Jaguares Claim Back-to-Back Victories in Australia

Los Jaguares have claimed back-to-back victories in Australia. The Argentine Super Rugby franchise defeated the Brumbies 25-20 this morning in Canberra. It follows on from defeating the Rebels 25-22 in Melbourne last weekend.

The match was the ninth of the season for Los Jaguares. It takes the teams record up to four wins in 2018 and means the team rises to 10th in the overall standings. In the South African conference Los Jaguares are now ahead of the Stormers and are two and three points adrift of the Sharks and Bulls respectively.

Defeating the Brumbies was a difficult assignment for Los Jaguares but Mario Ledesma’s team managed to deliver, doing so by scoring tries differently to that from prior matches.

The win showed character and patience. All points came from the backs with the forwards playing well to help set-up try scoring opportunities.

The opening points came in the 5th minute. Dominant early play saw Los Jaguares putting together 18 phases with Matiás Orlando scoring. He received an inside ball from Nicolás Sánchez and drove low to touch down. Sánchez added the conversion and would slot two quick penalties to establish a 13-0 lead.

The Brumbies took their time to respond. They would open their scoring in the 35th minute, some five minutes after referee Angus Gardner deemed that hooker Folau Fainga’a had been short in a previous effort.

They would control the final ten minutes, scoring two tries. The first saw Tom Banks scoring a simple try after fly half Wharenui Hawera threw a long pass to the unmarked fullback. The pair would combine again in the 40th minute, this time with Banks chasing and gathering a kick from Hawera.

With Hawera failing to convert both tries it was Los Jaguares who went into half-time on top, leading by 13-10. They would do so without captain Pablo Matera who was replaced by veteran Leonardo Senatore.

Seven minutes into the second half saw a crucial moment. Winger Emiliano Boffelli was yellow carded for contacting Henry Speight in the air. In what could very easily have been a red card, Los Jaguares were aided by getting the benefit of the doubt.

Despite playing with 14-men Los Jaguares would hold firm. No points were conceded without Boffelli while the team would score shortly before his return. Inside Center Jerónimo de la Fuente crossed in the left wing position, giving the Argentine side a 10-point lead.

The Brumbies hit back through Chance Peni. The left winger fended his past Javier Ortega Desio, Nicolás Sánchez and Martín Landajo to score. Hawera added the conversion, making it a 20-17 scoreline with fourteen minutes left to play.

Needing to score again to seal the result, Los Jaguares looked to Boffelli. The top try scorer crossed for his 8th try of the season, the second most by all players in 2018 Super Rugby. Boffelli’s try was in the left corner and came as a result of teamwork with Sánchez and Bautista Ezcurra helping put him in the clear.

Ten minutes remained and Los Jaguares needed resolve. They were without not only Matera but also former captain Agustín Creevy. Their determination would be tested and they passed with flying colors.

The Brumbies ended the match through Hawera. His penalty with time up gave the Australian side a losing bonus point.

In defeating the Brumbies Los Jaguares retain their record of never having lost in Australia. They are to now travel to New Zealand to play the remaining two matches of their Oceania tour. Next up for Los Jaguares are the Blues in Auckland.

SCORING

BRUMBIES
Try: Banks (2), Peni
Conversion: Hawera
Penalty: Hawera

JAGUARES
Try: Orlando, de La Fuente, Boffelli
Conversion: Sánchez (2)
Penalty: Sánchez (2)
Yellow Card: Boffelli

BRUMBIES
15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Chance Peni, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Sam Carter (capt.), 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio

Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Nick Mayhew, 18 Mees Erasmus, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Michael Oakman-Hunt, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23 Andrew Smith

JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 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 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Saniago García Botta

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Javier Díaz, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Bautista Delguy