Jaguares down Sharks to clinch home Quarter Final

Los Jaguares downed the Sharks this afternoon in Buenos Aires to secure a home Super Rugby Quarter Final. The historic accomplishment came thanks to Los Jaguares completing a 34-7 home win over the Sharks.

The scoreline paints an accurate picture of the match – Los Jaguares were deserved winners with the Sharks clearly the second best of the two teams.

The scoring opened in just the third minute of play. Crossing was the returning Sebastián Cancelliere who scored the first of what would be a brace of two tries in the match.

Controlling possession led to try two. It came twelve minutes later and saw fullback Emiliano Boffelli scoring his first try of the season. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla would convert Boffelli’s try though the match would be an off-night for the Hindú fly half who missed multiple penalties and conversions.

Díaz Bonilla would find target four minutes into the second half. His penalty made it a 15-0 scoreline. The comfortable lead would be expanded upon with Boffelli chasing a kick from the fly half to gather on the full and sprint over.

The 22-0 lead all but confirmed the result though Los Jaguares were not done. Five minutes later Cancelliere matched Boffelli in scoring his second try. With it not only did the Argentine side hold a 29-0 lead but they also a buffer in the form of a bonus point.

The Sharks did have opportunities only for Los Jaguares’ defense to hold them off time after time. This would end in the 67th minute as Springboks center Andre Esterhuizen barged over. Curwin Bosch would strike the conversion well but it would be the only score of the match by the Sharks.

Los Jaguares responded through rookies Santiago Carreras, and Domingo Miotti. The former latched on to a kick through from the latter to add to his double from last weekend against the Reds.

The regular season will conclude next weekend. Los Jaguares will again be playing at home, this time again Japanese side the Sunwolves. Despite having confirmed a home Super Rugby Quarter Final already a win is highly desired to give them more points to thus aid the possibility of a home Semi Final or even final.

 

SCORING

JAGUARES (34)
Try: Cancelliere (2), Boffelli (2), Carreras
Conversion: Díaz Bonilla (3)
Penalty: Díaz Bonilla (1)

SHARKS (7)
Try: Esterhuizen
Conversion: Bosch

 

TEAMS

JAGUARES
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Marcos Kremer, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Santiago Carreras, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente (capt.), 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Emiliano Boffelli

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Francisco Gorrisen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matías Orlando

SHARKS
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 4 Hyron Andrews, 5 Ruan Botha, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Tyler Paul, 8 Daniel du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (capt.), 10 Robert du Preez, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 15 Curwin Bosch

Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Luke Stringer, 21 Zee Mkhabele, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Aphelele Fassi