URC: Scarlets 21-26 Stormers - hosts' loss means European top flight for Ospreys next season

Scarlets agonisingly missed out to Ospreys on Champions Cup qualification in their United Rugby Championship (URC) season-finale defeat by Stormers.

Centre Ruhan Nel scored twice while Leolin Zas and Evan Roos also crossed for Stormers.

Scarlets scored tries through Johnny Williams and Ryan Conbeer with Sam Costelow adding 11 points.

It was not enough for Dwayne Peel's side to finish 2021-22 as the top Welsh region.

Despite their valiant effort, Scarlets finished a point behind Ospreys in the URC table and will play European Challenge Cup rugby next season.

After Ospreys' 38-31 defeat against Bulls on Friday, Scarlets knew three league points would be needed to guarantee them Heineken Champions Cup qualification next season.

That would also have enabled Dwayne Peel's side to become the URC Welsh shield winners by finishing as the highest region.

They fell just short as Ospreys finished ninth in the final 16-team URC table with Scarlets one place below them.

Stormers' victory allowed them to win the South African shield and handed them a home play-off quarter-final as they lifted themselves into second place.

It also extended an unbeaten run to eight games and completed a clean sweep of wins against the four Welsh regions.

Lousi blow

Scarlets challenge had been made harder after Tonga second row Sam Lousi and Wales hooker Ryan Elias joined injured fellow internationals front-five forwards Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Samson Lee on the sidelines.

Liam Williams was named on the wing as he made his last appearance for the region before joining Cardiff next season with Tom Rogers returning at full-back.

Scarlets made a superb start with Costelow slotting over an early penalty before a pre-planned set move produced an outstanding try for centre Williams.

A cleverly-crafted chip kick from the outside of Gareth Davies' left boot was gathered by captain Jonathan Davies who released Williams.

URC top try scorer Zas responded with his 11th score of the season before Costelow kicked his second penalty.

Wing Ryan Conbeer started a superb counter-attacking move which almost resulted in a spectacular try before an unwelcome knock-on ended the move.

The hosts had to be content with a third Costelow penalty before Scarlets' defiant defence was typified by Aaron Shingler disrupting Stormers line-out and a Liam Williams turnover.

That only delayed the visitors' second score as number eight Evan Roos powered over just before half-time to reduce Scarlets lead to two points.

Early in the second half the home side lost the nuisance value of Shingler, who was forced off with a rib injury to be replaced by Argentina flanker Tomas Lezana.

Scarlets benefitted from Lezana's ball-carrying ability, but sorely missed Shingler's line-out presence.

Stormers also made the dream start to the second half as they took the lead for the first time.

The South African side took advantage of a poor Scarlets' restart with Nel also capitalising on a home midfield defensive mix up.

Costelow missed a penalty attempt before he was replaced by Rhys Patchell, who has been called up for Wales' summer tour of South Africa.

Patchell, though, did not last very long as he was forced off with a hamstring injury which will be a concern for Wales coach Wayne Pivac.

The more immediate issues were for Dwayne Peel who had to slot Johnny Williams into fly-half with Joe Roberts coming on in midfield.

Stormers flanker Deon Fourie, who had been outstanding at the breakdown, was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Scarlets replacement scrum-half Kieran Hardy.

Scarlets had no recognised kicker on the field so turned down a penalty attempt to go for a try in the corner.

The tactic initially worked as the home side engineered an overlap and released Conbeer to stroll over and level the scores. Liam Willliams' touchline conversion went agonisingly wide.

Johnny Williams was forced off for a head injury assessment six minutes from time which allowed Costelow to return to the field.

It was Nel who completed the scoring with his second to break Scarlets hearts.

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies (capt), Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas, Shaun Evans, Javan Sebastian, Tom Price, Jac Price, Aaron Shingler, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Phil Price, WillGriff John, Morgan Jones, Tomas Lezana, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Joe Roberts.

Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas; Manie Libbok, Stefan Ungerer; Steven Kitshoff (capt), JJ Kotze, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie, Deon Fourie, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.

Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn, Nama Xaba, Marcel Theunissen, Godlen Masimla, Cornel Smit.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant referees: Gareth Newman & Rhys Jones (WRU)

TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU).