United Rugby Championship

Sharks (28) 41

Tries: Hatton, M Tshituka, Giliomee 2, Bester Cons: Moyo 4, Masuku Pens: Moyo 2

Ospreys (14) 24

Tries: Morgan, Parry, Wright, Hopkins Cons: Creighton 2

Ospreys suffered an opening weekend United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat in South Africa for the second successive season after being overpowered by Sharks.

Mark Jones’ men were comprehensively beaten in Durban but, just as they did when losing at Bulls in 2025, Ospreys at least have the consolation of a four-try bonus.

Sharks led 28-14 at half-time thanks to tries by Nick Hatton, Manu Tshituka, Luan Giliomee and Lili Bester.

Ospreys stayed in the contest with scores by Luke Morgan and Sam Parry, then were right back in it when former Australia captain Liam Wright went through a gaping hole on his debut.

Sharks secured victory through the boot of Vusi Moyo and a second try by livewire full-back Giliomee, but Ospreys earned something for their spirited effort when Iestyn Hopkins went over.

Sharks have been a yo-yo side in the URC and finished 10th last season when they failed to win until round five.

It was clear from early on that they would not have to wait as long in 2026-27, even without the likes of Andre Esterhuizen, Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth.

It took half an hour for Ospreys to get inside Sharks’ 22, and that was when wing Morgan went over to cut the gap to 21-7 after three home tries.

Number eight Hatton finished off a flowing move that featured Springboks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse three times, Tshituka went through weak tackles to go under the posts and Bulls-bound full-back Giliomee, 20, showed his exciting talent from deep.

Sharks – showing more than just set-piece power – had their try bonus before half-time thanks to Bester’s score from turnover ball.

Ospreys were back in it at 28-19 with tries either side of half-time by captain Parry from a driving line-out and flanker Wright, making his debut along with fellow Australian recruits Lawson Creighton and Lalakai Foketi.

But Moyo knocked over a pair of penalties to reestablish Sharks’ dominance, and player of the match Giliomee scored his second.

Ospreys still had a bonus to play for and got it with nine minutes left when full-back Hopkins finished off after a Kieran Hardy snipe.

Jones’ men will need to show similar spirit next Saturday when they face arguably an even bigger test against Lions in the altitude of Johannesburg.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones said:

“We’ve come away from a traditionally tough place to come with a point.

“We were just too slow at the start. Sharks were far more excited than we were around capitalising on mistakes and a couple of soft individual collisions cost us in the first half.

“They are all fixable things that we are in control of. There was an awful lot of good to come out of the game, but we need to go up a couple of gears for the Lions.”

Sharks: Giliomee; Hartzenberg, Julius, Koster, Bester; Moyo, Jaden Hendrikse; Ganyane, Swart, Koch, Rahl, Landsberg, P Buthelezi, V Tshituka, Hatton (capt)

Replacements: Mnebele, Roelofse, Jacobs, Jenkins, Romao, van Zyl, Masuku, Siyaya.

Ospreys: Hopkins: Rogers, Watkin (co-capt), Foketi, Morgan; Creighton, L Davies; S Thomas, Parry (co-captain), Botha, Ratti, R Davies, Wright, Moriarty, M Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, G Thomas, Henry, R Smith, Deaves, Hardy, Wilde, Boshoff.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)

TMO: Fillipo Russo (Italy).