Round 11 of the BKT United Rugby Championship delivered yet more drama, with the Sharks completing a historic double over the Stormers, Glasgow Warriors extending their lead at the summit, and Wallaby prop Angus Bell producing a sensational solo try as Ulster edged past Cardiff in Belfast.

The weekend’s results saw significant movement in the standings as teams head into the Six Nations break. The Bulls’ demolition of the Lions at Ellis Park continued their remarkable turnaround, Keelan Giles’ 50th Ospreys try sparked wild celebrations in an emotion-charged Welsh derby, while Scott Penny’s hat-trick inspired Leinster to climb to second place. Meanwhile, thick fog in Treviso produced another bizarre 20-20 draw between Benetton and the Scarlets – the exact same scoreline as last season’s encounter at the same venue.

Glasgow stretch their lead

A much-changed Glasgow Warriors side extended their lead at the top of the table thanks to a 31-22 bonus-point victory over Munster Rugby at a sold-out Scotstoun.

All four of their tries came in the first half as they built a 28-5 buffer which served as the platform for a ninth successive victory in all competitions. Ollie Smith’s extraordinary finish in the corner, Dan Lancaster’s interception from halfway, Olujare Oguntibeju’s close-range effort and Josh McKay’s bonus-point score while Munster were down to 14 men following Thaakir Abrahams’ yellow card established a commanding lead that the visitors could not overcome.

Munster rallied impressively in the second half with tries from Dan Kelly – a stunning 70-metre solo run – Brian Gleeson and Diarmuid Kilgallen, but Lancaster’s 74th-minute penalty sealed the victory for the hosts.

With the bulk of their Scotland squad members away preparing for the Six Nations, Glasgow showed ten changes, but they still continued their winning ways, much to the delight of skipper Stafford McDowall.

“It’s something we pride ourselves on here massively – that whoever steps into the jersey does the same job,” he said. “These are some of the most fun times to be a Glasgow Warrior when the international boys are away and the boys who work hard every week and maybe don’t get a chance get their time to play. It’s nice to see them step up and play really well.”

Centre McDowall was one of five members of Glasgow’s 18-strong contingent in the Six Nations squad who were released to figure in the BKT URC clash. The 16-cap centre responded with a Player of the Match display.

Adding his thoughts on the contest, Glasgow coach Franco Smith said: “We always knew it was going to be a tough one with Munster also playing well this season. So to get the win is good. There’s obviously a lot to work on, but we are excited to get five points against Munster who are a very tough team to play, so I am happy with that.”

Penny hat-trick inspires Leinster comeback

Leinster Rugby moved up to second in the table having made it 11 wins in a row in all competitions by claiming a 28-20 bonus-point victory over Edinburgh Rugby at the Aviva Stadium.

The reigning champions trailed 15-7 at the break after tries from Duhan van der Merwe – released by Scotland for the trip to Dublin – and Malelili Satala had given the visitors a deserved cushion. Edinburgh had also seen a stunning length-of-the-field effort cruelly disallowed by the TMO for an infringement in the build-up.

However, Leinster stormed back to take control through their close-quarter carrying as flanker Scott Penny scored a second-half hat-trick of tries, all from close range. The hosts’ physicality gradually told as Edinburgh’s discipline cracked under mounting pressure.

Charlie Shiel’s late consolation try for Edinburgh was rendered meaningless when Cammy Scott’s conversion attempt slipped off the tee as he approached, stayed low and was charged down – denying the visitors even a losing bonus point.

Player of the Match Penny said: “It was a very tough game. In the first half, we weren’t really up to the standard that we hold ourselves to and Edinburgh were really testing us. But there was a really good response in the second half. It was a great team effort.”

On his hat-trick, he said: “I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. We had to work for all our tries. Edinburgh really defended their line very well and it took us loads of phases to get over.”

Sharks complete historic double over Stormers

Long-time league leaders the DHL Stormers have slipped down to third after losing to the Hollywoodbets Sharks for the second weekend in a row.

They were beaten 36-24 in front of a 25,364 crowd at Durban’s Kings Park with winger Jaco Williams scoring two of the Sharks’ five tries as they turned around a 17-14 half-time deficit. It was the first time the Sharks had completed a double over the Stormers in a single season since 2012 Super Rugby.

The Sharks dominated the aerial battle, with wings Williams and Edwill van der Merwe superb under the high ball. Captain André Esterhuizen led from the front throughout, his try helping to turn the tide after Ruben van Heerden’s yellow card had reduced the Stormers to 14 men.

The result was sealed by one of the most bizarre moments of the URC season. With 10 minutes remaining and the Sharks leading 31-24, replacement full-back Warrick Gelant dropped back behind his own line to field a probing kick. Taking his time to dot down, Gelant was oblivious to the danger as Williams raced in to touch the ball down under his nose.

Stormers coach John Dobson admitted: “Credit to the Sharks, they beat us properly over the past two weeks. Our discipline was poor and our set-piece definitely let us down. The most frustrating thing about tonight is that everything that went wrong last week went wrong this week. There has to be a behaviour change.”

Captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added: “The lack of discipline cost us. When we played our game, we were on top of them. We were being reckless, careless and irresponsible.”

Ulster edge past Cardiff in Belfast

Ulster Rugby and Cardiff Rugby fought out a tight encounter in Belfast, with the hosts coming out on top 21-14 to leapfrog their opponents in the standings.

The highlight was a sensational solo try from Wallaby prop Angus Bell. The Australian picked up the ball on the edge of the 22, beat two Cardiff defenders and sidestepped full-back Cam Winnett with the footwork of a seasoned winger to touch down for his first Ulster try – a score so good it left team-mate Marcus Rea standing with his hands on his head in disbelief.

Scott Wilson had earlier crashed over to open the scoring after some sharp carries and quick recycling, before Bell’s moment of magic extended the lead to 14-0 at half-time. Cardiff, who have a habit of comeback wins over Ulster, rallied through Johan Mulder’s close-range effort and Steffan Emanuel’s fine finish after Taine Basham’s powerful break.

