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Saturday 26 Apr 2025
Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Tries
Edwill van der Merwe 82'
JC Pretorius 69'
Renzo Du Plessis 13'
Eoin de Buitlear 73'
Conversions
Lubabalo Dobela 83'
David Hawkshaw 73'
Penalties
Kade Wolhuter 42'; 36'; 18'
Show more
Timeline
End of Second Half
83'
Lubabalo Dobela
Conversion
83'
Edwill van der Merwe
Try
82'
Izan Esterhuizen
Out: Ruben Schoeman
77'
David Hawkshaw
Conversion
73'
Eoin de Buitlear
Try
73'
Lubabalo Dobela
Out: Kade Wolhuter
71'
Darrien-Lane Landsberg
Out: Ruan Delport
71'
Cathal Forde
Out: Colm Reilly
70'
JC Pretorius
Try
69'
SJ Kotze
Out: Morgan Naude
66'
PJ Botha
Out: Jaco Visagie
66'
RF Schoeman
Out: Asenathi Ntlabakanye
66'
Colm Reilly
Out: Cathal Forde
65'
Rynhardt Jonker
Out: Henco van Wyk
62'
Jordan Duggan
Out: Peter Dooley
60'
Eoin de Buitléar
Out: Dylan Tierney-Martin
60'
Nico Steyn
Out: Morne van den Berg
55'
Sam Illo
Out: Jack Aungier
52'
Oisin Dowling
Out: Joe Joyce
52'
Renzo Du Plessis
Yellow Card
49'
Hugh Gavin
Out: Jack Carty
45'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
42'
Santiago Cordero
Out: Piers O'Conor
40'
Start of Second Half
40'
End of First Half
41'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
36'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
18'
Paul Boyle
Out: Sean Jansen
14'
Renzo Du Plessis
Try
13'
Start of First Half
0'
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Top Stats
Tries
3
1
Conversions
1
1
Penalties
3
0
See Full Stats
Top Performers
Ball Carries
QH
Q. Horn
Ball Carries: 15
Tackles
BM
B. Mills
Tackles: 14
Points
KW
K. Wolhuter
Points: 9
Insights
United Rugby Championship
Points per match
2225
Tries per match
34
Penalties Conceded per match
910
Match Information
Saturday 26 Apr 2025
Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Tries
Edwill van der Merwe 82'
JC Pretorius 69'
Renzo Du Plessis 13'
Eoin de Buitlear 73'
Conversions
Lubabalo Dobela 83'
David Hawkshaw 73'
Penalties
Kade Wolhuter 42'; 36'; 18'
Show more
Timeline
End of Second Half
83'
Lubabalo Dobela
Conversion
83'
Edwill van der Merwe
Try
82'
Izan Esterhuizen
Out: Ruben Schoeman
77'
David Hawkshaw
Conversion
73'
Eoin de Buitlear
Try
73'
Lubabalo Dobela
Out: Kade Wolhuter
71'
Darrien-Lane Landsberg
Out: Ruan Delport
71'
Cathal Forde
Out: Colm Reilly
70'
JC Pretorius
Try
69'
SJ Kotze
Out: Morgan Naude
66'
PJ Botha
Out: Jaco Visagie
66'
RF Schoeman
Out: Asenathi Ntlabakanye
66'
Colm Reilly
Out: Cathal Forde
65'
Rynhardt Jonker
Out: Henco van Wyk
62'
Jordan Duggan
Out: Peter Dooley
60'
Eoin de Buitléar
Out: Dylan Tierney-Martin
60'
Nico Steyn
Out: Morne van den Berg
55'
Sam Illo
Out: Jack Aungier
52'
Oisin Dowling
Out: Joe Joyce
52'
Renzo Du Plessis
Yellow Card
49'
Hugh Gavin
Out: Jack Carty
45'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
42'
Santiago Cordero
Out: Piers O'Conor
40'
Start of Second Half
40'
End of First Half
41'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
36'
Kade Wolhuter
Penalty
18'
Paul Boyle
Out: Sean Jansen
14'
Renzo Du Plessis
Try
13'
Start of First Half
0'
Top Stats
Conversions
Conversions
Penalties
Penalties
Drop Goals
Drop Goals
Scrums
Scrums
Lineouts
Lineouts
Possession
Possession
