United Rugby Championship: Ospreys 16-16 Stormers

Stephen Myler kicked a late conversion to help Ospreys salvage a draw against United Rugby Championship holders Stormers in atrocious conditions.

The fly-half converted a late Scott Baldwin try to halt Stormers' winning start to the season.

Stormers had taken the advantage with a try from scrum-half Paul de Wet and 11 points from Manie Libbok.

But Ospreys' recovery was capped by Myler, who finished with an 11-point haul and a player-of-the-match award.

Stormers move up to second in the URC table behind leaders Leinster, while Ospreys have lifted themselves to seventh.

The home side had welcomed back Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Tomas Francis and George North after the quartet missed the 47-17 defeat by Ulster.

Fellow Wales internationals Justin Tipuric, Gareth Anscombe, Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Thomas were still missing through injury, while 38-year-old Myler returned at fly-half for a first start this season.

Stormers wing Leolin Zas returned as one of seven starting changes from the team that beat Zebre, with former Ospreys lock Marvin Orie and Springboks number eight Evan Roos included.

In driving rain in Swansea, Ospreys and Wales had an early scare when North picked up a leg injury in the third minute but continued after treatment.

Stormers launched the early pressure with a Libbok penalty after Ospreys prop Nicky Smith was penalised at a scrum.

In front of Wales coach Wayne Pivac, captain Rhys Webb was instrumental for Ospreys in the opening exchanges in relieving kicks, creating turnovers and making a nuisance of himself as both sides struggled to hold onto possession in slippery conditions.

Ospreys were finally rewarded for a scrum dominance with an attacking penalty as they had previously been frustrated by the interpretations of inexperienced Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi.

The home side opted for an attacking lineout rather than kicking a penalty and lost possession, with Stormers counter-attacking and getting away with an apparent forward pass only the officials appeared to miss.

Stormers took advantage with a long-range Libbok penalty from just inside his own half.

Myler's first successful kick came after another Ospreys scrum penalty.

Ospreys produced some clever attacking play to release North and Keelan Giles on opposite wings but the final pass went astray from Jac Morgan as Stormers led 6-3 at half-time.

Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff is tackled by Jac Morgan

Stormers brought on South Africa front-row duo Joseph Dweba and Steven Kitshoff and former Dragons prop Brok Harris early in the second half.

Outstanding Ospreys flanker Morgan continued to disrupt the Stormers at the contact area with a crunching tackle on Kitshoff.

Myler levelled the scores with his second penalty before Stormers took advantage of a loose Ospreys kick and chase.

Zas scythed through the home defence and released the supporting scrum-half De Wet on the inside who cantered away to score, with Libbok converting.

As the rain hammered down, Myler and Libbok exchanged penalties before Ospreys pressure paid off when replacement hooker Baldwin was driven over from an attacking lineout.

There was a delay when the try was checked by the television match official which interrupted Myler's conversion routine.

But the former England fly-half kept his composure to level the scores from the left touchline and seal the draw, although Ospreys had a nervous last moment when a late Libbok drop-goal attempt drifted wide.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth: "I am disappointed for the boys because I thought we gave a good account of ourselves against a very good team.

"In our eyes we probably edged the contest, so we could have got a bit more out of it.

"The effort we showed in getting back into the match in difficult conditions was very pleasing.

"My first signing is arguably my best because I know exactly what Stephen Myler brings.

"He is the consummate professional and a very reliable person to have acting as a sort of quarter-back in conditions like that."

Stormers head coach John Dobson: "Everybody wants to beat us and we have not played in conditions like that in the tournament.

"We will be better for this and we could have won it with a bit of game management towards the end.

"You could see with the draw the Ospreys were the more cheerful team, so you could see how much it meant to them.

"The way they stayed in the fight was really good."

Ospreys: Max Nagy; George North, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhys Henry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Jack Walsh, Luke Morgan.

Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies; Angelo Davids, Alapati Leuia, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet; Ali Vermaak, Andre-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Marvin Orie, Nama Xaba, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.

Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris, Ernst van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, Willie Engelbrecht, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Aled Evans & Carwyn Williams (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR).