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Los Jaguares extended their winning run this evening, downing the Reds in Buenos Aires. The 22-8 victory was the 4th of the season for the Argentine Super Rugby franchise and the 3rd in-a-row. It also saw a rising attendance as 15,000 paying spectators were at Velez Sarsfield.
The match saw the home side outscoring the visitors from Australia by 3 tries to 1. Crossing for a double was Jerónimo de la Fuente. Winger Ramiro Moyano also scored, continuing his form from the previous two rounds in the process.
Coming off wins over the Lions and Cheetahs this evening’s match was the third of as many consecutive home matches. It was also the first ever match against an Australian franchise. In defeating the Queenslanders Los Jaguares now have a week off before playing their next match against the Sharks in Durban, South Africa on April 08.
Early pressure from Los Jaguares gave them the advantage. Points, though, did not come easily. It took the yellow carding of Reds’ second-rower Kane Douglas to see the Argentine side open the scoring. de la Fuente was the benefactor, crossing after good work from Leonardo Senatore at the base of an advancing scrum.
The Reds were a 13-man outfit at the time of the opening try. Still with two men temporarily suspended, Los Jaguares scored their second. The try came from an outstanding individual effort from Moyano. Standing in mid-field the Tucumán flier went over for one of the best tries of the season. Side-stepping past four defenders he went over from 60 meters out.
Fly half Juan Martín Hernández enjoyed his second strong performance in as many weeks. The former star of French clubs Stade Français, Racing 92 and Toulon kicked five first half points and organized his side smartly. The Reds only points of the opening half came from a Jake McIntyre penalty.
An impressive start to the second half saw Los Jaguares extending their lead. de la Fuente cut through the Reds to all but confirm the result. Hernandez’ conversion made it a comfortable 22-3 lead. Los Jaguares, however, were unable to score further points.
The home side suffered from the loss of players to injuries. Moyano and Marcos Kremer were both forced off. Hernández was substituted and received a welcomed applause from the crowd.
Los Jaguares, late in the match, were unable to put together plays. Handling errors and penalties cost them the opportunity of a bonus point. The Reds hit-back though Scott Higginbotham. The former Wallabies No 8 crossed for the final points of the game.
SCORERS
JAGUARES
Try: De la Fuente (2), Moyano
Conversion: Hernández (2)
Penalty: Hernández
Yellow Card: Ezcurra
REDS
Try: Higginbotham
Pen: McIntyre
Yellow Card: Nabuli, Douglas
JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Bautista Ezcurra, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (Capt.), 1 Lucas Noguera Paz
Replacements: 16 Roberto Tejerizo, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Rodrigo Baez, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Emiliano Boffelli
REDS
15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Izaia Perese, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Adam Korczyk, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Stephen Moore (Capt.), 1 Markus Vanzati
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Kirwan Sanday, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Tui, 20 George Smith, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Lachie Maranta, 23 Chris Kuridrani
