Jaguares Produce best Performance of 2018 To Down Lions

Los Jaguares came right today, producing their best performance of 2018 to down the Lions. The win was against the leaders of the South African conference in Super Rugby. The 49-35 victory was a much improved effort from the match between the sides last month in Johannesburg.

But for a brief moment in the second half Los Jaguares were in control of the match both on the field and on the scoreboard. The rugby played was that which Argentina’s population and neutral onlookers have been seeking.

It was a game underlining what can happen when Los Jaguares perform. Furthermore it came at a crucial moment as changes are on their way in Argentine rugby with players in Europe set to again be considered for international duty.

Against the Lions Los Jaguars held a 25-14 half time lead. Wingers Bautista Delguy and Emiliano Boffelli were impressive as was the pack with captain Pablo Matera being inspirational. It was a Matera back which combined with Delguy for the opening score.

The early score in combination with a Nicolás Sánchez penalty had a familiar feel to the start against the Waratahs from two weeks earlier.

The Lions, though, hit-back through Marvin Orie and Sylvian Mahuza. The two tries were converted by Elton Jantjies to give the Lions a 14-10 lead.

Boffelli crossed in the corner, just getting the ball down to regain the lead for Los Jaguares. No 8 Javier Ortega Desio then crossed for the first of two tries in the match to give Los Jaguares an 11-point lead at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half and Boffelli scored again. The try came following a break from Delguy, a play which underlined his international future. The score would put Los Jaguares 18 points ahead, a position which would not last for very long.

The injection of Malcolm Marx and Lourens Erasmus from the bench was instrumental. Marx crossed for a double with Erasmus also scoring. Suddenly a 32-28 scoreline.

Inside center Bautista Ezcurra went through for a crucial try before Desio Ortega’s second sealed the win.  The Argentine team would go on to depart the field and the Estadio Vélez Sarsfield to the applause from the home crowd.

The win was the second of the season for Los Jaguares. The team now has a bye round next weekend. Their net match will be on April 07 at home against the Crusaders. Four away matches follow in Australia and New Zealand.

SCORERS

JAGUARES (49)
Try: Delguy, Boffelli (2), Ortega Desio (2), Ezcurra
Conversion: Sánchez (5)
Penalty: Sánchez (3)

LIONS (35)
Try: Orie, Mahuza, Marx (2), Erasmus
Conversion: Jantjies (5)

JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (Capt.), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Santiago García Botta

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoua, 17 Felipe Arregui, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 23 Ramiro Moyano

LIONS
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Robert Kruger, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Franco Mostert (Capt.), 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques Van Rooyen

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Shaun Reynolds