Jaguares too strong for Sharks

Los Jaguares were too good for the Sharks today, winning 51-17 in Durban, South Africa. The win takes the Argentine franchise up to second spot in the South African Super Rugby conference and sees them now with a 4-4 season record.

The win was a team-effort in which collectively the Argentine side was by far the better team in Durban. Matías Orlando collected a hat-trick; Pablo Matera a double; while Tomás Cubelli and Domingo Miotti combined well in their first match together playing in the halves.

Yet while the points on the board indicate that Los Jaguares won based on their defense. The reality is far less simple. The Argentine side was defensively solid, able to hold off the Sharks attacks. Indeed in the opening half Los Jaguares had just 27% possession yet they were 21-10 ahead at the interval.

The scoring, though, would open up early through Cubelli. The scrum-half combined with N8 Tomás Lezana to receive an off-load and score. Miotti converted to give Los Jaguares an early 7-0 lead.

The Sharks would rebound through second-rower Hyron Andrews. Fly half Robert du Preez converted and added a penalty in the 21st minute to put the Sharks ahead for the first time. The lead would not last and would, in fact, be the only time in the match in which Los Jaguares were behind.

12 minutes later saw Pumas skipper Pablo Matera showing great speed, and intelligence. Following a clever pass from Cubelli to Miotti, Matera linked with the fly half, ran, chipped, chased, re-gathered, and touched down. Mitt converted to make it 14-10 to the Argentine franchise.

Two minutes before half time and Los Jaguares had their third try. It was the first of what would be three from Matías Orlando. The outside center would benefit from further superb play from Cubelli who combined with Emiliano Boffelli who put Orlando in the position to score under the posts.

Los Jaguares’ eleven point lead would be expanded upon two minutes into the second half. In the thick of the action again was Matera who showed tremendous strength to score despite being well marked. Miotti would convert and add two quick penalties as Los Jaguares were in form control.

Leading 36-10 into the final quarter Los Jaguares would not slow down. In the 63rd minute right winger Matías Moroni would take a sharp pass from Cubelli, chip over the defense, chase and score. It would be cancelled out, though, as Curwin Bosch broke the line and off-loaded to Aphelele Fassi.

Miotti added a further penalty before he would line up two more conversion opportunities. He would do so following two late tries from Orlando. The first was a solo effort in which he fooled Springboks winger Lwazi Mvovo to score; while his second came from a turn-over on the try line with Orlando involved in the tackle.

With the win Los Jaguares move into the play-off’s zone. With 19 competition points the Argentine side move into 6th position overall, and second in the South African conference behind the Sharks. Gonzalo Quesada’s side will now return home and have a break for Easter. Their next match will be in Buenos Aires against the Brumbies on Saturday, April 27.

SCORING

SHARKS
Try: Andrews, Fassi
Conversion: R du Preez, Bosch
Penalty: R du Preez

JAGUARES
Try: Cubelli, Matera (2), Orlando (3), Moroni
Conversion: Miotti (5)
Penalty: Miotti (2)

TEAMS

SHARKS
1 Juan Schoeman, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 Luke Stringer, 7 Philip van der Walt, 8 Daniel du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (capt.), 10 Robert du Preez, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 15 Curwin Bosch

Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi

JAGUARES
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julián Montoya, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Tomás Lezana, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente (capt.), 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Joaquín Tuculet

Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Javier Ortega Desio, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Cruz Mallía, 23 Santiago Carreras