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Today

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Today

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10:00

United Rugby Championship

Stormers start strong but Ospreys finish stronger in Bridgend

By PA

1 hour ago

Damian Willemse of DHL Stormers. Photo By Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Ospreys recovered from last week’s shock defeat to Dragons with an impressive 37-24 victory over Stormers in a titanic battle in Bridgend.

A second-half revival saw Ospreys home with their tries coming from Jac Morgan, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Dan Edwards. There was also a penalty try award while Edwards added three conversions, two penalties and a drop goal.

Leolin Zas and JD Schickerling scored tries for Stormers with Jurie Mathee kicking three penalties and a conversion. Damien Willemse added a drop goal.

Morgan Williams celebrated his 100th appearance for Ospreys but they were soon behind when a well-judged cross-field kick from Matthee resulted in a try for Zas.

Matthee fired over the touchline conversion before he and Edwards exchanged penalties as Stormers dominated the opening quarter.

It came as no surprise when they extended their lead through a long-range penalty from Matthee after the hosts were sent backwards in a scrum.

Defence

124

Tackles Made

Tackles Missed

87%

Tackle Completion %

79%

However, against the run of play, Ospreys scored next when Owen Watkin, who had recently returned from passing an HIA, side-stepped two defenders with skipper Morgan up in support to crash over.

Edwards converted before he and Matthee again exchanged penalties to leave Stormers with a 16-13 half-time advantage.

Four minutes after the restart, Willemse rewarded a period of pressure with a neat drop goal to put the South Africans further in front.

However, Ospreys took the lead for the first time when bursts from Keiran Williams and Dewi Lake set up a try for Morgan-Williams. Edwards converted before succeeding with an impressive drop goal.

Morgan-Williams was the catalyst for Ospreys’ third try when his explosive kick and chase set up a score for Edwards.

Schickerling scored a try for Stormers but the hosts sustained late pressure before clinching victory with a penalty try award as the South Africans collapsed a driving maul.

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

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Comments on RugbyPass

SC 22 minutes ago

Why Robertson laughed when asked about Sam Cane & TJ Perenara’s futures

Drop: Tu’ungafasi, Cane, Perenara, Havili, Tele’a,

Add: Numia, Lakai, Roigard, Lam, Narawa,

1 Go to comments

GrahamVF 22 minutes ago

South Africa romp to first Rugby Championship win since 2019

Bongi doesn't score. Goal line drop out. Statistically the Boks score off 50% goal line dropouts. If you auntie had gonads she'd be your uncle. Now go and polish your reverse crystal ball. And next time round try to beat the BI Lions, and don't let the Aussies get to within a whisker and don't get clobbered at home by the Argies and don't lose a home series to a NH side and until 1970 the Boks were way ahead of the AB's and yes otherwise a very good question. But when you wake up tomorrow morning the Boks will have beaten the AB's five times out of the last six and the are the champions of the world and of the SH. Now make up another "if" and then sing: "No I don't believe in if anymore - if's an illusion - if is for children."

7 Go to comments

Another 28 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

I think the factor is which one will best combine with their respective Fly Half best. Horses for courses: if you want a direct, physical running threat then Roigard but if you want speedy pass and support then Ratima. I feel that Roigard goes best with Barrett and Ratima with MacKenzie.

Also, I like the alliterative ring of Roigard and Ratima!

43 Go to comments

Flankly 31 minutes ago

South Africa romp to first Rugby Championship win since 2019

The begrudgers came out after the 2019 RWC, and again after B&I Lions tour, and after the 2023 RWC, and now again after TRC 2024.

Why has rugby developed this bad sportsmanship culture? SA played the cards they were dealt, and won TRC by 10 points. What's wrong with "Congrats and see you next year"?

7 Go to comments

Another 32 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

It wasn’t a dead rubber. The ABs had to beat a 6 year hoodoo and had other aspects of their game under scrutiny. Australia also had things to prove. So it was important to both teams. Moreover, on the strength of yesterday’s results, the ABs move ahead of Argentina to claim 2nd spot at least. Next year, they will want to go one better.

43 Go to comments

Another 37 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

I think the forwards have been better than you describe but the problem has been well documented about getting the same return in the final 20 minutes. I think having players like Tuipolutu return gives more confidence towards using the bench. I also would like to see the return of Taukei’aho whose powerful influence has been missed at times.

The loose forward combination includes 2 world class performers now and one gap to fill, assuming Sam Cane’s time is up. The third spot loosie selection and how the unit combines is the key to the ABs being successful in the future.

France and Ireland will be tough but saying it and actually delivering on that promise are two different things in sport. If they turn up, the ABs will need to be ready for them - bring it on!

43 Go to comments

BC 43 minutes ago

‘It shows the heart the girls have’: Charge down secures dramatic draw for Dutch

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the Dutch and thought they were a bit unlucky not to come away with the win. A bit better game management at the end and they would have done. I expected it to be a straightforward win for Samoa. I confess to my ignorance of Dutch rugby.

Interesting point about time for a conversion. A similar thing happened to Holly Aitcheson against the BFs. The team celebrated so long over the tries that she was hurried into her conversion attempts. Celebrate by all means but get the ball straightaway to the kicker so she can prepare.

The question now is - am I going to stay up late for the Canada/France match tomorrow which I think could be the game of WXV1 this year. With Canada's recent form I cannot call it - home advantage might sway it.

1 Go to comments

Another 43 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

Evolution not revolution. The All Blacks need to keep evolving through selection and strategies to keep an upwards curve. That is all I require, as a fan. They will make mistakes and even be beaten by better teams on the day - but they need to keep improving. Ultimately, NZ still produces enough World Class talent (and Sititi is that, should we have any doubt about this) to be able to win the World Cup - but they have to be the smartest team around to do so, these days.

I think the team is starting to ‘track’ - and hopefully the inclusion of returning players like Blackadder, Roigard, Love, Perefeta, Takei’aho (when will he return?) will bolster the end of year squad. Maybe next year, a few more faces may re-emerge like Leicester Fainga’anuku, Shannon Frizell, Ritchie Mu’unga and possibly the Otago lock, Fabien Holland.

43 Go to comments

Teddy 59 minutes ago

Everyone knows the Springboks' ranking was puffed up

It's full bragging rights. We beat the boks.

Why does rugby and Ireland make you rant about the blood pump in a cock?

Does it get you going or is it just you that a 'semi' is beyond?

Erectile dysfunction would be a common side effect of steroid abuse...

308 Go to comments

BC 1 hour ago

Wales get WXV humbling by Australia in Cape Town

You may be right, whichever they have great difficulty in scoring points and when they do it is often a one metre dive over the line from a forward or from a lineout maul, not from a passing movement. I certainly don't include Jaz Joyce in my comments but she rarely gets the ball. Unless they can put points on the board they will continue to struggle. I sometimes think they should kick penalties when there is a good chance of adding 3 points to give them some momentum, but that would take away one of their best attacking options, the maul. They seem to be falling behind the other 6N teams. The Italy match next week might tell us more.

5 Go to comments