Charlie Irvine’s try restored Ulster’s two-score advantage, but Emanuel’s immediate response set up a nervous finale. James Hume’s crucial turnover inside his own 22 with five minutes remaining proved decisive, and Cardiff had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Ulster coach Richie Murphy said: “We are delighted with the win. We were made to work really hard, especially in the second half. Home in the Affidea Stadium is becoming really good for us. We are winning a lot of games here.”

His Cardiff counterpart Corniel van Zyl commented: “In the first half, we struggled a little bit, but the way the boys fought back to stay in the fight was really pleasing to see. The fight was amazing. The boys just wanted to fight for the jersey.”

Bulls demolish Lions in emphatic Jukskei derby

The Vodacom Bulls posted a resounding 52-17 away win over the Lions in Johannesburg, racking up eight tries in an emphatic revenge for their 43-33 defeat at Loftus in November.

It was the Bulls’ third consecutive win after ending a seven-match losing streak, a remarkable turnaround that has lifted them to seventh in the standings. Harold Vorster scored twice against his former club, while Johan Grobbelaar, Handré Pollard, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Embrose Papier, Mpilo Gumede and Keagan Johannes also crossed. Pollard orchestrated proceedings from fly-half, landing six conversions.

The Lions were overwhelmed from the outset, trailing 26-3 at half-time and unable to string phases together. Morne van den Berg and Bronson Mills scored consolation tries, but the hosts made 174 tackles at 90% success rate yet still could not stop the Bulls’ dominance.

Player of the Match Embrose Papier controlled proceedings from scrum-half, his kicking game winning crucial aerial contests throughout. Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee expressed pride in his team’s performance, while coach Johan Ackermann praised the balance between attack and defence.

Lions captain Francke Horn called for accountability after the match: “Every player needs to take accountability for their job. Nothing in a week’s prep led us to perform like that today. But definitely the pressure and the slow start got to us, and it’s just not a good enough performance.”

Coach Ivan van Rooyen echoed that sentiment: “In that first half, I don’t think we managed to get the ball through two phases, maybe not even three, so just sloppy. You make an error, they get the ball, then you concede momentum.”

Ospreys players pay tribute to their fans

Match-winning hero Keelan Giles paid tribute to the Ospreys fans after his last-minute try secured a dramatic 19-13 Welsh derby victory over Dragons RFC.

Winger Giles cut through to the line with just 55 seconds left on the clock to spark scenes of wild celebration both on and off the field at Bridgend’s Electric Brewery Field. It was his 50th try for the region and what a moment to score it.

The victory came on a night when supporters staged a pre-match protest against the Welsh Rugby Union and owners Y11 Sport & Media, whose bid to buy rivals Cardiff threatens Ospreys’ future beyond 2027. Former players Shane Williams and Ian Gough addressed the crowd before kick-off.

Speaking after the game, Giles said: “I would just like to say a massive thanks to the crowd for coming out in numbers. They were the voice and it was a great night. It’s class. We spoke about it all week that this would be a massive game and I am so glad we got the win in the end. It was a physical game and the boys dug deep.”

Giles’ decisive score came when the Dragons were reduced to 13 men after prop Cebo Dlamini had been sin-binned for head contact in a tackle and hooker Oli Burrows failed his HIA.

Adding his thoughts, skipper Sam Parry said: “The fans mean so much to us. We are proud to represent them and proud to represent this team. It’s something we spoke about before the game, just what it means to wear the jersey.”

Delighted Ospreys coach Mark Jones said: “I think I probably let myself down up in the stand when the try was scored! I was just feeling for the boys because it felt like we might not get what we felt we deserved. The boys have put so much effort in.”

Reflecting on his team standing eighth in the table, Jones said: “We have set ourselves up pretty well. We are just over halfway and if you’d said we were going to be sitting where we are in pre-season we’d have probably taken that when you look at the strength of the league.”

For the Dragons, it was a case of so near, yet so far. They led for most of the game and came within a minute of claiming their first away win in the league since April 2022, only to have to settle for a losing bonus point in the end.

Head coach Filo Tiatia said: “We are disappointed. I thought we played really well. I can’t fault the effort. I’m proud of the group and we deserved more than what we got. But we also weren’t clinical enough. We had seven or eight entries inside their 22 and we didn’t convert.”

Connacht survive Zebre scare

Connacht Rugby secured a hard-fought 31-15 bonus-point victory over Zebre Parma in Italy, but Stuart Lancaster’s side were made to work until deep into stoppage time for the maximum haul.

Oisín McCormack crowned his first appearance of the season by snatching the bonus-point try in the 11th minute of stoppage time, finishing a driving maul after Zebre centre Marco Zanon was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on – the third player to be sin-binned for that offence during the match.

The visitors had trailed 3-0 at half-time after a controversial TMO decision denied wing Chay Mullins a try. A technical issue on the big screen meant referee Ben Whitehouse could not verify the call himself, and he deferred to TMO Keith David – but delayed replays suggested the score should have stood.

Joe Joyce pounced just 41 seconds into the second half when Cathal Forde charged down a clearance, while number eight Sean Jansen crossed twice to underline his importance to this Connacht side. Sam Gilbert maintained a flawless record from the tee with four conversions and a crucial 79th-minute penalty that ensured the four points were safe.

Zebre, depleted by eight players on Six Nations duty with Italy, showed admirable spirit throughout. Scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia scored and was later yellow-carded, while replacement Bautista Stavile’s powerful run reduced the deficit to 21-15 with six minutes remaining to set up a tense finale.

Fog-bound draw in Treviso

On Friday night, it had been a case of déjà vu all over again as the Benetton-Scarlets clash produced exactly the same scoreline as last season’s game out in Treviso – a 20-20 draw.

The hosts led 13-3 at half-time through a Paolo Odogwu try and Rhyno Smith’s eight points from the boot, but the Scarlets responded as thick fog descended after the break, ultimately edging the try count 3-2.

Gareth Davies – moving to joint third on the all-time URC try-scoring charts – Tomi Lewis and Macs Page crossed for the visitors, with 18-year-old Carwyn Leggatt-Jones providing assists for the latter two tries on his first URC start.

