
URC result: Sharks secure bonus-point win against Ospreys in Durban
Sharks lock Jason Jenkins scores his team's first try against Ospreys at Kings Park Stadium. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The Sharks' dream of a top-two finish in the United Rugby Championship is alive and well after a commanding bonus-point win over the Ospreys at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Friday.
The 29–10 result means the Sharks still lie fourth on the table. However, they are even on points with the Bulls and lie just one point behind Glasgow Warriors, who, although they have a game in hand, have tough away fixtures against Benetton and URC leaders Leinster left this season.
The gap in skill between the Sharks and 11th-ranked Ospreys was evident just about from the get-go. The Sharks, also playing at home, proved better in discipline and won most of the contests at the breakdown.
The players who led with the most carries, line breaks, and turnovers all came from the Durban side.
The only blemish on the Sharks' performance was an injury to captain Eben Etzebeth, who has already missed much of the season recovering from a concussion.
Sharks dominate Ospreys
The Ospreys wasted no time putting points on the board, securing a penalty kick within the first minute of the game. It was the first and only time the visitors led on the scoreboard.
The Sharks responded nine minutes later with lock Jason Jenkins crashing over for a converted try.
The score remained unchanged with the Sharks applying pressure until centre André Esterhuizen broke the line to score in the 34th minute. That left it 14–3 at the break.
Ethan Hooker extended the lead after Ospreys spilled an up-and-under in the 52nd minute. However, Ospreys pulled one back right at the start of the final quarter through a try from a maul from substitute Sam Parry. That made it 21–10 to the Sharks.
But it was not to be. Sharks substitute Phepsi Buthelezi scored the bonus-point try from a gorgeous cross kick by Aphelele Fassi in the 65th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Scorers
Sharks: Tries – Jason Jenkins, André Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Phepsi Buthelezi. Conversions – Siya Masuku 2/3, Aphelele Fassi 1/1. Penalties – Masuku 1/1.
Ospreyss: Tries – Sam Parry . Conversions – Dan Edwards 1/1. Penalties – Edwards 1/1.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Springboks: The nine players released, and why!
Ahead of the Springboks' first two Tests in the Rugby Championship, Rassie Erasmus has trimmed the squad from 46 players in the wider group to a more deliberate 36-man squad that will come into contention against Australia. Here we take a look at the nine players who have been released on 'standby', and the reasons why. Lukhanyo Am: The 31-year-old missed the July internationals due to an injury, and needs to get back to fitness and form as the Springboks currently know what they have in Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie. Faf de Klerk: It does increasingly seem as if De Klerk has begun to hand over the baton to younger scrumhalves such as Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg, but don't bet against the double World Cup winner having a role to play later in the Rugby Championship. Makazole Mapimpi: The third – but not final – World Cup stalwart to miss out on the Springboks' latest selection. Considering he will soon turn 35, it does stand to reason that the coaches are spending more time getting a closer look at the likes of Edwill van der Merwe and Ethan Hooker. Salmaan Moerat: The Springboks are blessed with depth at lock, and in a trimmed squad, it's no huge surprise that space has just run out for Moerat. Evan Roos: The curious case of Evan Roos continues at national level. Despite a number of unavailable players at No 8, it seems like Cobus Wiese has now even jumped ahead of the Stormers star in the pecking order. Neethling Fouche: It's a pity to see the incredibly likeable Fouche fall out of the mix, but with Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw and exciting newcomer Asenathi Ntlabakanye all covering tighthead, his omission doesn't come as a major shock. Vincent Tshituka: It is a bit of a surprise that Tshituka has missed out after largely impressing at the start of the season, but it may be that Jean-Luc du Preez is seen to be deserving of a chance to back up first-choice star Pieter-Steph du Toit. Thomas du Toit: The burly prop is undergoing a compulsory two-week rest period in line with English Premiership protocols. Jasper Wiese: The World Cup-winning No 8 is serving a four-match suspension. In total, Erasmus' squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players. The Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August, and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Rassie Erasmus picks 37 Springboks for Australia Tests, invites 3 Junior Boks
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has named 37 players to take on Australia in the national team's first two Rugby Championship matches. According to The Citizen, these take place at Ellis Park on August 16 and Cape Town Stadium on August 23. Erasmus said before the 55–10 win over Georgia last weekend that they would select a more tried-and-tested squad to face Australia. This follows experimentation in the first four games of the season, during which seven players also made their debuts. The Bok coach has also invited three young guns – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead – who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad, to train with the group during a two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday. Rassie on selections The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward). Meanwhile, Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise. No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. Several players have been released to their franchises to build up game time in the Currie Cup, although a few of them have been placed on standby for the Wallaby Tests. The standby players are Lukhanyo Am (centre), who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle, Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Evan Roos (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop) and Vincent Tshituka (flanker). 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad,' said Erasmus. 'This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches. We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition.' Springboks build squad depth 'One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.' On the young guns invited to train with the squad, Erasmus said: 'We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks… so we opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level. We believe this camp will benefit them significantly.' Springbok squad to face Australia Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Western Province aims to reclaim Currie Cup glory without their top players
Brok Harris will be in the coaching box when WP face the Bulls in their Currie Cup opener on Saturday in Cape Town. Image: BackpagePix Western Province is dead-set on righting the wrongs of last season's Currie Cup as they look to establish a more settled squad throughout the tournament this year. Their senior United Rugby Championship (URC) players won't be involved in the competition as they start preparations for the new European season. Still, the Cape side will look for a settled squad that can take them far in the competition after limited success last year that had supporters in the Mother City worried. A marker will be laid on Saturday and the coaches will see exactly where the team is when they face the Bulls at the DHL Stadium in the Currie Cup opener. Plenty of hard work being put in in by the DHL WP coaches and their extended squad as we keep building towards the Carling Currie Cup. 🔵⚪️ #wpjoulekkerding — WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) July 3, 2025 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 ✕ Ad loading Forwards coach Brok Harris confirmed they will not have players going in and out of the team, while they've also tapped into the WP club rugby system to test some promising amateur players. Those players will be committed to WP for the duration of the competition. 'The club players we identified will be part of the entire campaign; it won't be a thing of in and out or a two-week kind of thing,' according to Harris. 'They've worked hard and have been pushing even for guys who don't have a contract. There is a possibility for them to play for contracts even. There is a lot at stake. We have the likes of Carlo van Greunen (a lock from Paarl), Brendan Venter and Erhard Lambrecht (both Helderberg), and De Wet Marais.' The Carling #CurrieCup wall of champions keeps changing. Four years. Four different winners. Who claims it in 2025?#WhereChampionsRise | #PremierRugbyRealPassion — The Carling Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) July 21, 2025 Harris added that they are bracing for a massive game against the Bulls. Of course, he will be in the coaching box this time, but he recalled his debut in the North-South derby back in 2006. 'You think inter-varsity is big, but then you get to the North-South derby in the Currie Cup, and you find you don't get bigger than that. It was next level. For these guys, it will be a great experience. 'It will be challenging playing against old Stormers like Nama Xaba (Bulls captain), Junior (Pokomela, flanker), Marvin (Orie, lock), and Lizo (Gqoboka, prop). There are a couple of them who have been in our environment. However, we can only control what we can and stick to what we've been training. 'We look forward to the challenge they will bring. This season, we will keep on fighting for the jersey, whatever comes our way. We will go out there and give it our best.'