URC Round 10 Review

There are new leaders in the BKT URC with Glasgow Warriors having capitalised on the DHL Stormers suffering their first league defeat of the season.

Franco Smith’s team went top thanks to a 26-21 bonus point victory away to Zebre Parma with hooker Gregor Hiddlestone scoring two of their four tries. It was a game that saw four yellow cards, three of them handed out to the home side.

Glasgow skipper Kyle Steyn said: “It was a tough match. I said to the boys in the back line we owe the forwards a few beers for that one.

“Credit to our pack for the way they just stuck in it – the mauls, the defence was awesome. That won us the game.”

Head coach Smith added: “It’s always excellent to win here.

“It wasn’t pretty. Everyone always feels the team winning must do more, but Zebre put up a big fight.
“They never went away. They just stayed in it. So compliments to them and their coaching group. I think there’s something special happening there.”

Earlier in the day, the Stormers’ unbeaten league run came to an end as they suffered a 30-19 home defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks in front of a 52,087 Cape Town crowd.

Sharks full-back Aphelele Fassi was named Player of the Match with powerful centre Andre Esterhuizen sealing the bonus point by going over for his team’s fourth try seven minutes from time.

Leinster Rugby are now up to third in the table having made it ten wins in a row in all competitions by beating Connacht Rugby 34-23 in Galway.

It was a big occasion at the Dexcom Stadium with a record 12,481 sell-out crowd turning out to mark the opening of the new Clan Stand.

But the visitors spoiled the party as they claimed maximum points with centre Charlie Tector capping a Player of the Match display with one of their four tries.

Cardiff Rugby are level on points with Leinster in fourth spot having secured a hard-fought 17-8 victory over play-off rivals Benetton Rugby at the Arms Park.

Saturday’s other game saw the Scarlets record a dramatic 27-22 victory over Ulster Rugby with winger Ellis Mee scoring the match-winning try in the final play.

Friday night’s three matches were all tight affairs amid the wind and rain of Storm Ingrid.

At the Hive Stadium, the Vodacom Bulls came from 17-6 down at half-time to beat Edinburgh Rugby 19-17 with replacement Marco van Staden claiming the decisive try.

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said: “We are very pleased with the character of the players.

“The first 40 wasn’t pretty, but everybody played really well in the second half. It’s a massive positive.”

Full-back Willie le Roux added: “It was tough conditions to play in. Going back home now, it’s a 35 degree difference. You want to run the ball around a bit in Loftus, but coming here you have to play a bit of a different ball game.”

It was a similar story in wet and windy Cork as Munster Rugby turned around a 20-7 deficit to beat Dragons RFC 22-20, a result that puts them fifth in the table.

Gavin Coombes was their super-sub hero, with the prolific No 8 twice forcing his way over from close range ahead of fly-half Tony Butler landing the match winning penalty five minutes from time.

The Player of the Match award went to debutant flanker Sean Edogbo, providing further cause for family celebration in the wake of his brother Edwin being named in the Ireland Six Nations squad.

“It’s been a very special week,” said Sean.

“There was good news for Eddie and then me making my debut here in Cork. I am just really proud.

“The crowd is always special here. They really get behind us and I’m glad we could give them something to cheer about.”

Munster skipper Diarmuid Barron said: “The weather wasn’t easy. It was difficult from minute one and we ground it out and that’s a huge mark to the lads.”

The hooker added: “That’s a good Dragons side. I wouldn’t be underestimating what they are going to do this season. They are going to take a lot of scalps.”

The visitors looked odds on to secure their first away league win since April 2022 when they led by 13 points following tries from hooker Brodie Coghlan and wing David Richards.

But, in the end, it wasn’t to be as Munster just edged home with the elements in their favour after the break.

Dragons coach Filo Tiatia said: “It was a game of two halves – you’ve got the wind and you don’t have the wind.

“I thought our boys played really well. I am really proud of the effort.”

Meanwhile, it finished honours even in the wind and rain at Bridgend’s Brewery Field with the Ospreys and the Lions scoring four tries apiece as they drew 24-24 to both pick up three points.

Ospreys coach Mark Jones was full of praise for the efforts from his players.

“It was an awesome performance,” said Jones.

“After what the guys have been through, to go out there and do what they did was class from them.

“It’s three important points.

“You wouldn’t have known the ball was wet the way we held it, the bravery we showed in trying to offload under pressure and trying to keep the ball alive.

“I thought some of the rugby we put on display was class and deserved more.”

It’s a result which sees the Lions and the Ospreys occupying the final two spots in the play-offs as the table currently stands.