Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The final round of the regular season of Super Rugby takes place this weekend. The play-off’s bound Jaguares take-on the eliminated Sharks in Durban. A win for Los Jaguares will give them a more favorable Quarter Final.
For the match Sharks Head Coach Robert du Preez has recalled Springboks centurion Tendai Mtawarira at loosehead. Mtawarira replaces Juan Schoeman. At the back of the scrum Daniel du Preez has been cleared fit and will start at no 8.
In the backs du Preez is without winger Sbu Nkosi. Injury means Nkosi faces up to three months out of rugby and his place against Los Jaguares goes to Kobus van Wyk. The remaining change from the Sharks side that lost to the Stormers last Saturday sees Tyler Paul replacing the injured Stephan Lewies in locking the scrum.
Los Jaguares Head Coach Mario Ledesma has opted for wholesale changes. With a place in the play-off’s confirmed, Ledesma is looking at player-management. This sees ten changes made in all from the side that started against the Bulls.
Props Javier Díaz and Santiago Medrano start for the first time with hooker Julián Montoya joining them in the front-row. Only Pablo Matera and Matías Alemanno retain their spots in the pack. This sees Tomás Lavanini in for Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer for Tomás Lezana and Juan Manuel Leguizamón for Javier Ortega Desio.
Leguizamón earns his first Jaguares start of the year with the same being true for Joaquín Díaz Bonilla who replaces Nicolás Sánchez at fly half. Díaz Bonilla will partner Martín Landajo who started earlier in the season against the Rebels and Blues.
In the centers Jerónimo de la Fuente makes way for Bautista Ezcurra. This sees Ezcurra forming a mid-field partnership for the first time with Matías Moroni. It is to be Moroni’s second start of the year, and third Super Rugby match under Ledesma.
In the back-three Sebastián Cancelliere starts on the left wing with Ramiro Moyano moving to his natural position of fullback. Moyano takes over from Emiliano Boffelli while Bautista Delguy completes the starting lineup on the right wing.
Saturday’s match is to be the 6th time Los Jaguares and the Sharks meet in Super Rugby. The Sharks won the first four, winning 19–15 in Durban and 25-22 in Buenos Aires in 2016. In 2017 they met at the same venues with the Sharks winning 18-13 at home and then 33-25 on the road. In May 2018 Los Jaguares won 29-13.
Based on standings going into the 19th, and final, round Los Jaguares are in 7th position. A win by the Bulls over the Lions combined with Los Jaguares defeating the Sharks would mean top position in the African Conference.
For the time being Los Jaguares are placed to face the Waratahs in Sydney in the Quarter Finals. In their match earlier this year, Ledesma’s side impressed in downing the leading Australian franchise 38-28. With an eye to the final 8 Los Jaguares enter as favorites to win by 6 points.
TEAMS
SHARKS
15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (capt.), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi
JAGUARES
15 Ramiro Moyano, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastián Cancelliere, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Javier Díaz
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Emiliano Boffelli
Date: Saturday July 14
Kick-Off: 12:15pm (Argentina)
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
