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Los Jaguares dropped their Super Rugby season opener to the Stormers. Played this afternoon in Cape Town, the home were side 28-20 winners. The win was by three tries to two.
Los Jagaures had the better of play in the second half. Yet having started poorly the Stormers were ultimately able to win the match and prevent Los Jaguars from scoring a bonus point.
The opening half not only saw the Stormers playing the better rugby but Los Jaguares were also erratic. Notwithstanding the scoring was opened by the Argentine franchise. Nicolás Sánchez landed a 5th minute score, doing so after Nizaam Carr illegally entered a ruck.
The Stormers quickly took over. Robbie Fleck’s team demonstrated collectivity and patience to get themselves into Los Jaguares’ territory and turn opportunities into points.
Scoring first was Springboks center Damian De Allende. Having broken the defense de Allende got past four defenders to score under the posts. Damian Willemse added the conversion to give the Stormers a 7-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Following the restart the Stormers quickly got back into Jaguares’ territory. They then camped themselves there and went about creating their second time. Scoring was flanker and captain Siya Kolisi, doing so after smashing his way over center Bautista Ezcurra.
Los Jaguares would manage to fight back in part. Scoring their next points was Emiliano Boffelli. His long-range goal-kicking was called-upon and he would not disappoint. From inside his own half he brought Los Jaguares to 15-6 down at half time.
Winger Raymond Rhule opened the second half scoring. He did so by fooling scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou with a dummy pass. The score meant the Stormers were 16 points ahead and seemingly already secured of the win despite there being more than 30 minutes remaining.
Mario Ledesma’s team responded, playing their best rugby of the match and doing close to completing a comeback victory. The best Jaguar of the match, Emiliano Boffelli scored his team’s first try. It was followed by a penalty try from a scrum to bring Los Jaguars back to now trail by 25-20.
An opportunity to win the match then presented itself. Los Jaguares had an attacking scrum five meters out yet would be penalized, enabling the Stormers to clear their lines. A frustrated Jaguars side would then be penalized with the Stormers in possession. This enabled Willemse to kick a late penalty to win by 8 points.
SCORING
STORMERS (28)
Tries: De Allende, Kolisi, Rhule
Conversion: Willemse (2)
Penalty: Willemse (3)
Yellow Card: Samuels
JAGUARES (20)
Tries: Boffelli, Penalty Try
Conversion: Sánchez
Penalty: Sanchez, Boffelli
Yellow Card: Tuculet
STORMERS
1 Steven Kitshoff, 2 Ramone Samuels, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Chris van Zyl, 5 JD Schickerling, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Cobus Wiese, 8 Nizaam Carr, 9 Dwealdt Duvenage, 10 Damian Willense, 11 Raymond Rhule, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 EW Viljoen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 15 Dillyn Leyds
Replacements: 16 Dean Muir, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 George Whitehead, 23 JJ Engelbrecht
JAGUARES
1 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Tomás Lezana, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Javier Díaz, 17 Julián Montoya, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Bautista Delguy
