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It is Quarter Finals time in Super Rugby. For Argentina’s side, Los Jaguares it marks a second appearance but this time they are to have home advantage. Visiting Buenos Aires are the Chiefs – the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby champions.
Gonzalo Quesada’s Jaguares are much changed from last weekend. Only second-rower Guido Petti, winger Sebastián Cancelliere, and outside center Matías Orlando retain their spots from the 52-10 win over the Sunwolves.
In the forwards Mayco Vivas, Agustín Creevy, and Santiago Medrano start up-front; Tomás Lavanini replaces Lucas Paulos in the second-row; while Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, and Javier Ortega Desio form the back-row.
In the backs Quesada has opted for Tomás Cubelli, and Domingo Miotti as the 9-10 combination, and captain Jerónimo de la Fuente is back to start at inside center. Outwide Matías Moroni will start in place of Santiago Carreras out of position on the right wing while Emiliano Boffelli returns at fullback.
The bench sees less experienced players referred to established players in a number of positions. Santiago Carreras is in ahead of Joaquín Tuculet; Francisco Gorrisen ahead of Juan Manuel Leguizamón; Felipe Ezcurra ahead of Martín Landajo; and Domingo Miotti ahead of Santiago González Iglesias.
Coming off a 59-8 hammering of the Melbourne Rebels last weekend Chiefs Head Coach Colin Cooper has named a near unchanged line up to face Los Jaguares.
The front-row will again consist of Nathan Harris, Atu Moli, and Angus Ta’avao; All Black Brodie Retallick and Canadian Tyler Ardron will pack-down together in the second-row; with Lachlan Boshier, captain Sam Cane, and Pita Gus Sowakula completing the starting forwards as the back-row.
Cooper has opted for Brad Weber and Jack Debreczeni as the starting halves. The only change from the win over the Melbourne Rebels comes outside Debreczeni where Anton Lienert-Brown moves to inside center. The change sees Tumua Manu starting at outside center while Sean Wainui, Shaun Stevenson and Solomon Alaimalo complete the line-up in the back-three.
There have been three prior matches between the Jaguares and Chiefs. Their first match was in 2016 with the Chiefs coming from behind to seal a late 30-26 victory in Buenos Aires. In their second game Los Jaguares were 23-19 winners in Rotorua, New Zealand. Game three saw the Chiefs winning 30-27 earlier this season from a late error by Santiago González Iglesias.
The Chiefs’ are on red-hot form at the moment. Prior to defeating the Melbourne Rebels they pulled-off a stunning upset over the Crusaders in Suva, Fiji. Los Jaguares, meanwhile, have a five match winning-streak and have won 9 of their past 10 matches.
The match is one which either side has a path to victory. But based on overall performance, player rotation, and not traveling the edge goes to Los Jaguares. They are projected to win by 8 points.
TEAMS
JAGUARES
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (capt.), 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Tomás Lezana, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Carreras
CHIEFS
1 Atu Moli, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Tyler Ardron, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 7 Sam Cane (capt.), 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 11 Sean Wainui, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 13 Tumua Manu, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 15 Solomon Alaimalo
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Mitchell Jacobson, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell
Date: Friday, June 21
Kick-Off: 7:05pm (Local)
Venue: Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