Territory
Territory
Handling Errors
12
10
Passes
161
167
Offload
18
9
Metres Gained
498
401
Clean Breaks
9
2
Kicks From Hand
33
24
Tackles
129
101
Missed Tackles
10
24
Mauls
2
4
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0
Penalties Conceded
8
11
Head to Head
Previous 3 meetings
1
2
Won
Won
Head to Head
Previous 3 meetings
1
2
Won
Won
Form Guide
Last 5 matches
LionsL
L
L
L
L
ConnachtL
L
W
L
L
Form Guide
Last 5 matches
Line Up
1
MN
Morgan Naude
2
JV
Jaco Visagie
3
AN
Asenathi Ntlabakanye
4
RS
Ruben Schoeman
5
RD
Ruan Delport
6
JP
JC Pretorius
7
RD
Renzo Du Plessis
8
JC
Jarod Cairns
9
Mv
Morne van den Berg
10
KW
Kade Wolhuter
11
Ev
Edwill van der Merwe
12
BM
Bronson Mills
13
Hv
Henco van Wyk
14
RK
Richard Kriel
15
QH
Quan Horn
1
PD
Peter Dooley
2
DT
Dylan Tierney-Martin
3
JA
Jack Aungier
4
JM
Josh Murphy
5
JJ
Joe Joyce
6
CP
Cian Prendergast
7
CO
Conor Oliver
8
SJ
Sean Jansen
9
MD
Matthew Devine
10
JC
Jack Carty
11
SJ
Shane Jennings
12
CF
Cathal Forde
13
DH
David Hawkshaw
14
SB
Shayne Bolton
15
PO
Piers O'Conor
Substitutes
16
PB
PJ Botha
17
SK
SJ Kotze
18
RS
RF Schoeman
19
DL
Darrien-Lane Landsberg
20
IE
Izan Esterhuizen
21
NS
Nico Steyn
22
LD
Lubabalo Dobela
23
RJ
Rynhardt Jonker
16
Ed
Eoin de Buitléar
17
JD
Jordan Duggan
18
SI
Sam Illo
19
OD
Oisin Dowling
20
PB
Paul Boyle
21
CR
Colm Reilly
22
HG
Hugh Gavin
23
SC
Santiago Cordero
Match Videos
Commentary
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84’
Full Time
FULL-TIME, LIONS 26-7 CONNACHT. A tremendous win for the Lions who dominated the second half as Connacht wilted. A great celebration of rugby from the home side to break their five-match losing streak.
84’
Full Time
FULL-TIME, LIONS 26-7 CONNACHT. A tremendous win for the Lions who dominated the second half as Connacht wilted. A great celebration of rugby from the home side to break their five-match losing streak.
84’
Conversion
CONVERSION, LIONS, TOBELA! 26-7; Tobela strikes the conversion home from 10m to the left of the poles.
82’
Commentary
TRY, LIONS, VAN DER MERWE! 24-7; Connacht desperately trying to run the line, but tiredness leads to a loose pass which is gathered, passed to Edwill van der Merwe, who kicks forward into the in-goal area, runs unopposed to collect and touch down for the try!
82’
Commentary
Lions penalised and Connacht kick to their 10m line for the throw…
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80’
Commentary
Connacht fighting desperately for the seven-pointer to earn a losing bonus point but the Lions are holding them up Connacht attack… Lions attack, both sides eager for that final score. Connacht now running from inside their 22, but the Lions regain possession and run at the Connacht 22…
78’
Commentary
Another great run from Edwill van der Merwe, kicking across field in front of the poles, but Connacht manage to get to the ball first to clean up.
76’
Commentary
GREAT MOVE by the Lions sees them power down the right wing, a great overhead pass by Kriel finds Nico Steyn who evades one tackle as he skips over the tryline, only for Matthew Devine to crash into him, dislodging the ball from his hands. Incredible rugby all around.
74’
Commentary
CONVERSION, CONNACHT, CARTY! 19-7; Slapped over from in front of poles.
