Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Los Jaguares found their Feet this evening, smashing the Kings 73-27 in Buenos Aires. Veteran Leonardo Senatore scored three of his team’s eleven tries in a bonus point victory.
A dream start from Los Jaguares saw some El Mago from Juan Martín Hernández. The inside center regathered his own kick to dive over in the right corner. Fly half Nicolás Sánchez landed the wide conversion and with it Los Jaguares led 7-0 after two minutes.
The Kings hit back in the seventh minute with fly half Elgar Watts landing a penalty but it was all-Jaguars early in the piece. Hot advancing raids from the South Americans resulted in a second try. World Cup star Santiago Cordero crossed from close range, demonstrating his rugby brain in the process.
14-3 became 21-3 in the 15th minute as back-rower Leonardo Senatore was on hand to link with Sánchez. The fly half broke clear as the Buenos Aires team’s flair had the visitors beaten with ease. Strong play from the restart saw Sánchez on hand to cross for a try of his own, this time coming from a Manuel Montero break.
The Kings regathered to win consecutive penalties deep in Los Jaguares territory. Not interested in being outclassed, they took the opportunity to score. Back-rower Chris Cloete the scorer from a rolling-maul from a set-piece lineout move.
Captain Agustín Creevy cancelled it out with a set-piece try of his own. The hooker threw to Matías Alemanno before entering a maul and going over. Sánchez’s perfect kicking ended with his conversion hitting the uprights.
Failure from the Kings to secure their own lineout ball saw Manuel Montero getting his name on the try-scoring list. Sánchez threw a wide, cut-out pass to La Pantera who dove over untouched. Sánchez added the extras, giving Los Jaguares a 40-8 lead.
An error from Emiliano Boffelli saw the Kings ending the first half on a high. Center Stefan Watermeyer intercepted and ran-over in the final play of the opening half. Watts added the wide conversion to make it a 40-15 game at the midway stage.
The second half opened with Boffelli again in the thick of the action. The fullback jumped to gather a high ball only to collide with Luzuko Vulindlu. The Kings winger was yellow carded for the incident. Los Jaguares converted the resulting possession into their seventh try as Ramiro Herrera off-loaded to Matías Alemanno who dove over under the posts.
A storming break from Alemanno from the restart got Los Jaguares close to scoring another, only for Tomás Lavanini to be penalized for diving. A second consecutive penalty against the same player gave the Kings strong field position which they converted into their third try, Thembelani Bholi the scorer.
Enterprise continued from the home side with Boffelli bringing-up the first half century in Los Jaguares history. The festivities did not end there with Martín Landajo linking with his fullback to score from a scrum.
Additional tries came with Senatore crossing twice in the final quarter and Kings captain Steven Sykes scoring his team’s third and final try.
Los Jaguares now have a week’s rest. Their next fixture will again be in Buenos Aires, playing host to the Sharks on May 14.
SCORERS
JAGUARES
Try: Hernández, Cordero, Senatore (3), Sánchez, Creevy, Montero, Alemanno, Boffelli, Landajo
Penalty: Sánchez (9)
KINGS
Try: Cloete, Watermeyer, Bholi
Conversion: Watts
Penalty: Watts
LOS JAGUARES
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Tomás Lezana, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Nicolás Sanchez, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 23 Lucas González Amorosino
KINGS
15 Jaco van Tonder, 14 Lukhanyo Am, 13 Stefan Watermeyer, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 CJ Velleman, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 JC Astle, 4 Steven Sykes (capt.), 3 Tom Botha, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 James Hall, 22 Louis Fouche, 23 Leighton Eksteen