Both teams had opportunities to win the game late on, only for kicks at goal to go wide. Nicolas Roger Farias missed two long-range penalties for Benetton, while Leggatt-Jones’ missed conversion – which would have won the match – summed up a frustrating night.

The Player of the Match award went to the Scarlets’ Kiwi number eight Fletcher Anderson, who made more carries (19) and tackles (16) than anyone else on the pitch. He admitted he had never played in such conditions before.

“We rocked up and it was a little bit foggy, but coming out for the second half we couldn’t really see the crowd,” he said. “It was pretty interesting. It was tough under the high ball. The referee mentioned that if it got any worse we would have to call it, but you don’t really think about it, you just try and focus on the game.”

Reflecting on the Scarlets’ improved performances of late, he said: “The Champions Cup was a good period for us, playing against some quality sides. Having a challenge like that really forces you to lift your game and I think we’ve done that. We are not far off. We are trending upwards for sure.”

What’s coming next?

All but two of the 16 BKT URC teams now have three weeks off while the Guinness Six Nations takes centre stage.

There is one rescheduled Round 8 game on 21 February when the Lions host the Sharks, ahead of a full programme of Round 12 matches on the weekend of 27-28 February.

Round 11 results

Benetton 20-20 Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors 31-22 Munster
Lions 17-52 Bulls
Sharks 36-24 Stormers
Zebre Parma 15-31 Connacht
Leinster 28-20 Edinburgh
Ospreys 19-13 Dragons
Ulster 21-14 Cardiff

Round 8 fixture (rescheduled)

Saturday, 21 February
Lions v Sharks (14:00 GMT / 16:00 SAST)

Looking ahead: Round 12 fixtures

Friday, 27 February
Cardiff v Leinster (21:00 GMT)
Edinburgh v Scarlets (21:45 GMT)

Saturday, 28 February
Lions v Stormers (14:30 GMT / 16:30 SAST)
Bulls v Sharks (17:00 GMT / 19:00 SAST)
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors (17:00 GMT)
Dragons v Benetton (19:30 GMT)
Munster v Zebre (19:30 GMT)
Ospreys v Ulster (21:45 GMT)

The Sharks completed a remarkable derby double over the Stormers with a commanding 36-24 victory at Kings Park, their first back-to-back wins against the Cape side in a single season since 2012 Super Rugby.

Just seven days after stunning the Stormers 30-19 in Cape Town to end an eight-match unbeaten run, JP Pietersen’s resurgent side delivered an even more emphatic statement in the return fixture. Five tries to two told the story of a contest in which the Sharks were superior in almost every facet, dominating the aerial battle, winning the collision count and punishing the Stormers’ chronic ill-discipline.

The result was sealed by one of the most bizarre moments of the URC season. With 10 minutes remaining and the Sharks leading 31-24, replacement full-back Warrick Gelant dropped back behind his own line to field a probing kick. Taking his time to dot down, Gelant was oblivious to the danger as Jaco Williams raced in to touch the ball down under his nose – a howler that will haunt the Springbok for some time.

For the Stormers, it was a second consecutive defeat that exposed the same failings that had undermined them in Cape Town. Seventeen penalties conceded, two yellow cards, a malfunctioning lineout and an inability to win the aerial contest – the issues John Dobson had identified seven days earlier remained stubbornly unresolved.

Captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was left to reflect on what might have been after his side had led 24-14 early in the second half. “The lack of discipline cost us,” he admitted. “When we played our game, we were on top of them. We were being reckless, careless and irresponsible.”

Key moments

1′ – TRY STORMERS: A sensational start for the visitors. The Stormers win a turnover penalty near the Sharks line from the kick-off, pressuring captain André Esterhuizen. Scrum-half Cobus Reinach takes a quick tap and crashes over within 35 seconds of the opening whistle. Feinberg-Mngomezulu hooks the conversion wide, but the Stormers have caught the hosts completely cold (Sharks 0-5 Stormers)

4′ – SHARKS RESPOND: Jordan Hendrikse catches an up-and-under from Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the Sharks immediately look more composed. A strong run by Ethan Hooker gets them over the advantage line and into the Stormers’ 22. The aerial battle that will define this contest is already taking shape

8′ – YELLOW CARD STORMERS: Paul de Villiers is shown a yellow card for collapsing a maul after repeated Stormers infringements. The visitors have conceded penalty after penalty as the Sharks camp in their 22, and referee Christopher Allison’s patience finally snaps

12′ – TRY SHARKS: The hosts capitalise immediately on their numerical advantage. After sustained pressure and two lineouts, scrum-half Grant Williams spots his opportunity and snipes over from the base of a ruck. Jordan Hendrikse converts to put the Sharks in front for the first time (Sharks 7-5 Stormers)

15′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Feinberg-Mngomezulu slots a penalty in front of goal after the Stormers apply some rare pressure, edging the visitors back ahead despite being a man down (Sharks 7-8 Stormers)

17′ – SHARKS ERROR: Jordan Hendrikse overcooks his restart kick and it goes out on the full, giving the Stormers the feed to a scrum on halfway. A let-off for the visitors

19′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Siya Kolisi is penalised for playing the scrum-half illegally and Feinberg-Mngomezulu extends the Stormers’ lead with another successful kick before a quick water break (Sharks 7-11 Stormers)

24′ – TRY SHARKS: The Sharks’ forwards do all the hard work, powering through the Stormers’ defence with an impressive maul drive before the ball is worked around the corner. Centre Ethan Hooker dives over a ruck to score from close range, showing excellent anticipation to be in the right place. Hendrikse converts to put the hosts back in front (Sharks 14-11 Stormers)

31′ – DISALLOWED TRY STORMERS: Lock Adré Smith appears to score from close range after the Stormers camp on the Sharks’ line, but referee Allison calls an obstruction by prop Neethling Fouché in the build-up. The Sharks are awarded a penalty on their own try-line. A crucial let-off for the hosts

34′ – SMITH REPLACED: Stormers coach John Dobson makes an early change, replacing Smith with JD Schickerling in an attempt to stabilise the stuttering lineout

