Jaguares Down Rebels in Melbourne

Los Jaguares recorded their third win of the season, downing the Rebels in Melbourne 25-22 this morning. The victory showed tremendous character with the Argentine side coming back from a 19-6 deficit to defeat Australia’s leading team in 2018.

The early indications were not good for Los Jaguares. The Melbourne Rebels quickly sliced open the defense with Will Genia going past Martín Landajo to put over Billy Meakes. The 10th minute try was converted by Jack Debreczeni.

Seven minutes later saw the Rebels scoring their second. An advancing maul combined with vision from Genia and Meakes resulted in an unmarked Marika Koroibete scoring in a similar position.

Prior to the tries Los Jaguares had opened the scoring, doing so via a Nicolás Sánchez penalty. He would have a second opportunity in the first half but would be off target. His third attempt would find the mark, making it a 14-6 scoreline five minutes into the second half.

Three minutes later saw Genia and Meakes again in the thick of the action. From an attacking scrum, Japan’s Amanaki Mafi fed Genia who wrapped-around with Meakes, split the defense and passed to fullback Dane Haylett-Petty who scored via a deflection from Landajo.

Trailing 19-6 Los Jaguares would score three tries in the final 29 minutes. In doing so they showed character and overcome severe jet lag following the team’s arrival from South America on Thursday.

Starting the comeback was Sebastián Cancelliere. In his first Super Rugby start the Hindú scrum-half come winger combined with Emiliano Boffelli and Joaquín Tuculet to score untouched.

In prior matches Bautista Delguy and Emiliano Boffelli have been the starting wingers. They have also been the top try scorers. Yet today it was different players starting on the wings and both scored. Ramiro Moyano’s try came in the 57th minute and saw the fearless man from Tucumán bashing past three defenders to dot the ball down. He would later go off with a suspected broken arm.

Six minutes from full-time came the killer blow. The Melbourne Rebels were still four points ahead, leading 22-18. Leonardo Senatore charged down a Michael Ruru kick and regathered it. Close to the line Guido Petti passed to Nicolás Sánchez who flicked it immediately to replacement Bautista Ezcurra to score. The Rebels had a shot to hit-back but great play from Marcos Kremer saved Los Jaguares.

The win takes the Jaguars above the Bulls in the South African conference. It was their third of 2018 and also their third in Australia. Their prior two matches in Australia were both in 2017 with Los Jaguares defeating the Waratahs and the Melbourne Rebels.

Next weekend Los Jaguares will play against the Brumbies in Canberra. It is to be the first time the teams square-off in Australia.

SCORING

MELBOURNE REBELS
Try: Meakes, Koroibete, D Haylett-Petty
Conversion: Debreczeni (2)
Penalty: Debreczeni
Yellow Card: Faulkner

JAGUARES
Try: Cancelliere, Moyano, Ezcurra
Conversion: Sánchez (2)
Penalty: Sánchez (2)

MELBOURNE REBELS
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman (capt.), 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Lopeti Timani, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Sefa Naivalu

JAGUARES
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Javier Manuel Diaz, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Joaquin Tuculet