The Scarlets have significantly bolstered their chances of making the United Rugby Championship play-offs with a hard-fought 32-19 bonus-point victory over the Lions in Johannesburg. This crucial win marks their first triumph on South African soil since the inclusion of the four South African franchises in 2021, propelling them to sixth place in the standings with just one round remaining.

Match Highlights

• Blair Murray was the standout performer, earning the Player of the Match title with two early tries that set the tone for the game.
• Nico Steyn managed to pull one back for the Lions, but Taine Plumtree quickly restored the Scarlets' lead after the break.
• Richard Kriel scored twice for the Lions, bringing them back into contention in a tense and thrilling contest.
• Johnny Williams and Sam Costelow's precise kicking ensured the Scarlets secured the win in a nail-biting finish.

Key Players

• Scarlets: Blair Murray, Taine Plumtree, Johnny Williams, Sam Costelow
• Lions: Richard Kriel, Nico Steyn, Kade Wolhuter

Teams

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.

Officials

• Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
• TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Sin Bins

• Sam Lousi (5 mins), Gareth Davies (33 mins), JC Pretorius (53 mins)

This victory not only keeps the Scarlets' play-off dreams alive but also showcases their resilience and determination in a highly competitive league.