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Los Jaguares downed the Reds this morning 34-23 in Brisbane. The result means the Argentine Super Rugby franchise remains unbeaten in Australia. It also significantly boosts the changes of a Home Quarter Final in Buenos Aires as Los Jaguares hold a clear lead in the South African conference.
Starting strongly in Brisbane were the Reds. The home side crossed in the 14th minute with captain Samu Kerevi getting through, and around a tackle from front-rowers Agustín Creevy, and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Fullback Bryce Hegarty converted to give the Reds a 7-0 lead.
In what would be his only penalty of the match Joaquín Díaz Bonilla opened Los Jaguares’ account two minutes later. Equally quickly was Hegarty’s response as the Reds restored their seven point advantage.
The lead would not last as the Córdoba pairing of Juan Cruz Mallía, and Santiago Carreras combined. A chip through from the former was chased, and kicked from the latter who got the bounce to score. It was his first try in Super Rugby.
A near second try would come for Carreras in the 37th minute. He linked this time with Díaz Bonilla to be tackled a meter short. Scrum-Half Felipe Ezcurra then through a dummy before darting over to give Los Jaguares the lead.
With time up in the opening half Hegarty landed a penalty to make it a 15-13 scoreline, and he would then land one early in the second half to put the Reds ahead.
The bench of Los Jaguares would turn the tied and see the visitors win the match cleanly. Replacement hooker Julián Montoya went over in the 54th minute, doing so following a long passage of phase play.
Montoya would then be in the thick of the action again in the 70th minute. From an attacking lineout he would charge forward off the back of a rolling-maul to be stopped four meters short. Recycled ball saw the forwards going close before Marcos Kremer Jonah Lomu’d over Kerevi for the try.
The Reds would hit back with three minutes remaining to set-up a nervous final minutes. The score from right winger Jock Campbell saw him just managing to touch to ball down over the line.
With one minute remaining center Matías Moroni kicked under pressure and failed to find touch. It saw the Reds counter-attacking inside their own half only for Kerevi to throw an intercept to Carreras. The Jaguares rookie punished the pass, running to score for Los Jaguares and claim the bonus point victory.
The win brings to an end a grueling four match tour of Oceania. The team now return home to finish their regular season against the Sharks, and Sunwolves.
SCORING
REDS (23)
Try: Feauai-Sautia, Campbell
Conversion: Hegarty (2)
Penalty: Hegarty (3)
JAGUARES (34)
Try: Carreras (2), Ezcurra, Montoya, Kremer
Conversion: Díaz Bonilla (3)
Penalty: Díaz Bonilla
TEAMS
REDS
1 JP Smith, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Liam Wright, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 9 Tate McDermott, 10 Matt McGahan, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Samu Kerevi (capt.), 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 14 Jock Campbell, 15 Bryce Hegarty.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Gav Luka, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Hamish Stewart
JAGUARES
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 4 Lucas Paulos, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Guido Petti, 7 Tomás Lezana, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Matías Orlando (capt.), 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Santiago Carreras, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Pablo Matera, 22 Tomás Cubelli, 23 Jerónimo de la fuente
