it was in our control. We gave away a lot of penalties, we gave up a couple of yellow cards and there were multiple chances that we wasted, so we just made life really difficult for ourselves. It’s really frustrating from our point of view.”

Leinster skipper Max Deegan added: “It wasn’t picture perfect.

“The conditions were tough and the Dragons are a really proud bunch of players, so we always knew it was going to be a challenge, but we definitely made life hard for ourselves.

“We gave away too many penalties. That was definitely below Leinster standards. That’s not good enough. It just needs to be better.”

Scarlets Tear Up The Form Book

Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel has revealed how an honest review paved the way for a memorable 23-0 victory over high-flying Glasgow.

The west Wales region had failed to pick up a single point in losing their first four BKT URC fixtures, leaving them bottom of the table.

In contrast, Glasgow had won four of their opening five games to stand in third place.

But, despite being depleted by having five backs away on Wales duty, the Scarlets tore up the form book to claim their first victory of the season.

There were tries from flanker Josh Macleod and centre Macs Page, plus some real heroics in defence to keep Glasgow scoreless in the Llanelli rain.

Delighted head coach Peel said: “It feels great. We were quite honest in our review of the first block. We had a lot of work to do and we have worked hard over the last couple of weeks.

“I’m happy for everyone because we obviously haven’t had the best start to the season.

“I thought we did the basics well. We kicked well, we chased well, we turned ball over and we took points when we needed to. Scoreboard pressure is huge in those conditions. You don’t want to be points down chasing the game because it’s difficult to move the ball.

“I am pleased for the boys because they have given a lot of hard work. I am really happy with the performance and the win. It’s a good start to a really exciting block.”

Skipper Macleod said: “I asked for a level of intensity. We knew it was going to be won on defence and I think nil on the scoreboard is a pretty decent success.

“We knew as forwards we had to step up and we felt a bit of dominance up front.

“Hopefully this is the building block – nil on the scoreboard and some decent tries. Overall we are just very, very happy to get the win. It’s a pretty decent foundation moving into an exciting block.”

There was also a win for fellow Welsh side Cardiff who beat Zebre 29-14 out in northern Italy to take them to the giddy heights of second in the table.

Hooker Daf Hughes scored a first half hat-trick of lineout drive tries and then replacement flanker Taine Basham stepped his way over to seal the bonus point in the final play of the game.

Head coach Corniel van Zyl said: “Zebre are a tough team to beat, so we will definitely take it. I am happy for the boys to get it over the line.

“We had to dig deep and the boys did it, so I am very proud of them.”

Hat-trick hero Hughes, who was named Player of the Match, added his thoughts on a win achieved without ten Wales squad members.

“It’s a tough place to come. Your pack really needs to be on fire to take a win and we were. To come out here and get five points is massive,” he said.

“We found out last year that there’s one or two points in it to be in the top eight. If we keep our heads down and go game by game, we can put ourselves in a good spot come the end of the season.”

What’s Coming Next?

The focus switches to EPCR action for the next two weeks, with the 16 BKT URC sides involved in the Investec Champions Cup or Challenge Cup.

Then the league resumes with Round 7 on the weekend before Christmas with six of the eight matches being derbies.

The table-topping DHL Stormers will host the Lions in Cape Town, while second-placed Cardiff entertain the Scarlets at the Arms Park.

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Stormers stage stunning comeback to end Munster’s unbeaten run

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Stormers stage stunning comeback to end Munster’s unbeaten run

Munster suffered their first defeat of the season in devastating fashion at Thomond Park, surrendering a commanding 15-point half-time advantage as the Stormers staged a remarkable comeback to claim a 27-21 victory and maintain their unbeaten record atop the United Rugby Championship.

Key moments:

3′ – YELLOW CARD STORMERS: Connor Evans sent to sin bin for deliberate obstruction off the ball
4′ – PENALTY MISSED MUNSTER: Jack Crowley strikes penalty wide from 30 metres
5′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Jurie Matthee kicks long-range penalty (Munster 0-3 Stormers)
8′ – TRY MUNSTER: Tadhg Beirne dummies and crashes over beside posts, Jack Crowley converts (Munster 7-3 Stormers)
10′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: John Hodnett replaces Jack O’Donoghue (HIA)
11′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Jurie Matthee kicks scrum penalty (Munster 7-6 Stormers)
19′ – YELLOW CARD STORMERS: Marcel Theunissen sent to sin bin for repeated offside infringements
20′ – TRY MUNSTER: John Hodnett crashes over under posts, Jack Crowley converts (Munster 14-6 Stormers)
28′ – PENALTY MISSED STORMERS: Jurie Matthee strikes penalty wide
29′ – TRY MUNSTER: Jack Crowley powers over from close range, converts own try (Munster 21-6 Stormers)
Half-time: Munster 21-6 Stormers
44′ – SUBSTITUTIONS STORMERS: Six forward replacements introduced simultaneously
46′ – TRY DISALLOWED STORMERS: Paul de Villiers’ score ruled out for Oli Kebble obstruction in maul
58′ – TRY STORMERS: Adré Smith drives over after sustained pressure, Jurie Matthee converts (Munster 21-13 Stormers)
58′ – YELLOW CARD MUNSTER: Gavin Coombes sent to sin bin for deliberate trip
68′ – TRY STORMERS: Dylan Maart catches Jurie Matthee’s cross-kick perfectly to score on debut, Matthee converts (Munster 21-20 Stormers)
71′ – TRY STORMERS: Ruhan Nel intercepts Jack Crowley pass and races 55 metres to score under posts, Jurie Matthee converts (Munster 21-27 Stormers)
74′ – TRY DISALLOWED MUNSTER: Tom Farrell’s score ruled out for Jack Crowley knock-on in build-up
Full-time: Munster 21-27 Stormers

The 14,421 spectators witnessed a tale of two halves in this top-of-the-table clash, as Munster’s early attacking fluency gave way to second-half suffocation at the hands of a Stormers side who deployed their own version of the Springboks’ “Bomb Squad” to devastating effect. For Clayton McMillan, it marked his first competitive defeat since taking charge in the summer, though the manner of the collapse will sting far more than the result itself.

The opening exchanges appeared to follow a familiar script. Just three minutes in, Diarmuid Kilgallen’s break forced Connor Evans into a desperate jersey pull off the ball, earning the Stormers lock an early yellow card. Jack Crowley’s penalty attempt drifted wide, but Munster’s dominance seemed assured.

Yet it was the visitors who struck first, Jurie Matthee bisecting the posts from fully 50 metres after Fineen Wycherley was harshly penalised at a ruck. The reprieve proved temporary. On eight minutes, Munster produced a sublime score when Gavin Coombes put captain Tadhg Beirne into space. The British and Irish Lion sold a brilliant dummy before crashing over beside the posts, Crowley’s conversion establishing a 7-3 lead.

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The Stormers, missing Springbok stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse to international duty in Cardiff, briefly threatened through their scrum dominance. A powerful shove earned Matthee another penalty, reducing the deficit to a single point after 11 minutes. However, their indiscipline would prove costly.

After weathering sustained Munster pressure deep in their 22, referee Andrea Piardi lost patience, dispatching flanker Marcel Theunissen to the sin bin for repeated offside infringements on 19 minutes. From the resulting penalty, Munster opted for a quick tap. Casey fed Coombes, who sent replacement John Hodnett—on for Jack O’Donoghue following a head injury—crashing over under the posts. Crowley’s conversion extended the lead to 14-6.

Munster’s third try showcased the attacking verve that has characterised their campaign. From a scrum deep in their own half, Crowley released Tom Farrell on a cutback line. The centre, who earned his first two Ireland caps during November’s international window, burst through the Stormers defence before offloading to Casey. The scrum-half raced upfield before finding Coombes, who rumbled to within metres of the line. From the quick ruck, Crowley powered through the goalline defence for a try he duly converted.

At 21-6 ahead, with the Stormers having conceded all their points whilst down to 14 men, Munster appeared in complete control. Tom Ahern and Wycherley were winning crucial lineout steals, the back-row was dominant at the breakdown, and the backline was making incisions with regularity. The only concern remained the scrum, where John Ryan’s pack conceded a worrying series of penalties.