38′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Feinberg-Mngomezulu lines up a monster 53-metre penalty after the Stormers win one at the scrum. The captain shows ice-cold composure to slot it and level the scores at 14-14

40′ – PENALTY STORMERS: Ben-Jason Dixon puts in a textbook tackle on Aphelele Fassi and wins a penalty on the ground. Feinberg-Mngomezulu steps up again and slots another long-range effort to send the Stormers into half-time with an unlikely 17-14 lead

Half-time: Sharks 14-17 Stormers

43′ – TRY STORMERS: The visitors make the perfect start to the second half. Feinberg-Mngomezulu puts up a well-weighted up-and-under and Paul de Villiers, back from his yellow card, gathers in space. The flanker runs a superb angle, shows outstanding footwork to beat several defenders, and crashes over for a brilliant individual try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converts and suddenly the Stormers lead by 10 points (Sharks 14-24 Stormers)

47′ – YELLOW CARD STORMERS: The crucial turning point. Lock Ruben van Heerden is shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements at a defensive lineout. The Stormers have given away 11 penalties in just 47 minutes – their ill-discipline has reached critical levels

48′ – TRY SHARKS: The hosts punish the numerical advantage immediately. Grant Williams makes a devastating break through the middle before the ball is worked to captain André Esterhuizen, who strolls over untouched from close range. Hendrikse converts to cut the deficit to three points (Sharks 21-24 Stormers)

52′ – TRY SHARKS: The momentum has swung decisively. After continued pressure with the Stormers still down to 14 men, Jaco Williams receives the ball from his namesake Grant Williams running a channel close to the forwards. The winger shows electric pace to race over out wide for his second try in as many weeks. Hendrikse converts magnificently from the touchline and the Sharks lead for the first time since the 24th minute (Sharks 28-24 Stormers)

57′ – LINEOUT STOLEN: The Sharks win a penalty on the Stormers’ 22 and Hendrikse finds touch five metres out. However, the Stormers produce a crucial steal at the lineout and clear their lines. A brief reprieve for the visitors

68′ – PENALTY SHARKS: The Stormers’ front row buckles at the scrum and concedes a penalty. Hendrikse lines up from 40 metres and slots it to extend the Sharks’ lead to seven points with 12 minutes remaining (Sharks 31-24 Stormers)

71′ – TRY SHARKS: The moment that will haunt Warrick Gelant. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s clearance kick is poor and the ball bounces into the Stormers’ in-goal area. Gelant drops back to dot it down but is far too casual, taking his time with the ball at his feet. He does not see Jaco Williams racing in at full pace. The winger touches down under Gelant’s nose for one of the most bizarre tries of the season – reminiscent of the infamous Robbie Fleck/Deon Kayser incident from 2000. Hendrikse’s conversion drifts wide but the damage is done (Sharks 36-24 Stormers)

73′ – SHARKS CHANGES: Jurenzo Julius replaces Williams, who departs to a standing ovation after his match-winning double

76′ – STORMERS PUSH: The visitors win back-to-back scrum penalties and kick to touch on both occasions, desperately searching for a losing bonus point. They edge closer but Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s kick goes behind the try-line and a scrum is awarded to the Sharks

79′ – HELD UP: Marcel Theunissen is held up over the try-line as the Stormers throw everything at the Sharks’ defence. The hosts survive and are awarded a goal-line drop-out

80′ – FULL-TIME: The Stormers have one final chance from the restart but knock on in contact. The final whistle blows and the Sharks have completed a famous double

Full-time: Sharks 36-24 Stormers

Match report

When the Stormers scored within 35 seconds of the opening whistle, the Kings Park crowd must have feared the worst. From the kick-off, the visitors swarmed all over captain Esterhuizen, forcing a turnover penalty near the Sharks line. Reinach sized up the situation in an instant – the Sharks defence was scrambled, bodies out of position – and took a quick tap before crashing over untouched. Feinberg-Mngomezulu hooked the conversion wide, but the message was clear: the Stormers had arrived in Durban determined to make amends for the previous week’s defeat.

It proved to be a false dawn. What followed was 79 minutes of Sharks dominance, punctuated only by Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s prodigious boot keeping the Stormers in a contest they had no business being in.

The warning signs were there from the start. Even as Reinach was celebrating, the Stormers’ discipline was already fraying. Jordan Hendrikse caught an up-and-under from Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the Sharks immediately looked more composed, a strong run by Hooker getting them over the advantage line and into the Stormers’ 22. Penalty after penalty allowed the hosts to camp in the visitors’ territory, and when De Villiers was shown a yellow card for collapsing a maul after just eight minutes – the culmination of repeated infringements that had tested referee Allison’s patience to breaking point – it felt almost inevitable that the Sharks would capitalise.

Grant Williams duly obliged, showing the predatory instincts that have made him one of the most dangerous scrum-halves in South African rugby. After two lineouts had been set up without reward, Williams spotted the gap at the base of the ruck. His dart was perfectly timed, finding the soft shoulder of the Stormers’ defence, and he was over before anyone could lay a hand on him. Hendrikse’s conversion put the Sharks 7-5 ahead despite that disastrous start.

The pattern of the contest was established. The Sharks dominated territory and possession, winning the aerial battle hands down with Fassi so much sounder under the high ball than his opposite number Willemse. Wings Edwill van der Merwe and Jaco Williams were brilliant on the chase, repeatedly forcing the Stormers back into their own half with their willingness to compete for every contestable kick.

“If you can’t get out of your half, you can’t play rugby,” Esterhuizen noted afterwards. “You will be trapped the whole time. It fits conditions like this.”

The humidity in Durban made handling treacherous and kicking paramount. The Sharks understood this better than their opponents, playing with a clear plan that targeted the Stormers’ vulnerabilities in the air. Time and again, contestable kicks from the Hendrikse brothers – Grant in the first half, Jaden after the break – caused chaos in the Stormers’ back three.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s penalties kept the visitors in touch, restoring their lead at 8-7 and then extending it to 11-7 after Kolisi was penalised for playing the scrum-half illegally. But the Sharks’ second try, on 24 minutes, demonstrated their superiority in the tight exchanges. The forwards did all the hard work first, powering through the Stormers’ defence with an impressive maul drive that sucked in defenders. When the ball was worked around the corner, Hooker showed excellent anticipation to be in the right place, diving over a ruck to dot down from close range. Hendrikse’s conversion made it 14-11 to the hosts.

The Stormers should have struck back moments later. After camping on the Sharks’ line through multiple phases, lock Adré Smith appeared to have scored from close range. The celebrations were already beginning when referee Allison called for a TMO review – and the try was chalked off for an obstruction by prop Neethling Fouché in the build-up. It was a cruel blow, and Smith’s day got worse when Dobson replaced him with JD Schickerling shortly afterwards in an attempt to stabilise the stuttering lineout.

Yet somehow, the visitors led 17-14 at half-time. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s boot was the difference – two monster penalties from beyond 50 metres in the final minutes of the half keeping the Stormers’ hopes alive despite being comprehensively outplayed in most other facets. The first came after a scrum penalty, 53 metres out, and the captain showed ice-cold composure to slot it and level the scores. Then, with the clock in red, Ben-Jason Dixon put in a textbook tackle on Fassi and won a penalty on the ground. Feinberg-Mngomezulu stepped up again from long range and made no mistake. His accuracy was exceptional, but it was masking deeper problems that would eventually prove fatal.

When De Villiers scored his brilliant individual try three minutes into the second half, it seemed the Stormers might escape with a victory their overall performance did not merit. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s up-and-under was perfectly weighted, hanging in the humid Durban air. De Villiers, back from his first-half yellow card, gathered in space with no Sharks defender within five metres. What followed was outstanding – the flanker ran a superb angle towards the posts, showed devastating footwork to step inside one defender, then outside another, before powering through a third tackle attempt to crash over. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion stretched the lead to 10 points at 24-14. For a brief, tantalising moment, the Stormers were in control.

Then Van Heerden was yellow-carded for repeated infringements at a defensive lineout, and the game changed irrevocably. The Stormers had conceded 11 penalties in just 47 minutes – their ill-discipline had reached critical levels, and now they would pay the ultimate price.

The Sharks scored twice in four minutes to turn a 24-14 deficit into a 28-24 lead. The first try was a thing of beauty. Grant Williams received the ball 30 metres out and spotted a mismatch in the Stormers’ depleted defence. He accelerated through the gap, his footwork leaving two defenders grasping at thin air, before drawing the last man and feeding Esterhuizen on his shoulder. The captain had the simplest of tasks, strolling over untouched to cap a magnificent afternoon’s work. Hendrikse converted to cut the deficit to three.

Four minutes later, the bonus point was secured in clinical fashion. From a scrum, Grant Williams again provided the spark, finding his namesake Jaco running a channel close to the forwards. The winger took the pass at pace, showed electric acceleration to beat the covering defender, and raced over out wide for his second try in as many weeks against the Stormers. Hendrikse’s conversion from the touchline was magnificent, curling between the posts to put the Sharks 28-24 ahead. The momentum had swung decisively.

“We talked about it this week to start the halves well,” Dobson admitted. “We probably got both right, but the rest wasn’t a behaviour change from last week. I think the two games were very similar.”

Similar – and similarly frustrating for Stormers supporters. The same ill-discipline that had cost them in Cape Town resurfaced in Durban. The same lineout malfunctions. The same inability to win the aerial contest. The same failure to convert promising positions into points.

Hendrikse’s 68th-minute penalty, slotted from 40 metres after the Stormers’ front row buckled at the scrum, extended the lead to seven points. The visitors were running out of time and ideas.

Then came the moment that will define this match – and haunt Warrick Gelant for years to come. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s clearance kick was poor, lacking both distance and direction. The ball bounced into the Stormers’ in-goal area, and Gelant dropped back to deal with what should have been a routine situation.

What happened next was inexplicable. The full-back took his time, far too casual with the ball at his feet, seemingly unaware of the danger racing towards him. Jaco Williams, who had been chasing kicks all afternoon, was not about to stop now. He sprinted 40 metres at full pace while Gelant dawdled, arriving just as the full-back finally bent down to dot the ball dead. Williams got there first, touching down under Gelant’s nose for one of the most bizarre tries in URC history.

It was reminiscent of the infamous Robbie Fleck/Deon Kayser incident from a Super Rugby clash between these same teams in 2000, when Stormers centre Fleck thought he was through for the try only to be hit from behind by the flying Kayser. Twenty-six years later, the Stormers had found another way to gift the Sharks a try through a moment of inexcusable casualness.

Hendrikse’s conversion drifted wide, but the damage was done. At 36-24 with nine minutes remaining, the Stormers were now playing for a losing bonus point rather than victory.

They threw everything at the Sharks in the closing stages, winning back-to-back scrum penalties and kicking to touch on both occasions. Marcel Theunissen was held up over the try-line as the visitors launched wave after wave of attacks. But the Sharks’ defence, which had been outstanding all afternoon, held firm. When the Stormers knocked on in contact from the final restart, the whistle blew on a famous double.

“Five-metre lineouts not converted, giving penalties away at mauls which led to some of the discipline stuff,” Dobson lamented. “So to fix the stuff, there needs to be a behaviour change. It was really poor from us and I feel bad for our supporters.”

For the Sharks, this was vindication of the work Pietersen has done since taking over as interim coach six weeks ago. In that period, his side has won four from five matches, beating Saracens in the Champions Cup, hammering Clermont and completing this remarkable double over the previously unbeaten Stormers.

“Give JP Pietersen the Sharks job and let him get on with it,” wrote one analyst. “He is not an interim measure.”

The appointment of Esterhuizen as captain has proved inspired. The powerful centre led from the front throughout both derbies, his physicality in the collisions setting the tone for his team-mates. Around him, players who had looked subdued earlier in the season – Kolisi, Fassi, the Hendrikse brothers – performed with the intensity and authority expected of Springboks.

