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An historic win by Los Jaguares over the Hurricanes has seen the Argentine franchise move into top spot of the South African Super Rugby conference. The result marked the first time the Wellington-based team has lost against the side from Buenos Aires.
Los Jaguares’ determined effort this morning in the New Zealand capital saw them rebounding from six days ago against the Highlanders. Post match in Wellington Pablo Matera made it known as he said “we were really pissed off with the result last weekend.”
The historic win by Los Jaguares over the Hurricanes came despite a disastrous start. An erratic kick-off saw the Hurricanes getting the loose ball and attacking. It saw All Black Vaea Fifita scoring in the left corner. With Jordie Barrett’s conversion wide the Hurricanes were ahead 5-0 after just 30 seconds of play.
A patient response would be rewarded as Gonzalo Quesada’s years of playing and coaching in France stood out. The opening points from his side would come in the 14th minute in the form of a penalty try. Fly half Joaquín Díaz Bonilla kicked through for Matías Moroni only for Barrett to slap the ball away. The result was a yellow card for the All Black and seven points for Los Jaguares.
The South Americans not only claimed the lead but they would remain in front for the duration of the contest.
Team work was at the forefront and would see the Argentine side claim their second try ten minutes after their first. It came via an old-fashioned rolling maul with Agustín Creevy dotting down from a move which he began by throwing to Guido Petti at a lineout.
Barrett reduced the lead with a penalty but his team would be unable to catch Los Jaguares as an over-thrown lineout saw the Argentine side scoring their third try. Scrum half Tomás Cubelli stole the throw and two phases later captain Jerónimo de la Fuente scored.
The three tries to one opening half performance meant Los Jaguares were leading 21-8 at half-time. They would hold the lead with resolute defense in the final minute as they withheld raids from the Hurricanes on their try line.
The New Zealanders started the second half well, forcing Los Jaguares to defend. Eventually they would breach with All Blacks center Ngani Lamaupe evading Matías Moroni to touch down in the left corner.
The decisive play would come in the 66th minute. From a scrum on their own 10 meter line, Los Jaguares attacked through the middle. Ramiro Moyano came from his blindside wing to break a Laumape tackle and run 25 meters before passing to Moroni.
Tackled 10 meters short of the Hurricanes tryline, Moroni showed smartness to to rush, enabling Cubelli to get in position to continue the attack. He spun the ball to Joaquín Díaz Bonilla for Sebastián Cancelliere before Marcos Kremer went close. Fellow replacement, Julián Montoya, then charged over to silence the home side.
The Hurricanes responded on full-time to score their third try. It had no impact on the result and was not sufficient for them to claim a bonus point. In contrast Los Jaguares gained four points to bolster their play-off’s chances.
Next up for the Argentine side is a flight to Australia. Los Jaguares will play against the Waratahs in Sydney, and the Reds in Brisbane over the two coming rounds. From there they play host to the Sharks, and Sunwolves to close-out the 2019 regular season.
SCORING
HURRICANES (20)
Try: Fifita, Laumape, Leaupepe
Conversion: Barrett
Penalty: Barrett
JAGUARES (28)
Try: Penalty Try, Creevy, de la Fuente, Montoya
Conversion: Díaz Bonilla (3)
TEAMS
HURRICANES
1 Toby Smith, 2 Asafo Aumua, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 4 James Blackwell, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Du’Plessis Kififi, 8 Ardie Savea, 9 TJ Perenara (capt.), 10 James Marshall, 11 Ben Lam, 12 Ngani Laumape, 13 Matt Proctor, 14 Wes Goosen, 15 Jordie Barrett
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Kane Le’aupepe, 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Salesi Rayasi
JAGUARES
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (capt.), 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matías Orlando
