URC Round Up: Stormers Shine Bright as Bulls, Lions, and Sharks Suffer Northern Nightmares

Round 3 of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship painted a vivid picture of where South Africa’s franchises stand. The Stormers were dazzling in their Welsh demolition, while the Bulls, Sharks, and Lions were all left licking their wounds after bruising encounters abroad. It was a weekend that reminded fans of both the promise and the pain of competing in Europe’s demanding conditions.

Stormers Silence Scarlets in Flawless 34–0 Victory

The DHL Stormers produced one of the most complete performances of the season to dismantle the Scarlets 34–0 in Llanelli. It wasn’t just a win it was a masterclass in control, aggression, and execution.

Backed by returning Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Cape side dictated every aspect of play from the opening whistle. The Scarlets, trapped in their own half, could barely string phases together under relentless defensive pressure.

Evan Roos set the tone with an early try off the back of a dominant scrum, before Feinberg-Mngomezulu calmly added the conversion and a penalty. Paul de Villiers extended the lead after a clever lineout move to give the visitors a 17–0 advantage at halftime.

The second half was more of the same. Ruben van Heerden powered over, Feinberg-Mngomezulu returned from a yellow card to score himself, and young Imad Khan added the bonus-point try in the closing minutes. Willemse’s composure and tactical kicking ensured the Welsh side never found a foothold.

The result their fifth consecutive victory over the Scarlets reaffirmed the Stormers’ championship pedigree and moved them temporarily to the top of the URC standings.

Munster Edge Edinburgh in a Nail-Biting Irish Clash

Friday night’s showdown in Cork offered no shortage of drama. Munster scraped past Edinburgh 20–19 in a game defined by grit, yellow cards, and a late surge.

The hosts crossed four times through Michael Milne (twice), Andrew Smith, and Fineen Wycherley, but had to withstand immense pressure as Edinburgh’s pack dominated the lineouts. The Scots, however, were their own worst enemies conceding four yellow cards, including two in quick succession before halftime.

Ewan Ashman, Ben Vellacott, and Darcy Graham scored for Edinburgh, while Ben Healy’s missed conversion ultimately proved costly. The victory keeps Munster unbeaten after three rounds and underlines their status as one of the URC’s toughest sides to beat at home.

Lions’ Winless Run Continues After Painful Defeat to Benetton

In Treviso, the Lions’ wait for a win stretched on as they fell 41–15 to a clinical Benetton outfit. For much of the match, it felt like déjà vu for Johannesburg fans promising starts undone by poor execution and defensive lapses.

Chris Smith’s early penalty gave the visitors a brief lead, and Asenathi Ntlabakanye’s powerful try off a rolling maul offered a glimmer of hope. But Benetton quickly took control. Rhyno Smith, once a Cheetahs stalwart, punished his former countrymen with a sharp try before winger Louis Lynagh tore through the Lions’ defence, scoring four tries and earning man-of-the-match honours.

To make matters worse, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg was forced off with injury early in the contest, robbing the Lions of one of their key playmakers. Despite periods of sustained pressure in the second half, the Gauteng outfit couldn’t convert opportunities into points. A late try from Conraad van Vuuren added respectability to the scoreline, but the Lions’ defensive structure remains a growing concern.

Sharks Outclassed by Champions Leinster

In Dublin, the Sharks ran headfirst into a blue wall. Defending champions Leinster were in no mood for mercy, cruising to a 31–5 win in front of their home fans at the Aviva Stadium.

The Irish giants scored five tries through Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan, and Gus McCarthy. Every strike came from precision a blend of tactical kicking, set-piece mastery, and quick recycling that left the Sharks scrambling.

Ethan Hooker’s solo try midway through the first half was one of the few highlights for the Durban outfit, but handling errors and a malfunctioning lineout prevented them from building momentum. Coach John Plumtree will take heart from a more committed second-half defensive display, but the Sharks’ attack remains blunt against the tournament’s elite.

Bulls Battered in Belfast as Ulster Dominate Second Half

The Bulls’ northern tour got off to a stuttering start as they slumped to a 28–7 defeat against Ulster in Belfast. Despite the return of several Springboks including Handre Pollard, Canan Moodie, and Marco van Staden Jake White’s side couldn’t find their rhythm.

Wilco Louw’s first-half try, converted by Pollard, levelled the scores at 7–7 going into the break. But the second half belonged entirely to Ulster. Jeandre Rudolph’s yellow card proved the turning point, opening the door for tries by South African-born Juarno Augustus, Rob Herring, and Cormac Izuchuwu.

The Bulls’ inability to adapt to Ulster’s high-tempo play and wet conditions once again highlighted their struggles on European soil. While the talent is there, the cohesion and composure under pressure were missing.

South African URC Snapshot: Stormers Lead the Way

After three rounds, the picture for South Africa’s URC sides is mixed:

• Stormers: Three wins from three and flying high.

• Bulls: One win, two defeats, and questions about consistency.

• Sharks: Still without a win, struggling for structure.

• Lions: Battling at the bottom and desperate for momentum.

The Stormers’ dominance continues to set the benchmark, showing how balance between youth and experience pays off. For the others, especially the Lions and Sharks, Round 4 presents a chance to steady the ship before the season’s travel fatigue starts to bite.

As South African fans put it online, “One storm is rising while the others are still finding their lightning.” With the season long and the North unforgiving, only time will tell which sides learn fastest from their early setbacks.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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