The Sharks head into a three-week break with their confidence sky-high, having climbed from 14th to eighth in the standings. The Stormers, by contrast, have four weeks to address the problems that have now cost them three of their last four matches.

“There has to be a behaviour change,” Dobson insisted. “It is really poor from us.”

What they said

John Dobson (Stormers head coach): “Credit to the Sharks, they beat us properly over the past two weeks. Our discipline was poor and our set-piece definitely let us down. I thought their aerial game was really good and they played with a really clear plan that worked for them. The most frustrating thing about tonight is that everything that went wrong last week went wrong this week. There has to be a behaviour change – it is really poor from us and bad for our supporters.”

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers captain): “The lack of discipline cost us. When we played our game, we were on top of them. Going into halftime, we were up 24-14, and we just let it slip. Within ten minutes, we went from an upbeat team scoring tries. That’s just the reality. We were being reckless, careless and irresponsible. Our discipline is costing us.”

André Esterhuizen (Sharks captain): “Jaden came on and did very well. Grant as well in the first half. We just got a bit of wind behind us in the second half, which helped us a bit. The contesting from our wings, they were superb in the air. We put them under so much pressure, and we won a lot of scraps. That’s what we worked on the whole week. It’s one of the most important parts of the game – if you can’t get out of your half, you can’t play rugby.”

JP Pietersen (Sharks interim head coach): Speaking before the match, Pietersen had predicted: “With the humidity, there will be some errors with the slippery ball, so it’ll be a scrum battle, lineouts, mauling, and high-ball contesting.” His side delivered on all fronts.

Player of the match

Jaco Williams’ opportunistic double earned him the man of the match award, but this was a collective effort from a Sharks side transformed under Pietersen’s guidance. Captain André Esterhuizen was immense throughout – leading from the front in the collisions, providing go-forward ball and capping his performance with a well-taken try. Grant Williams controlled proceedings superbly from scrum-half, his tempo and decision-making perfect for the conditions, while Edwill van der Merwe was a menace in the aerial contest.

For the Stormers, Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s four penalties – including two from beyond 50 metres – kept his side in a contest they otherwise had no right to be in. But even his prodigious boot could not compensate for the failings elsewhere.

Teams

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, André Esterhuizen (captain), Jaco Williams; Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams; Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi; Emile van Heerden, Corne Rahl; Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Ox Nche
Replacements: Eduan Swart, Phatu Ganyane, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Nick Hatton, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Masuku, Jurenzo Julius

Stormers: Damian Willemse; Dylan Maart, Wandisile Simelane, Jonathan Roche, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), Cobus Reinach; Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers; Ruben van Heerden, Adré Smith; Neethling Fouché, André-Hugo Venter, Oli Kebble
Replacements: JJ Kotzé, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, JD Schickerling, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee, Warrick Gelant

Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU)

Yellow cards: Paul de Villiers (Stormers, 8′ – collapsing maul); Ruben van Heerden (Stormers, 47′ – repeated infringements)

Keelan Giles scored with just 50 seconds remaining to complete a dramatic late comeback as Ospreys beat Dragons 19-13 in an emotional Welsh derby at the Electric Brewery Field.

On a night when supporters staged a pre-match protest against the Welsh Rugby Union and owners Y11 Sport & Media, Mark Jones’ side proved their fighting spirit extends far beyond the off-field turmoil that has engulfed the region. Trailing 13-7 with eight minutes remaining, Ospreys scored twice in the final six minutes to snatch a victory that lifts them into the top eight of the United Rugby Championship.

It was Giles’ 50th try in the black jersey, a landmark score that could scarcely have come at a more significant moment. With Dragons reduced to 13 men following Cebo Dlamini’s yellow card and the subsequent move to uncontested scrums, the Wales wing burst through on the left to seal a result that had seemed beyond the hosts for much of the contest.

For Dragons, it was heartbreak for a second successive weekend after their late loss at Munster. Filo Tiatia’s side had looked set to record a first away win in the league since 2022, only to be denied by two tries in the final six minutes. The visitors had dominated large swathes of the contest despite losing both starting props inside the opening 12 minutes, but were left to reflect on what might have been.

Key moments

2′ – EARLY INJURY DRAGONS: Disaster strikes the visitors within 90 seconds. Influential South African tighthead Robert Hunt is carried off on a stretcher after injuring his left hamstring when cleared out of a ruck by James Fender and Ross Moriarty. Cebo Dlamini comes on for what will prove to be a fateful 78-minute shift

11′ – SECOND PROP LOST: Dragons’ injury woes deepen as Wales loosehead Wyn Jones is also forced off. Youngster Jordan Morris comes on, meaning the visitors have lost both starting props inside 12 minutes. The crowd takes this moment to light up their phone torches in protest against the Ospreys’ owners, Y11

13′ – SCRUM PENALTY DRAGONS: Despite their depleted front row, Dragons win a scrum penalty. Angus O’Brien kicks to the corner and the subsequent drive is stopped, but the ball goes wide to Rio Dyer who is inches short with his inside dart

18′ – TRY DRAGONS: The visitors’ patience finally pays dividends. After going close through Dyer, Dragons keep the ball through 15 phases of patient attack. David Richards carries hard in midfield before Aneurin Owen’s flat pass opens up space for fly-half Tinus de Beer to snipe through a gap and score. Angus O’Brien converts from wide (Ospreys 0-7 Dragons)

24′ – MORIARTY STRIPPED: The game remains scrappy as Ospreys struggle to build momentum. Ross Moriarty is stripped in the tackle and Dragons look to counter, but Owen’s kick is overcooked. The hosts are finding it difficult to gain any attacking platform

32′ – TRY OSPREYS: The hosts finally respond. James Ratti carries into the guts of the Dragons defence and Seb Davies overfolds, leaving a huge gap between himself and Levi Douglas. Scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams – released by Wales for game time – spots the opportunity and snipes through to score under the posts. Jack Walsh converts to level the scores (Ospreys 7-7 Dragons)

37′ – DYER DENIED TWICE: Rio Dyer, overlooked for Wales’ Six Nations squad, is carrying like a man with a point to prove. A searing break down the left sees him racing for the corner, but Keelan Giles produces a superb cover tackle to force him into touch. Moments later, Dyer threatens again but James Ratti denies him with another crucial intervention

Half-time: Ospreys 7-7 Dragons

45′ – MISSED PENALTY DRAGONS: O’Brien has an early shot at goal from near halfway to put the visitors back in front, but his effort drifts left of the target. Dragons have changed tack in the second half, opting for goal rather than the corner

47′ – PENALTY DRAGONS: Another shot at goal for O’Brien, this time from around 35 metres. The full-back makes no mistake, nudging Dragons back into the lead for the first time since the 32nd minute (Ospreys 7-10 Dragons)

58′ – PENALTY DRAGONS: Ryan Smith is penalised – perhaps harshly in the eyes of the home supporters – and O’Brien steps up again. The full-back, who missed out on Wales’ Six Nations selection despite his outstanding form this season, nails his second penalty to extend the Dragons’ advantage to six points (Ospreys 7-13 Dragons)

62′ – OSPREYS DENIED: The hosts finally win a scrum penalty against the head and set up a lineout drive. Morgan-Williams nearly gets through for his second, but the ball is spilled forward as Ospreys come within touching distance of the tryline once more

66′ – STUBBORN DEFENCE: Ospreys build through eight phases, then into double figures as Giles nearly sneaks through. However, there is a knock-on and Dragons survive again. The visitors’ defensive line has been outstanding throughout

69′ – CRUCIAL TURNOVER: A huge turnover from Ryan Woodman gives Dragons breathing room and O’Brien hammers the ball downfield. The visitors desperately needed that moment of relief

73′ – YELLOW CARD DRAGONS: The crucial moment of the match. Dlamini, who has been on the field since the second minute after Hunt’s early injury, catches Harri Houston with a high tackle. Referee Ben Connor shows yellow – a tired tackle from a prop who has been asked to play almost the entire match. Ospreys kick to the corner

74′ – TRY OSPREYS: The hosts take immediate advantage of their numerical superiority. Backs pile into the driving maul and they steer it expertly towards the line. Replacement hooker Lewis Lloyd emerges from the pile of bodies to score in the corner. Jack Walsh’s conversion drifts wide, meaning Dragons still lead by a single point (Ospreys 12-13 Dragons)

76′ – DRAGONS DOWN TO 13: Hooker Oli Burrows fails his HIA and cannot return, forcing Dragons to go to uncontested scrums. Under the laws, they must lose another player and are reduced to 13 men for the closing stages

78′ – FORWARD PASS: Ospreys pushing for a winning score but Walsh forces a pass forward with Moriarty outside him. Time running out for the hosts

79′ – TRY OSPREYS: The moment that will live forever in Ospreys folklore. Walsh breaks into the Dragons’ 22 and there is space out wide. The pass looks loose and Daniel Kasende has to scramble to pick it up, but Ospreys work the ball back through the hands. Max Nagy feeds Giles and the Wales wing does what he does best – bursting through on the left with devastating pace to dive over for his 50th Ospreys try with just 50 seconds remaining. Walsh converts and the comeback is complete (Ospreys 19-13 Dragons)

Full-time: Ospreys 19-13 Dragons

Match report

Long before kick-off, the narrative for this Welsh derby had been written. Hundreds of Ospreys supporters gathered at the mural of legendary Bridgend, Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back JPR Williams to stage a protest against the WRU and owners Y11. “WRU, shame on you” came the cry from fans who fear their region could disappear as a professional side within 18 months.

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Former players Shane Williams and Ian Gough addressed the crowd, reminding supporters of the Ospreys slogan “our blood is black” which originated from an interview Williams gave in 2012, the year the side won the last of its four league titles. Then, as the clock hit 11 minutes during the match, supporters lit up their phone torches to show their displeasure at Y11.

Yet for all the off-field turmoil, Mark Jones’ squad found a way to deliver on the pitch when it mattered most. This was far from a vintage Ospreys performance – they were outplayed for long periods and trailed for 49 of the 80 minutes – but the spirit and character that has defined this group was evident until the final whistle.

Dragons were dealt a cruel hand from the outset. Within 90 seconds, influential South African tighthead Rob Hunt was down in midfield after being caught awkwardly in a ruck as Fender and Moriarty cleared him out. He was carried off on a stretcher, his left hamstring gone, and Dlamini was thrust into the action far earlier than anyone anticipated. Then, with the clock showing just 11 minutes and the game still scoreless, Wales loosehead Wyn Jones joined him on the sidelines. Youngster Jordan Morris came on, and Dragons were left to contest the remaining 69 minutes with a makeshift front row.

Lesser sides would have crumbled. Instead, Tiatia’s men responded with a display of character and composure that deserved more than a losing bonus point. Their scrum – against all expectations – won crucial penalties throughout, and their attacking play in the first half was patient and precise.

The visitors’ opening try was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Dyer had already gone desperately close down the left, inches short with an inside dart after a lineout drive. When Dragons retained possession, they kept the ball alive through 15 phases of patient attack, the forwards making hard yards through the middle. Eventually, the space opened up on the right. Richards carried hard in midfield, drawing defenders towards him, before Owen delivered a flat pass that opened up the channel. De Beer needed no second invitation, the fly-half showing sharp footwork to snipe through the gap and dot down. O’Brien converted from wide to give Dragons a deserved 7-0 lead.

Ospreys were struggling to establish any attacking platform. Moriarty was stripped in the tackle, Walsh’s kicks were finding touch but yielding little territory, and the visitors were winning the penalty count comfortably. The hosts’ redzone defence was relentless – they repelled wave after wave of Dragons pressure – but they could not get their hands on the ball for long enough to threaten.

When the equaliser came on 32 minutes, it owed as much to Dragons indiscipline as Ospreys ingenuity. The pack marched downfield with carry after carry, Ratti taking the ball into the guts of the defence. When the Dragons overfold, Seb Davies left a huge gap between himself and Levi Douglas. Morgan-Williams, released by Wales specifically to get game time before the Six Nations, spotted the opportunity in a flash. The scrum-half darted through the hole and raced under the posts, leaving defenders grasping at thin air. Walsh converted to level the scores at 7-7.

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Dyer should have restored Dragons’ lead before half-time. A searing break down the left wing saw the Wales squad reject racing for the corner, his legs pumping, the try-line beckoning. But Giles had other ideas. The Ospreys wing covered the entire width of the pitch with remarkable speed, arriving at the crucial moment to force Dyer into touch inches from the line. Moments later, Dyer threatened again from another sweeping move, but this time James Ratti produced the covering tackle. The scores remained level at the break.

The second half became an arm-wrestle, with Dragons changing tack and opting to take the points whenever the opportunity arose. O’Brien missed his first attempt from near halfway, the ball drifting left, but made no mistake two minutes later from 35 metres to edge his side back in front at 10-7.

Ospreys probed for openings but found the visitors’ defensive line impenetrable. They won a scrum penalty against the head and set up a driving maul, but Morgan-Williams was denied a second try when the ball was spilled forward. Dragons cleared their lines and immediately won another penalty when Ryan Smith was pinged – harshly in the eyes of the home supporters. O’Brien stepped up again, his second successful kick extending the lead to 13-7.

The pattern continued as the hour mark approached. Ospreys built through eight phases, then into double figures, Giles nearly sneaking through on one occasion. But each time they threatened, a knock-on or a turnover halted their momentum. Ryan Woodman produced a crucial turnover with 11 minutes remaining, and O’Brien’s booming clearance gave Dragons breathing room. The visitors looked home and dry.

Then came the yellow card that changed everything. Dlamini, who had been on the field since the second minute after Hunt’s early departure, caught Harri Houston high. It was a tired tackle from a prop who had been asked to play almost the entire match – 71 minutes at that point – and referee Ben Connor had no choice but to show yellow.

Ospreys kicked to the corner and made the numerical advantage count immediately. The backs piled into the driving maul, adding their weight to the forwards’ shove, and they steered it expertly towards the try-line. Bodies heaved and strained before replacement hooker Lewis Lloyd emerged from the pile to touch down in the corner. Walsh’s conversion drifted wide, and Dragons still led 13-12 with six minutes remaining.

The drama intensified when hooker Oli Burrows failed his HIA and could not return. Under the laws, Dragons were forced to go to uncontested scrums and lose another player, leaving them with just 13 men for the closing stages. Suddenly, Ospreys had a two-man advantage and the momentum had shifted decisively.

Even then, Dragons almost held on. Walsh forced a pass forward with Moriarty outside him as the clock ticked past 78 minutes. The home crowd groaned – surely that was their last chance gone.

But this group refuses to surrender. From the resulting scrum, Ospreys worked the ball through the hands. Walsh broke into the Dragons 22, space opening up on the left. The pass looked loose, Kasende scrambling to pick it up, but the ball was recycled and worked back through Nagy to Giles. What happened next will live forever in Ospreys folklore.

The Wales wing received the ball 15 metres out with two defenders to beat and just 50 seconds on the clock. His acceleration was devastating, his angle perfect. He burst through the gap, the depleted Dragons defence unable to lay a hand on him, and dived over in the corner for his 50th try in the black jersey. Walsh converted from the touchline to seal a 19-13 victory and complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in Ospreys history.

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What they said

Mark Jones (Ospreys head coach): “We felt hard done by last week. Although we had three points, we felt like there was five on offer. I thought the boys put so much effort in – I just didn’t want them to be robbed. Sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve, and I thought we deserved the win tonight.”

Sam Parry (Ospreys co-captain): “It was an emotional week. It would have been easy to have a dip, but we stuck in there. It’s something we spoke about before the game, what it means to wear the jersey. You could see what it means to them, protesting before the game. It means so much to us. We’re proud to represent them and this team.”

Keelan Giles (Ospreys wing, match-winner): “We spoke about it all week, that it was going to be a massive game. The boys dug deep and I’m so glad we got the win. They had some early subs and a yellow card, so we thought if we took them edge to edge, there’d be some tired legs. I’d like to say a massive thanks to the crowd. They’ve been a massive voice tonight.”

Gareth Thomas (Ospreys prop): “It’s been tough for the players, but you won’t get much of a better test of character for us boys. The boys have pulled through. We’ve got such good boys in the room – staff, players, coaches. We just crack on with it.”

Filo Tiatia (Dragons head coach): “We are disappointed. I thought we played really well. We lost a couple of players early in the game with Rob and then Wyn within 11 minutes. Our young guys had to come on and play the distance. The tackle that Cebo made was a tired tackle and then we had the yellow card. We lose Buzz with a head knock, and he failed the HIA, so we had to lose players and be down to 13 with two minutes to play. I can’t fault the effort. I’m proud of the group and we deserved more than what we got.”

Player of the match

Keelan Giles’ match-winning try will dominate the headlines, and deservedly so – his 50th score in the black jersey came at the perfect moment. But his contribution extended far beyond those final seconds. The Wales wing’s cover tackle on Rio Dyer in the first half was outstanding, racing the entire width of the pitch to deny what looked a certain score. When Ospreys needed someone to step up in the dying moments, Giles delivered emphatically.

Special mention also for Dragons captain Angus O’Brien, who was excellent throughout despite ending on the losing side. His six points from the boot kept the visitors ahead for much of the second half, while his organisational skills and clearing kicks repeatedly frustrated Ospreys’ attacking ambitions. He deserved to be on the winning team.

Teams

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins; Daniel Kasende, Phil Cokanasiga, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh (co-captain), Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry (co-captain), Tom Botha; James Fender, Ryan Smith; James Ratti, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morse
Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Rhys Henry, Marco de Witt, Gwilym Evans, Cormac Foley, Max Nagy, Harri Houston

Dragons: Angus O’Brien (captain); David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Che Hope; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt; Levi Douglas, Seb Davies; Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall, Harri Keddie
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, Cebo Dlamini, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Evan Minto, Rhodri Williams, Fetuli Paea, Cai Evans

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)