Cardiff kept their play-off hopes alive with a stunning late comeback to beat the Scarlets 28-24 at Parc y Scarlets, overturning a 17-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of a dramatic Welsh derby.

Trailing 24-7 in the 69th minute, Cardiff looked set to drop out of the top eight. Instead, they produced a remarkable finish, scoring three late tries — including the match-winner with the final play — to secure a vital bonus-point victory that lifts them to seventh on 46 points.

Josh McNally, making his return from the injury he suffered against the Sharks in South Africa, played the full 80 minutes and highlighted the resilience that has become a defining trait of this Cardiff side.

“I suppose we’ve got something in us that we think we can fight back” he said. “We’ve won a lot of games at the death this year… There’s always fight in this group. We talk about it as one of our values and I’m very proud of how we managed that last 10 minutes.”

Cardiff had started brightly, with Ben Thomas crossing early, but four unanswered Scarlets tries swung control firmly in the hosts’ favour. 

“I think maybe we tried to play that first half a bit too smart and came unstuck,” McNally said. “But to see how we attacked in that last 20 minutes probably showed some of our best shape we’ve shown in a while.

“Once we got within a score, I felt like all the momentum was with us and it was only a matter of time.”

The turning point came from the bench, with Javan Sebastian scoring twice and earning player of the match honours — an impact McNally believes reflects a broader shift within the squad.

“That’s been a huge growth for us at Cardiff in the last 18 months, understanding that it’s the full 23,” he explained. “Everyone has a part to play… having a 6-2 split on the bench has a huge impact for us. All the boys coming on made a huge impact.”

Reflecting on his own return, McNally spoke about the uncertainty surrounding his injury and the support he received during his recovery.

“Getting injured in South Africa was tough. I didn’t know what I’d done, it felt bad,” he said. “But to get some good news and push to get back around this time… I was very fortunate with the support I had to put myself in a position to play this week.”

The result could prove pivotal in Cardiff’s season. Defeat would have seen them fall outside the top eight, but instead they remain firmly in the play-off hunt.

“To be able to pick ourselves back up, get five points there and put ourselves right back in the play-off spots, I think it’s huge,” McNally added. “We’ve got to take points every opportunity we get now — it’s going to run right into the end of the season.”

Despite the elation, McNally acknowledged there will be plenty to review.

“Derbies have a big emotional impact… sometimes it makes us come unstuck, but then you see the fight at the end,” he said. “Monday will be some tough viewing, probably a tough first 60 minutes — but to do that off a five-point win is a bonus.”