Ospreys hit by Lions' second-half show of power

Tries: Cronje, Botha, Brandon, Chamberlain, Mpeku 2 Con: Smith Pens: Smith

Ospreys (12) 19

Tries: K Williams, Daniel, Moriarty Cons: Edwards 2

Ospreys were comprehensively beaten by six-try Lions after a second-half onslaught at Ellis Park in the United Rugby Championship.

Mark Jones' Ospreys started the 2026-27 season by claiming a four-try bonus point in defeat by Sharks in Durban, but they left Johannesburg without anything to show for their efforts on Saturday.

Ospreys led 12-10 at half-time after responding excellently to Erich Cronje's opener with tries by Keiran Williams and Efan Daniel.

But Lions, who enjoyed set-piece dominance, had their four-try bonus secured before the hour thanks to PJ Botha, Morne Brandon and Boeta Chamberlain.

Kelly Mpeku added two more for Lions, while Ospreys scored their third through Ross Moriarty with the final play.

An off-day from the kicking tee for the prolific Lions fly-half Chris Smith, who could only manage one conversion and a penalty, prevented this from being an absolute hammering.

Ospreys have the consolation of knowing their South Africa tour is out of the way early on.

They now return to Wales for a derby against Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday, 9 October (19:45 BST).

Ospreys won against Lions at altitude in Johannesburg in the 2023-24 Challenge Cup, but repeating that in the URC was always going to be a long shot.

The hosts lost just once on home soil last season – to South African rivals Bulls – and started the current campaign with victory against Leinster.

The only score of a scrappy first quarter was a penalty by Smith, with Ospreys turning down opportunities to level in favour of hunting a try.

They failed to claim it.

It was Lions who were first to cross in the 28th minute through wing Cronje after an incisive attack from turnover ball.

Ospreys responded well and struck back, also from turnover ball, when centre Williams cut a nice line to finish powerfully from midfield partner Evardi Boshoff's offload.

It got better when they exploited Lions' indiscipline to get a second try with the last play of the half through hooker Daniel from a driving line-out.

Opposite number Botha and replacement Brandon scored through the same method soon after the restart to get the home side back on track.

Lions got their bonus point in the 57th minute when full-back Chamberlain crossed, with Francke Horn's athletic offload deemed to have been flat.

Wales fly-half Dan Edwards was yellow-carded for a high tackle on the hour, and the hosts turned the screw with wing Mpeku going over twice down the right.

Replacement flanker Moriarty did prevent Ospreys from suffering a scoreless second half, but this was another statement of intent by Lions at home in their bid to qualify for successive play-offs.

Lions: Chamberlain; Mpeke, Adams, Kriel, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Venter, Both, Lombard, Oosthuizen, Delport, Pretorius, Qoma, F Horn (capt)

Replacements: Brandon, Kotze, Schoeman, Andrews, Mahashe, Sjoblom, M van der Berg, Q Horn.

Ospreys: Hopkins; Rogers, Boshoff, K Williams, Giles (co-capt); Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Daniel, Henry, Sutton, Smith, Wright (co-capt), Deaves, Morse.

Replacements: L Lloyd, C Jones, Warren, R Davies, Moriarty, Morgan-Williams, Creighton, L Morgan.

Yellow card: Edwards 60

Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR)

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)