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IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lubabalo Dobela the late hero as Lions end URC season with thriller over Ospreys
Lions fullback Quan Horn was once again one of their strongest attacking weapons in the URC match against the Ospreys. Image: BackpagePix The Lions managed to restore some pride to the jersey as they ended the United Rugby Championship season with a consolation 29-28 win over the visiting Ospreys at Ellis Park on Saturday evening. There was a new halfback paring with the exciting Lubabalo Dobela started in the No 10 jersey, and Nico Steyn at scrumhalf. The pivot was able to knit play together early on with his crisp passing. Winger Edwill van der Merwe also got more involved in the early exchanges. He had been largely anonymous early on in last weekend's loss against the Scarlets. The Lions won a scrum penalty and rumbled the ball up through flank Renzo du Plessis before working the ball down the right wing to Richard Kriel. Unfortunately, a knock-on denied Dobela a dream try on his first start, when the ball was fed inside. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The Lions were solid in the line-out and a set piece on the right was worked through the hands at pace. Lions stalwart fullback Quan Horn broke the line to set up Van der Merwe to score down the left-hand touchline in his farewell match. Dobela missed the conversion. Horn, who has been invited to the Springbok alignment camp, has often been the bright spark in an underwhelming season for the Lions and was once again a handful for the visiting defence. However, the Lions immediately surrendered that advantage when Will Griffiths charged down a Richard Kriel clearance kick. Dan Edwards kicked the conversion. Coach Ivan van Rooyen's side were looking energised on the attack, however, hitting the gain line at pace. The Lions forwards were also strong in the carry, keeping the ball tight. They also looked after it better at the breakdown. But they were a bit predictable on attack and the Welsh visitors were able to cope comfortably with the crash ball tactic. The scrums were also fairly even contested. Dobela was looking increasingly assured, and showed off his ability with the boot with a cross kick and high up-and-under, and in kicking for territory. There was a clever exchange of passes and Lions players ran strong support lines to eventually unlocked the Ospreys defence, with a looping run down the right wing. JC Pretorius timed the offload to perfection to set skipper Jaco Visagie up for a brilliant try in the 30th minute. Dobela landed the two extra points. The visitors finished the first half strongly, but there was no addition to the 12-7 scoreline in favour of the home side. The Ospreys won the first scrum penalty of the second half in what was developing into a titanic forward battle. They were also starting to boss possession and territory. The Lions did well to repel repeated assaults on their tryline. The pressure eventually told as James Ratti barged over for the five points, despite the TMO questioning the grounding. Great work by the all-action Du Plessis at the breakdown led to a penalty and the Lions kicked for touch in the left-hand corner. The rolling maul off the lineout throw-in was too powerful for the visitors to cope with and skipper Visagie powered over for his second try of the night. The game started to open up, but errors also started to creep into the play. Jack Walsh scored next for the Ospreys. They looked the hungrier of the two teams with 15 minutes to go in the match. Lions skipper Jaco Visagie scored two of his team's tries in Saturday's URC clash against the Ospreys that brought the curtain down on their season. Image: Backpagepix A fine steal and chip chase by Dobela again almost resulted in a try for the flyhalf, with the defender forced to dot down over the tryline and concede the 5m scrum to the Lions. But he showed great hands and vision to slip the pass for star Lions centre Henco van Wyk to run onto at pace and score. A late try by hulking Ospreys forward Sam Parry seemed to have broking Joburg hearts, with score 28-24 to the Welsh outfit. However, the Lions threw everything into the attack in the closing seconds, and they won a penalty at the hooter that they they kicked for touch. The rolling maul seemed to be going nowhere when a pass over the top found Dobela on the right for the winning score. It was no less than his dynamic play had deserved, ensuring a winning end to the season for the Joburg side, and announcing him to the pride. Points-Scorers Lions 29 – Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Jaco Visagie (2), Henco van Wyk, Lubabalo Dobela. Conversions: Dobela (2). Ospreys 28 – Tries: William Griffiths, James Ratti, Jack Walsh, Sam Parry. Conversions: Dan Edwards (4).
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Henco van Wyk returns for Lions in Ospreys URC season finale
Henco van Wyk Ace outside centre Henco van Wyk returns to the Lions team against the Ospreys. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Lions welcome back star centre Henco van Wyk for Saturday's visit of the Ospreys in their last United Rugby Championship match of the season after he had missed last weekend's loss to the Scarlets due to illness. There is also a start in the flyhalf jersey for Lubabalo Dobela, who had a fine cameo last weekend, reading the game well and showing great hands in the offload. His inclusion from the start by coach Ivan van Rooyen on Friday may suggest a more expansive, running game from the Joburg side, with the more conservative Kade Wolhuter making way. Scrumhalf Nico Steyn continues to cover for injured Springbok Morné van den Berg, and will be responsible for securing quality ball for an exciting Lions backline, where Quan Horn has been in sparkling form at fullback. Strong ball-carrier and scrummager Juan Schoeman also returns to the starting XV, while flank Ruan Venter will again fill in at lock in the injury-enforced absence of Darrien Landsberg. Hooker Morné Brandon and loose forward WJ Steenekamp bolster the options on the bench. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The match will also mark the final one in a Lions jersey for Edwill van der Merwe, who starts on the left wing, and centre Marius Louw. Speedster Van der Merwe is bound for the Sharks in Durban, while Louw is heading to the Sale Sharks in England. Both players will be hoping for a fitting send-off. The Lions will be bidding to end their URC campaign on a high after bowing out of playoff contention with a whimper. They have won only one of their last three home games in the run-in, against Connacht, and will be seeking a consolation victory against an Ospreys side that have often been their bogey team. The Welsh visitors, who are also out of the playoff picture, will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 29-10 loss to the Sharks in Durban. Kick-off on Saturday is at 5.15pm. Lions Team 15 Quan Horn 14 Richard Kriel 13 Henco van Wyk 12 Bronson Mills 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Lubablo Dobela 9 Nico Steyn 8 Jarod Cairns 7 Renzo du Plessis 6 JC Pretorius 5 Ruan Delport 4 Ruan Venter 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 Jaco Visagie (captain) 1 Juan Schoeman. Bench: 16 Morné Brandon 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Izan Esterhuizen 20 WJ Steeenkamp 21 Layton Horn 22 Marius Louw 23 Kelly Mpeku.
