Jaguares Downed by Classy Crusaders

Los Jaguares were downed at home this evening by a classy Crusaders side. The visitors from New Zealand had the better of play for the majority of the match and deservedly won 40-14.

The Crusaders started strongly and also finished as the better side. Three unanswered first half tries put the visitors 19-0 up at half time. Left winger George Bridge crossed for a double while right winger Manasa Mataele also went over.

The tries saw impressive rugby being played by the Crusaders with the ability to break through and score being a trademark of their match.

On attack Los Jaguares were not able to keep a hold of the ball. In total they would lose possession on 22 occasions, this being the second most this year. The defense was also inadequate with a tackle completion rate of just 64%.

Notwithstanding the home supporters were given something to cheer about after half time. Fullback Joaquín Tuculet crossed in the 43rd minute, doing so following a rolling maul from the forwards.

The Crusaders hit back in the 49th minute with Mataele scoring his second of the match. Mitchell Hunt’s conversion gave the visitors a 26-7 lead but Los Jaguares would cancel it out with immediate effect. Good work from replacement Ramiro Moyano resulted in Emiliano Boffelli adding to his impressive try tally this season.

Boffelli’s score was converted by Sánchez but it would be the final score of the evening from Los Jaguares. At the other end the Crusaders scored two more with Hunt and Ryan Crotty both dotting down.

The defeat sees Los Jaguares ending their home run of matches with the focus now turning to the tour to Australia and New Zealand. First up for Los Jaguares will be the Melbourne Rebels, the best Australian team so far this season.

SCORERS

JAGUARES
Try: Tuculet, Boffelli
Conversion: Sánchez (2)
Yellow Card: Tomás Lavanini

CRUSADERS
Try: Bridge (2), Mataele (2), Hunt, Crotty
Conversion: Hunt (5)

JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 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 Montoya, 17 Javier Díaz, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano

CRUSADERS
15 David Havili, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Sam Whitelock (Capt.), 4 Luke Romano, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tim Perry

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Donald Brighouse, 18 Chris King, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Braydon Ennor