Jaguares overcome spirited Olímpia to book SLAR Final spot

Los Jaguares XV are through to the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby final. The Argentine side overcame a spirited Olímpia Lions in the second semi final. In their toughest match of the season, Los Jaguares XV were 29-17 winners. The win sets up an Uruguayan vs Argentine SLAR Final. Peñarol and Los Jaguares XV will meet in the final next Saturday.

Man of the match Francisco Gorrissen credited the Olímpia Lions for their physicality. The Paraguayan side were in the contest until late in the contest. Their second try gave them hope with six minutes remaining. Ultimately, Los Jaguares XV were winners by four tries to two.

When the same teams met on March 30, Los Jaguares XV were 77-13 winners. In that match the Olímpia Lions gave Los Jaguares XV a challenge in the opening half. As the match played out this changed with the Argentine side completing an emphatic victory. Such an outcome did not eventuate today.

The Olímpia Lions were able to compete due to their commitment to the contact area. Raúl Pérez had his players prepared to slow the ball down. In controlling this facet of play the Paraguayan side was able to stop the flow that has seen Los Jaguares XV run riot throughout the 2021 SLAR season.

The first half was low scoring. The Olímpia Lions were the first to score. Tucumán fly half Máximo Ledesma landed a 8th minute penalty for the Lions. It was one of only two scores of the opening half. The second saw ARN SLAR 2021 All-Stars prop Francisco Minervino scoring. Tomás Albornoz converted meaning that the Argentine side held a 7-3 half-time lead.

Five tries were scored in the second half. Los Jaguares XV scored three of them. Lautaro Bavaro bagged a double while Albornoz also touched down. The first two tries of the half went to the Argentine side. With it the Argentines were on course for victory. The Paraguayans did respond, however. Their two tries came either side of Bavaro’s second try.

Carlos Repetto’s try made it a 12 point margin. The Olímpia Lions were still in the match, though needing two tries in the final six minutes was too much to ask. The final score saw the Paraguayans earning respect. It was a closer match than either of the 2021 games between the sides.

 

SCORING

JAGUARES XV 29
Try: Minervino 17′, Bavaro 2 43′, 67′, Albornoz 46′
Conversion: Albornoz 3 – 17′, 43′ 46′
Penalty: Albornoz 54′

OLÍMPIA LIONS 17
Try: J Gómez Vara 63′, Repetto 75′
Conversion: Ledesma 2 – 63′, 75′
Penalty: Ledesma 8′

 

TEAMS

JAGUARES XV
1 Francisco Minervino, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Federico Gutiérrez, 5 Franco Molina, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Juan Martín Gonzalez, 8 Francisco Gorrissen, 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.), 10 Tomás Albornoz, 11 Martín Cancelliere, 12 Juan Pablo Castro, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Tomás Cubilla, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Federico Wegrzyn, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Tomás Bernasconi, 21 Rafael Iriarte, 22 Martín Elías, 23 Gerónimo Prisciantelli

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Rodrigo Martínez, 2 Axel Zapata (capt.), 3 Lucas Favre, 4 Carlos Repetto, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Lucas Santa Cruz, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe, 10 Máximo Ledesma, 11 Tomás Acosta Pimentel, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Francisco Diez, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Martín Bogado

Replacements: 16 Mariano Muntaner, 17 Nicolás Revol, 18 Enrique Quinteros, 19 Mariano Garcete, 20 Marcos Riquelme, 21 Joaquín Pellandini, 22 Matías Gómez Vara, 23 Renato Cardona