Jaguares Handed Biggest Defeat by Lions

Los Jaguares were handed their biggest defeat by the Lions this morning, losing 52-14 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Early signs were not good as Pablo Matera was forced out, replaced by Javier Ortega Desio.

The constant switching of players saw Los Jaguares disadvantaged against a structured side, one that has regularity in selection across the team unlike the Buenos Aires based side.

Also to blame was substandard defense. Los Jaguares were made to pay for sloppy tackling with outside center Matías Orlando and back-rower Javier Ortega Desio missing a staggering eight tackles each. Second-rower Matías Alemanno was also poor, missing seven while Tomás Lezana and Julián Montoya also missed five each.

In total some 28 tackles were missed, a staggering statistic. Los Jaguares were, nonetheless, still in the match until after the interval. Penalties from Nicolás Sánchez made it a 19-9 half time game but regular strong raids from the Lions saw the home side come out as deserved and comprehensive winners.

The constant inaccuracy saw the Lions put Los Jaguares to the sword, scoring with relative ease for much of the match. In the end it was an eight tries to two win, a genuine humbling experience for the out-of-sorts Jaguares.

Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan both crossed for two tries each with late scores by Nicolás Sánchez and Gonzalo Bertranou required to bring some respectability to the scoreline.

Raúl Pérez’ team will play again next Friday, taking on the Kings in Port Elizabeth. A far better performance will be required.

LIONS 52
Try: Skosan (2), Combrinck (2), Mapoe, Erasmus, Brink, Kriel
Conversion: Jantjies (2), Combrinck
Penalty: Combrinck (2)

LOS JAGUARES 14
Try: Sánchez, Bertranou
Conversion: González Iglesias
Penalty: Sánchez (4)

LIONS
15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (capt.), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Corne Fourie

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Sylvian Mahuza

LOS JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Lucas González Amorosino, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo (capt.), 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Santiago García Botta

Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano