Scarlets pull off stunning victory over Lions to give play-off hopes huge boost

Wales Online

11-05-2025

The Scarlets moved to within touching distance of the URC play-offs with a stunning 32-19 bonus-point victory over the Lions in Johannesburg.
Dwayne Peel's side move to sixth place in the table with just one round of the regular season to go and look well placed to finish in the top eight.
This was an excellent performance by the Welsh club who defied the odds to claim a first ever URC victory in South Africa.
Wales outside-half Sam Costelow was outstanding while Vaea Fifita, Taine Plumtree and Blair Murray were also standout performers.
Tries from Murray (twice), Plumtree and Johnny Williams along with nine points from Costelow's boot were enough to secure a famous win. Nico Steyn and David Kriel (twice) touched down for the Lions.
It wasn't the best of starts for the Scarlets after Sam Lousi got sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
But they put it behind them to claim the game's first try and it came off the back of their forwards making metres with their carries in the Lions' 22.
Gareth Davies then spun the ball wide and after a nice touch from Johnny Williams a lovely pass from Costelow put Murray over from the opening try.
The Scarlets were forced to defend in their own 22 but their defence held firm with the Lions getting held up over the line.
But the west Walians extended their lead with a second try for Murray. The Scarlets won their own lineout before Costelow changed the point of contact before going to Gareth Davies on the inside.
The Wales scrum-half offloaded to Ellis Mee who raced clear before getting brought down just short of the line but they recycled quickly before Costelow's pass put Murray over again.
But the Lions hit back with a period of sustained pressure which resulted in Steyn powering over from short range for a try he converted.
The Scarlets turned around with a 17-7 lead at the interval after Costelow knocked over a long-range drop goal.
Peel's side began the second half like a house on fire with a lovely break by Costelow who offloaded to Murray. The Wales full-back powered into the Lions' 22 before getting tackled short but Plumtree soon powered over from short-range for their third try.
But this game was far from over and the Lions soon claimed a try of their own as Kriel finished at the corner after some nice handling from the Lions backs.
As the second half wore on the altitude became a factor with the Scarlets players looking knackered at times but they showed tremendous resilience.
The Scarlets brushed off any fatigue to set up a well-worked driving lineout in the Lions' 22 which edged towards the line before getting brought down by Jac Pretorious who got shown a yellow card for his actions.
Peel's side lay siege to the Lions' line but were repelled time and time again before Lousi spilled the ball forward with the try line at his mercy.
At one stage it looked as if this wouldn't be the Scarlets' day as they butchered a couple of gilt-edged try-scoring opportunities. On one occasion Joe Roberts sliced through the Lions defence before racing into the Lions 22.
The Wales centre had two players unmarked on his inside but opted to go for the outside man but the pass swerved forward. This game soon turned on its head when Kriel claimed a second try out wide as the Scarlets began to fall off tackles.
But the west Walians refused to throw in the towel and should have put the result beyond any doubt when Murray danced his way past three defenders before reaching the Lions 22, but his pass got intercepted.
Holding onto a slender three-point lead the west Walians looked out on their feet but a brilliant break from Fifita and a sumptuous offload put Williams over for a try which Costelow converted from the touchline.
The Scarlets looked home and dry but Costelow put the result beyond any doubt by knocking over an outstanding penalty from 45 metres on the angle.
Lions: Quan Horn; Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Edwill van der Merwe, Kade Wolhuter; Nico Steyn, Morgan Naude; Jaco Visagie (capt), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Ruan Delport, JC Pretorius, Renzo du Plessis, Jarod Cairns. Replacements: PJ Botha, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Darrien Landsberg, Sibabalo Qoma, Layton Horn, Lubabalo Dobela, Rynhardt Jonker.
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)