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Los Jaguares made it 2 wins from 3 matches this season, downing the Lions 36-24. The win was the first home fixture for the Buenos Aires based Super Rugby franchise. It is a result for teams to take note of as it was against the 2016 beaten finalists.
The Argentine side played their bet rugby of the season thus far. Fly half Nicolás Sánchez produced a master display. In addition to scoring a try the Tucumán No 10 kicked four penalties and two conversions in a 21 point haul. He also contributed to two further Jaguares tries.
Fullback Joaquín Tuculet, winger Ramiro Moyano and center Jeronimo De La Fuente also all scored one try each. The South African side was able to also cross the try line. Captain Warren Whiteley scored a double while replacements Jacques Van Rooyen and Malcolm Marx each scored one.
Tuculet scored the opening points of the game. He combined with flanker Tomás Lezana. After three rounds Lezana has stood out as a player proving to offer a lot for Daniel Hourcade.
The Lions hit back smartly with Whiteley scoring his opening try. In his second season of Super Rugby Ramiro Moyano showed his pace and value, scoring in response for Los Jaguares.
Sánchez’ first penalty came next and was against a 14-man Lions side. Andries Ferreira had been yellow carded for a high tackle. The score gave Los Jaguares a 21-7 lead. The score would remain as such until half time.
Early in the second half Sánchez extended his team’s lead. The 24-7 advantage would not last long as Shaun Reynolds kicked the Lions to within five meters of Los Jaguares’ try line. Jacques van Rooyen scored from the resulting play.
Tries to De La Fuente and Sánchez then sealed the result. The yellow carding of Robbie Coetzee did would not help matters for the Lions though there was time for late consolation tries to Marx and Whiteley.
With the win Los Jaguares go to joint top spot of the Africa 2 conference. They are now tied with the Lions on nine competition points.
Next up for Los Jaguares is the Cheetahs. The Argentine franchise will take on a fourth South African side in as many weeks. It is to be a home match at 4:40pm in Buenos Aires next Saturday.
SCORERS
JAGUARES
Try: Tuculet, Moyano, De la Fuente, Sánchez
Conversion: Sánchez (2)
Penalty: Sánchez (4)
LIONS
Try: Whiteley (2), Van Rooyen, Marx
Conversion: Reynolds, Van der Walt
Yellow Cards: Coetzee, Ferreira
JAGUARES
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 1 Santiago García Botta
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Matías Moroni
LIONS
15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (capt.), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Andries Coetzee, 23 Sylvian Mahuza