73’
Try
TRY, CONNACHT, DE BUITLEAR! 19-5; Connacht drive through the Lions 5m line, Eoin de Buitléar rounding off the move by dragging three Lions players over the line with him.
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0’
Commentary
TRY, CONNACHT, DE BUITLEAR! 19-5; Connacht drive though the Lions 5m line, Eoin de Buitléar rounding off the move by dragging three Lions players over the line with him.
71’
Commentary
WIDE! After a break for an injury, Wolhuter slides his kick wide of the far post from 15m to the left of poles. That's unlikely to cost the Lions in this match, though.
69’
Try
TRY, LIONS, PRETORIUS! 19-0; Great work down the left touchline from the Lions, Pretorius following up well to take the pop-up pass, run through the tryline and dive over for the five-pointer close to the poles. Surely that has killed off Connacht?
63’
Commentary
Connacht pressing forward on the Lions, but the ball is kicked back downfield.
61’
Commentary
NO TRY! It was very minimal head contact, but arguably the Lions player should have gone in lower. Huge relief for Connacht as that JUST keeps them in the match.
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60’
Commentary
BRILLIANT MOVE by the Lions, spreading play to the left touchline, leading to a super run down the wing and around his opponent by Edwill van der Merwe, who runs round and dives into the air to dot down under the poles to complete a great try from the Lions… but the ref has asked the TMO to look into head contact on an earlier tackle…
59’
Commentary
Connacht running the line well but being pulled to ground near the left touchline, but they lose the ball and the Lions launch a counter-attack…
55’
Commentary
Play breaks down in the centre of the field, both sides showing signs of tiring, but particularly Connacht.
53’
Commentary
Connacht defending well to keep the Lions at bay.
51’
Commentary
GREAT TRY FROM CONNACHT, driving the pack of forwards over the line against the 14-man Lions side… but the TMO rules NO TRY! Huge disappointment for the visitors who REALLY needed that to open their scoring.
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49’
Yellow Card
YELLOW CARD, LIONS, DU PLESSIS. Carded and binned after a deliberate trip on Santiago Cordero.
47’
Commentary
Lions drive Connacht back to the halfway line, only to concede a penalty, allowing Connacht to kick into the Lions 22 for a line-out.
45’
Commentary
Connacht driving forward into the Lions half, but a handling error gives the Lions a scrum.
43’
Penalty
PENALTY, LIONS, WOLHUTER! 14-0; Wolhuter nails the kick to give the Lions a very nice lead.
41’
Penalty
Connacht blown and the Lions will kick for goal…
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41’
Kick Off
KICK-OFF!! We're underway with the second half.
40’
Half Time
HALF-TIME, LIONS 11-0 CONNACHT. Nice lead for the home side to take into half-time. The Lions are outplaying the visitors as things stand, but the next 40 minutes is huge in terms of making the playoffs.
39’
Commentary
Wolhuter kicks to the 5m line for a lineout… the sides maul on the 5m line, but the Lions are penalised and Connacht will have the relief of a scrum right on half-time.
38’
Commentary
The TMO is called to judge if there was a knock-on by Connacht as the Lions ran their line.
36’
Penalty
PENALTY, LIONS, WOLHUTER! 11-0; Struck sweetly to take the Lions into double figures.
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35’
Commentary
Connacht blown for an infringement in the scrum and Wolhuter lines up his kick just short of the 22 and 3m to the left of the poles.
33’
Commentary
Connacht running the ball out of their 22 well… but a long pass out wide is blown as forward, so the Lions will feed the scrum in front of the poles 7m short of the Connacht 22…
31’
Commentary
Lions break from the scrum but are penalised near the touchline for a knock-on.
29’
Commentary
Lions penalised in the scrum for pushing before the ball comes in… Connacht kick to the Lions who kick back, winning a scrum after a Connacht handling error.
27’
Commentary
Lions driving forward well before running the line… Van Wyk grubbers forward into the Connnacht 22, but the visitors are forced to concede the throw-in.
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24’
Commentary
Lions pour upfield but are penalised for going over the top.
23’
Commentary
Lions kick upfield and Kriel this time rises to grab the ball, only to be dragged into touch.
