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Coming off a late win over the Sunwolves, Los Jaguares are seeking back-to-back wins in Super Rugby. The Argentine franchise will be up against the unknown as the team faces the Western Force for the first time.
Jaguares Head Coach Raúl Pérez has made seven changes from the side that won against the Japanese. In the forwards Pérez welcomes back Matías Alemanno for Marcos Kremer. The latter is injured and is to join Los Pumitas to prepare for the Junior World Championship. Alemanno was a replacement against the Sunwolves yet played so well that he made the Super Rugby team of the week.
Additional alterations to the pack see both Benjamín Macome and Juan Manuel Leguízamon starting. Macome is in for Senatore while Leguizamón takes over from Rodrigo Báez at flanker.
Having successfully made his come back from the bench last weekend, Martín Landajo is ready to start. He takes over from Felipe Ezcurra at scrum half. With Nicolás Sánchez still not fit the fly half position will be retained by Juan Martín Hernández. He will have new centers outside him this week with Santiago González Iglesias and Matías Orlando both out of the 23.
Starting at inside center will be Jerónimo de la Fuente while Matías Moroni will do so at outside center. There is also a change on the left wing. Starting in place of Emiliano Boffelli will be Bautista Ezcurra. This comes at a time when options are growing as Manuel Montero is back to fitness and will feature from the bench.
Also available again are forwards Julian Montoya and Tomás Lavanini. Both have been named as replacements. Of the three returnees to the bench Montero and Lavanini will make their first appearances of the year. Both were injured in the win over South Africa last August.
The Western Force have also gone for changes. Head Coach Dave Wessels has thrust Francois van Wyk into the starting line up for the first time this season. He will start together with hooker Heath Tessmann in the front-row.
In the second-row the eagerly awaited combination of Adam Coleman and Richie Arnold will start together at last. The giant pairing has remarkably never started together in a Super Rugby match.
Changes have also been made in the back-row. Ross Haylett-Petty has moved to blindside flanker and will partner Onehunga Havili , the latter making his first start for the Western Force. This sees Richard Hardwick moving to No 8.
In the backs Semisi Masirewa gets his first opportunity of the season. He will start on the right wing. An additional change sees South African Peter Grant earning his first start of the year, doing so at fullback.
Having won against the Sunwolves, Los Jaguares are back to an even record of 5 wins and 5 defeats this year. This places the team in 9th position overall in the general standings.
The Western Force are in 16th position with two wins this year. The wins were over the Southern Kings and Queensland Reds, two teams to have also lost against Los Jaguares this year.
Concerns for the Western Force go beyond the standings. The franchise is in serious danger of disappearing. The Australian Rugby Union has confirmed that one of the country’s five Super Rugby franchises will be terminated after this season. The Western Force are the front-runners with both the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels in less danger.
So many negatives combine to work in favor of the home side. Los Jaguares go into this weekend’s game as favorites to win.
JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Batista Ezcurra, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Benjamin Macome, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 6 Tomás Lezana, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta
Replacements: 16 Julían Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Felipe Arregui, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 23 Manuel Montero
WESTERN FORCE
15 Peter Grant, 14 Semisi Masirewa, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Onehunga Havili, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Heath Tessmann (Capt.), 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Lewis Carmichael, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Isireli Naisarani, 22 Mitchell Short, 23 James Verity-Amm
Date: Saturday May 13
Venue: Velez Sarsfield
Kick-off: 6:40pm
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Juan Sylvestre (Argentina), José Covasi (Argentina)
TMO: Santiagi Borsani (Argentina)