“In that first half I thought we probably played some of our best rugby,” McMillan admitted afterwards. “But we forced passes, we missed opportunities to create. And then in the last 10 minutes we lost our way a little bit and never regathered it after that.”
John Dobson’s interval decision proved transformative. Four minutes into the second half, the Stormers head coach introduced six fresh forwards simultaneously—JJ Kotzé, Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling and Ruan Ackermann—in a pre-planned gambit to swing the physical battle.

“We always had the plan to bring six forwards on at the same time,” Dobson explained. “We trained it at the captain’s practice, how the calling would work. We felt at the time we might as well roll the dice because we were in so much trouble, but they made a huge difference.”

The impact wasn’t immediate. The Stormers thought they’d scored when Smith crashed over from a maul, only for the TMO to spot Kebble guilty of obstruction. But the tide was turning inexorably. On 58 minutes, sustained pick-and-go pressure finally told, Smith burrowing over with Matthee’s conversion cutting the gap to eight points.

To compound Munster’s misery, Coombes was shown a yellow card for a silly attempted trip in the build-up, reducing the hosts to 14 men for a crucial period. The Stormers scrum, which had troubled Munster throughout, continued to win penalties and territory.

The pivotal moment arrived on 68 minutes. From Munster’s own scrum turnover, the Stormers worked possession wide before Matthee produced a perfectly weighted cross-kick. Dylan Maart, making his debut, won the race to the corner and touched down for a sensational try. Matthee’s superb conversion from the touchline brought the deficit to a single point with 10 minutes remaining.

Thomond Park, so raucous in the first half, fell eerily silent three minutes later. Crowley attempted a wraparound pass in midfield, but centre Ruhan Nel read the play, intercepted and raced 55 metres untouched to score under the posts. Matthee’s conversion put the Stormers 27-21 ahead with eight minutes remaining.

Munster summoned one final effort. Casey’s gorgeous cross-kick picked out Farrell loitering on the right wing, and the centre raced over. Crowley’s brilliant touchline conversion appeared to have levelled the scores at 28-27, only for TMO Matteo Liperini to spot a knock-on by the out-half in the build-up. The score was disallowed, though Munster retained possession from the penalty advantage.

From the subsequent lineout, handling errors and another scrum penalty allowed the Stormers to run down the clock and secure a famous victory—their first at Thomond Park and fourth consecutive away win of the campaign.

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“I thought Munster were absolutely superb in the first half, in a game where everything went wrong for us,” Dobson said. “They really put us under pressure, especially physically. But this team will always get off the canvas—that’s who we are.”

For Munster, the defeat provides sobering lessons ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup opener at Bath. The scrum issues—coming just seven days after Ireland’s woes against South Africa—demand urgent attention. The absence of Jean Kleyn, on Springbok duty, was keenly felt, though Edwin Edogbo’s introduction from the bench provided some ballast.

McMillan remained measured in defeat. “We want a little bit more from ourselves, but also, they put a huge amount of pressure on us, and we weren’t good enough to find a way out of it. Whilst they brought something to the table, we also let ourselves down, so that’s disappointing, but we learn, we grow, we move forward.”

The Stormers, meanwhile, remain the URC’s only unbeaten side and sit six points clear at the summit. Their depth, resilience and tactical flexibility—epitomised by Dobson’s bold substitution strategy—marks them as genuine title contenders.

Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: John Hodnett, Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, Ronan Foxe, Edwin Edogbo, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly

Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Dylan Maart, Wandisile Simelane, Ruhan Nel, Leolin Zas; Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer; Vernon Matongo, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché; Salmaan Moerat (capt), Connor Evans; Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos
Replacements: JJ Kotzé, Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Ruan Ackermann, Dewaldt Duvenage, Clinton Swart

Yellow cards: Connor Evans (3-13 mins), Marcel Theunissen (19-29 mins), Gavin Coombes (58-68 mins)

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Attendance: 14,421

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Joshua Kenny brace helps unconvincing Leinster edge past Dragons

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Joshua Kenny brace helps unconvincing Leinster edge past Dragons
BKT United Rugby Championship, Stadio Monigo, Treviso, Italy 5/10/2024 Benetton Rugby vs Leinster A view of Leinster changing room ahead of the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Luca Sighinolfi

Dragons pushed champions Leinster to the brink at Rodney Parade before succumbing 24-10 in a fractious encounter marred by indiscipline and controversy, as the Irish province’s wait for fluency continued despite claiming a valuable bonus point.

Key moments:

4′ – TRY LEINSTER: Alex Soroka powers over from close range, Harry Byrne misses conversion (Dragons 0-5 Leinster)
7′ – PENALTY MISSED DRAGONS: Tinus de Beer strikes left upright with penalty attempt
28′ – YELLOW CARD LEINSTER: Diarmuid Mangan sent to sin bin for repeated offside infringements
31′ – TRY DRAGONS: Matthew Screech burrows over under posts, Tinus de Beer converts (Dragons 7-5 Leinster)
35′ – YELLOW CARD LEINSTER: Scott Penny sent to sin bin for offside
Half-time: Dragons 7-5 Leinster
44′ – TRY LEINSTER: Joshua Kenny dives over in right corner, Harry Byrne converts (Dragons 7-12 Leinster)
47′ – PENALTY DRAGONS: Angus O’Brien kicks penalty (Dragons 10-12 Leinster)
47′ – SUBSTITUTION LEINSTER: RG Snyman replaces Brian Deeny
52′ – TRY DISALLOWED LEINSTER: Luke McGrath’s score ruled out for dangerous Jack Boyle clearout
59′ – TRY LEINSTER: Joshua Kenny scores second try in right corner, Harry Byrne misses conversion (Dragons 10-17 Leinster)
75′ – CONTROVERSIAL DECISION: Scott Penny escapes red card after TMO review for high tackle on Levi Douglas
77′ – TRY LEINSTER: RG Snyman intercepts loose ball and races 25 metres to score, Harry Byrne converts (Dragons 10-24 Leinster)
80′ – YELLOW CARD LEINSTER: Luke McGrath sent to sin bin for not retreating 10 metres
Full-time: Dragons 10-24 Leinster

The 4,244 spectators who braved a cold Newport evening witnessed Leinster reduced to 13 men in the first half, trailing at the interval, and fortunate to escape with all four points after a baffling refereeing decision denied the hosts a late lifeline. For Dragons, the cruel manner of defeat extended their winless league run since September 2024, though few could question their spirit in the face of adversity.

Leinster’s intentions appeared clear from the off. Jack Boyle, perhaps eager to prove a point after losing his Ireland spot to Paddy McCarthy, demolished the Dragons scrum to win two early penalties. From the second, Harry Byrne found touch five metres out, and when Ciarán Frawley secured lineout ball at the tail, Alex Soroka required just one powerful surge to barrel through contact and touch down in the fourth minute.

It was a score of worrying ease for the Welsh hosts, already shorn of five players on Wales duty. Yet what followed proved anything but straightforward for Leo Cullen’s side, who proceeded to squander opportunity after opportunity through a toxic combination of handling errors, poor decision-making and chronic indiscipline.

Soroka’s defensive lineout work provided a silver lining, the flanker producing two crucial steals—one perilously close to his own line—whilst Joshua Kenny demonstrated his suitability to Jacques Nienaber’s aggressive defensive system with a pair of thumping hits flying out of the line. But these individual moments failed to coalesce into team-wide excellence. The penalty count mounted alarmingly, and on 28 minutes, referee Morne Ferreira lost patience, dispatching lock Diarmuid Mangan to the sin bin for repeated offside infringements.

The Welsh region, showing admirable patience and composure, opted against shots at goal to instead pile pressure on the depleted visitors. Their persistence bore fruit when, from a series of close-range tap penalties, lock Matthew Screech burrowed over under the posts. Tinus de Beer, who had earlier struck the left upright with a penalty attempt, made no mistake from straight in front to give Dragons a 7-5 lead after 31 minutes.

Matters worsened for Leinster when Scott Penny joined Mangan in the sin bin four minutes before half-time, the openside penalised for yet another offside offence. That Leinster reached the interval just two points adrift represented something of an escape, particularly given they had accumulated a remarkable 12 first-half penalties.

“We made very hard work of it at times,” Cullen admitted afterwards. “A lot of that was down to Dragons but a lot was in our own control. We squandered a lot of opportunities and then we started giving away a lot of penalties. We made life really difficult for ourselves. It was hugely frustrating.”

Dragons made changes at the break, Wyn Jones replacing Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths at prop, but injuries soon forced further disruption as Levi Douglas and debutant Will Austin—signed from Sale Sharks this week to cover a hooker crisis—were introduced early in the half.

Leinster, still down to 14 men, struck the decisive blow in the 44th minute. Sharp interplay between Byrne and Frawley created space on the right, and Kenny required no second invitation to dive over in the corner. Byrne’s touchline conversion put Leinster 12-7 ahead.

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Dragons responded through Angus O’Brien’s 47th-minute penalty after Leinster twice failed to roll away, but the momentum had shifted. The introduction of RG Snyman on 47 minutes proved transformative, the South African lock immediately making his presence felt with a fortuitous offload that bounced into Jimmy O’Brien’s arms.

Leinster thought they had scored when Luke McGrath dived over from close range, only for the TMO to spot Jack Boyle illegally clearing out Mackenzie Martin at a ruck—the second time in six days an Irish try had been chalked off for a dangerous cleanout.
The Springbok giant would not be denied his impact. On 59 minutes, Snyman produced a moment of outrageous skill, throwing two audacious offloads in three phases. The second, a looping basketball-style pass, found Kenny perfectly positioned to power through contact and score in the right corner for his second try.

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At 17-10, the contest remained delicately poised, particularly when Dragons mounted a late siege on the Leinster line. What followed sparked fury amongst the home support and left head coach Filo Tiatia seething.

With five minutes remaining and Dragons hammering at the line, Penny made contact with Douglas’s head, his arm tucked and never wrapped in what appeared a clear example of dangerous play. After lengthy TMO consultation, Ferreira somehow concluded Penny had attempted a legitimate tackle and waved play on.

“It was clearly shoulder contact to the head,” Tiatia stated bluntly afterwards, his frustration palpable.

The decision proved doubly costly when, moments later, Huw Anderson spilled Luke McGrath’s high ball under pressure. Snyman pounced on the loose ball and, demonstrating pace belying his frame, galloped 25 metres to score in the corner. Byrne’s conversion completed the scoring with three minutes remaining.

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McGrath became Leinster’s third sin-binned player in the dying seconds for failing to retreat 10 metres, but the damage was done. Josh Ericson made his debut in the final moments, a bright spot on a night he would remember more fondly than most.

For Leinster, the bonus point maintains their momentum heading into next weekend’s Champions Cup opener against Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium, though Cullen will demand significant improvement. The province has now won just three of their opening six league fixtures, an alarming return for the defending champions.

Kenny’s emergence as a try-scoring threat offers encouragement, his third and fourth tries in as many games suggesting genuine potential. Snyman’s impact off the bench proved decisive, though questions linger over whether Leinster can afford such unconvincing performances.

Dragons, despite the heartbreak, can draw genuine belief from pushing the champions so close whilst missing key personnel. Tiatia’s young charges showed admirable spirit and organisation, particularly in defence where they twice held up mauls and forced Leinster into uncharacteristic errors.

“I said in the huddle that I was proud of the performance because we had a lot of young guys that came on and got exposure at this level,” Tiatia reflected. “We’ve just got to keep learning and improving, which they have. We can take a lot of belief and confidence.”

Yet the stark reality remains: Dragons have not beaten Leinster at Rodney Parade since 2016, and this cruel defeat—snatched away by controversial officiating and late heartbreak—will do little to ease the pain of a winless league campaign stretching back over a year.

Dragons: Angus O’Brien (capt); Cai Evans, David Richards, Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson; Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Oli Burrows, Robert Hunt; Seb Davies, Matthew Screech; Ryan Woodman, Thomas Young, Mackenzie Martin
Replacements: Shane Lewis-Hughes, Wyn Jones, Levi Douglas, Will Austin, Owain James, Niall Armstrong, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Joshua Kenny, Hugh Cooney, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan; Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Max Deegan (capt)
Replacements: RG Snyman, John McKee, Jerry Cahir, Rabah Slimani, Josh Ericson, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector, Ruben Moloney

Yellow cards: Diarmuid Mangan (28-38 mins), Scott Penny (35-45 mins), Luke McGrath (80 mins)

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

Attendance: 4,244

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