22’
Commentary
Connacht penalised in the line-out, allowing the Lions to kick play upfield.
21’
Commentary
Connacht press past the Lions 10m line looking to open their scoring, but the Lions keep dragging them to ground… Connacht kicking into the Lions 22 for a throw-in, allowing the medics to see to a player on either side.
19’
Penalty
PENALTY, LIONS, WOLHUTER! 8-0; Stroked through the poles without a problem.
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18’
Commentary
Some slick handling by the Lions sees them break the Connacht line again until a forward play breaks the movement, but the Lions have a penalty advantage near the 10m line almost in front of poles, so Wolhuter sizes it up…
15’
Commentary
Lions on the attack again, breaking the Connacht 10m line, but the visitors scrap the ball away and kick play upfield…
14’
Commentary
WIDE! Wolhuter slices his conversion kick wide of the nearside post… just 20m to the right of pole, he would have wanted to do better than that.
13’
Try
TRY, LIONS, DU PLESSIS! 5-0; Lorenzo du Plessis rounds off a superb move by the Lions, crashing over for the try.
12’
Commentary
Connacht penalised a second time, allowing the Lions to kick to their 22 for a lineout. They run the ball and press had trying to break the 22… and there is a penalty advantage called as they drive up to the 5m…
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10’
Commentary
PENALTY! Quan Horn rises to take a high ball, but is knocked to ground by Dave Heffernan, who raises his hands in apology and escapes sanction.
8’
Commentary
Connacht press play up to the Lions 22, drive down the left wing, but the Lions win the ball back and kick play deep back into the Connacht half.
6’
Commentary
Lions run the line and push up to the 5m line, but Van Den Berg fumbles the ball at the back of the maul, and Connacht are awarded a scrum.
5’
Commentary
Connacht drive up to close to the Lions 5m, but the hosts win the ball back, run the line and then kick upfield… the ball is chased down and Lions win a penalty that is kicked into touch at the Connacht 22.
3’
Commentary
TAKEN IN THE AIR! Edwill van der Merwe chases after a high ball, rises to challenge for it and claims it ahead of Connacht's defence, but after a maul the Lions re blown for a foul and the visitors kick play up to past the Lions 10m line.
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2’
Commentary
The visitors running down the left wing until stopped, then spreading the ball to the right wing, but the Lions hold them to the Lions 10m line…
1’
Kick Off
KICK-OFF! We're underway here at Ellis Park!
0’
Team News
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland). Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Hanru Van Rooyen (South Africa). TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland).
0’
Team News
Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Hugh Gavin, 23 Santiago Cordero.
0’
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
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0’
Team News
Here are the teams again…
0’
Trivia
Round 15 was no better for either side, as the Lions lost 31-42 to Benetton while the Stormers beat Connacht 34-29.
0’
Trivia
Round 14 saw both sides suffer another loss, with (2 BP) Connacht losing 24-30 at home to Munster, while the Lions were hammered 42-0 away from home.
0’
Trivia
In Round 13 the Lions went down 20-17 away to Cardiff, while Connacht also lost by three points to the Ospreys (43-40).
0’
Trivia
Connacht are two places above the Lions in 14th place, having picked up five wins and 10 losses from their 115 matches. They have gathered 35 points in the season, with a points difference of minus-41.
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0’
Trivia
The Lions are down in 14th place on the URC table, with six wins and nine losses from their 15 matches. They have 31 points, with a points difference of minus-45.
0’
Trivia
The two teams are level on points across those four matches, both teams averaging 31 points per match.
0’
Trivia
Connacht have won three of their last four matches against the Lions, losing one of those matches.
0’
Team News
Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Hugh Gavin, 23 Santiago Cordero.
0’
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
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0’
Team News
Here are the teams…
0’
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the URC Round of 16 clash between the Lions and Connacht, coming to you direct from Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
See All
Top Performers
Ball Carries
QH
Q. Horn
Ball Carries: 15
Tackles
BM
B. Mills
Tackles: 14
Points
KW
K. Wolhuter
Points: 9
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Insights
United Rugby Championship
Points per match
2225
Tries per match
34
Penalties Conceded per match
910
Match Information
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