Team of the Week

There was precious little activity for Americas players over the weekend with a player strike knocking out two Top 14 fixtures and only a handful of matches elsewhere across the top divisions in Europe. Thankfully once again the Jaguares have stepped up in times of need with a big win over the Cheetahs to lock down all but four spots. In fact only one spot in the team goes to a non-Argentine player.

1 – Santiago García Botta (Jaguares) The scrum wasn’t perfect, but around the pitch the big men up front set the platform as they dominated their South African opposites. Garcia Botta was particularly noticeable in defense where he and his mates shut down everything around the fringes.

2 – Agustín Creevy (Jaguares) A relatively short afternoon for the skipper who got a rest at the 50 minute mark. Offload over the top put Ramiro Moyano in under the posts, one of several useful carries by the front rower.

3 – Felipe Arregui (Jaguares) Nothing exceptional and came off at the the same time as his captain, but Arregui played the role that was asked. Supported well, offered himself as a carrier, and solid in defense.

4 – Matías Alemanno (Jaguares) Drove through two defenders to score the second try. A very strong match defensively and the primary target in the lineout which earned him a spot in the official Super Rugby Team of the Week.

5 – Patricio Albacete (Toulouse) The old warhorse rides again. Lasted the full 80 minutes for the first time in a year and contributed nearly a dozen effective carries into traffic along with his traditional high calibre set piece output.

6 – Samu Manoa (Toulon) At his thunderous best with ball in hand as he blasted through would-be tacklers. Also had a couple thumping tackles to stop runners dead on the gainline. A last-minute try spared Grenoble a loss at home as the two sides finished level at 23-all.

7 – Pablo Matera (Jaguares) One of the form players in the competition has had a brilliant start to his season. Carrying, tackling, disrupting at the breakdown. Emerging as a truly world class flanker with a long career ahead of him.

8 – Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Toulon) Again employed at the back of the scrum, part of a very effective loose forward trio along with Manoa and Liam Gill. Carried strongly and linked well, also put in a number of tackles across the pitch.

9 – Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares) Another controlled match, though not quite as sharp as a week ago. Has been asked to play the distributors role first and foremost and thus far he has responded. His running game will return with a little more experience.

10 – Juan Martín Hernández (Jaguares) Completely controlled the shape of the game with his crisp passing and accurate kicking. A perfect five-for-five in shots at goal as he filled in for the suspended Nicolás Sánchez.

11 – Joaquín Tuculet (Jaguares) Played at fullback but deserves his spot in the team so we’ll fit him in on the wing. His first option was always to run and he did so superbly, chewing up the ground every time the ball came in his hands.

12 – Jerónimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) Another who has started his season in eye-catching form. Tight running lines and leg drive make him a handful for any defender. He seems to get over or through the gainline with almost every carry.

13 – Matías Orlando (Jaguares) Solid offensively but it’s his defense that cements his place. Completely shut down the outside channel and won two turnovers. With Matías Moroni out for at least a couple more weeks, Orlando has a chance to put down a marker for the rest of the season.

14 – Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) The hat-trick hero looked like he was out for a stroll, such was the ease in which he slipped past defenders. Of note is that despite playing on the right wing, none of his tries came on the right side of the uprights.

15 – Martín Bustos Moyano (Bayonne) Had the greatest influence in the match in more than one way. Ripped through the Bordeaux defense on the counter attack and scored 14 points from the boot, though his yellow card in the second half put his team under pressure. If Bayonne have any hope of avoiding relegation they will need more of the same from their star fullback.