Jaguares XV stay unbeaten despite Olímpia challenge

With one round remaining Los Jaguares XV remain unbeaten in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby. The Argentine franchise completed another bonus point win this evening. They did so despite being pushed hard by the Olímpia Lions. The Paraguayan franchise gave Los Jaguares XV their toughest match of the season thus far.

The Olímpia Lions scored two tries; both of which involved resolve, grit and determination. Los Jaguares XV scored six. Some required team-work and construction, while others were from counter-attack. Perhaps the story of the match was the defense of the Olímpia Lions. The Paraguayan side caused problems previously unseen for more than periods of games. Today, Olímpia put in an 80 minute performance against the tournament heavy-weights.

Olímpia’s try scorers were Mauro Rebussone and Ignacio Gandini. Both game from raids close to the try line. Rebussone scored in the first half and Gandini in the second. Los Jaguares XV, meanwhile, scored four first half tries and two in the second. Their second half return was their lowest in any SLAR match.

Despite outscoring the Paraguayan side by 14-10 in the second half the game concluded with the Olímpia Lions’ players holding their heads high. Los Jaguares XV were pushed hard by the Olímpia Lions. This included causing problems in both the scrum and lineout. In prior matches, Los Jaguares XV had been in firm control of both areas of play.

There will be a third match between the teams this season. They are joined by Peñarol and Selknam in the Semi Finals. The competition standings cannot change in the final round. This means that Los Jaguares XV will face the Olímpia Lions while Peñarol will face Selknam.

There is one remaining round before the Semi Finals. It will see Peñarol facing Los Jaguares XV; Selknam playing against Os Cobras; and the Olímpia Lions will face Los Cafeteros Pro.

SCORING

OLÍMPIA LIONS 26
Try: Rebussone 39′, Gandini 67′
Conversion: Ledesma 40′, Matiauda 68′
Penalty: Ledesma 4 – 3′, 19′, 31′, 51′

JAGUARES XV 40
Try: Ruiz 2 – 5′, 14′, González 26′, Castiglioni 33′, Oviedo 55′, Segura 60′
Conversion: Elías 6 – 15′ 27′, 33′, 55′, 60′

TEAMS

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Axel Zapata (capt.), 3 Lucas Favre, 4 Carlos Plate, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Matías Gómez Vara, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Joaquín Pellandini, 10 Máximo Ledesma, 11 Renato Cardona, 12 Rodrigo Gómez Vara, 13 Tomás Pimentel, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Martín Bogado

Replacements: 16 Mariano Muntaner, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Luis Enrique Quinteros, 19 Mariano Garcete, 20 Lucas Santa Cruz, 21 Ignacio Inchauspe, 22 Francisco Diez, 23 Marcelo Matiauda

JAGUARES XV
1 Joel Sclavi, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Luciano Torres, 4 Federico Gutiérrez, 5 Franco Molina, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.), 10 Martín Elías, 11 Martín Cancelliere, 12 Teo Castiglioni, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Francsico Minvervino, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Tomás Bernasconi, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Rafael Iriarte, 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 23 Tomás Molanos

Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Referee: Francisco González (Chile)