Lions end URC season with win over Ospreys in thriller thanks to late Lubabalo Dobela heroics

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. 

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 evenly 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.

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).