The Highlanders edged the Jaguares 32-27 under the lights at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Otago scored four first-half tries, all in the second quarter to take a commanding 13-point lead into the shed.
The Jaguares hit back after the break, scoring twice to stay in the game.
Their experienced bench made the impact Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada would have wanted.
They kept the New Zealanders tryless in the second half, but their infamous ill-discipline proved costly again.
Josh Ioane kicked two penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking, and his team in front as the tourists mounted a stern challenge.
The South Americans, however, conceded six penalties in the last seven minutes.
It allowed the Highlanders to control the clock and play inside their opponent’s half.
Aaron Mauger’s men, helped by some iffy interpretation of the scrum laws by referee Ben O’Keeffe, held on for the win.
Exciting first-half as Highlanders made to work
Sebastian Cancelliere was superb for the Jaguares.
He made a strong run which was only stopped by three defenders, he set-up a try and won a significant turnover on his line.
Emiliano Boffelli missed a long-range effort in the sixth minute, but his side soon struck the first blow.
Super Rugby Video Highlights: Highlanders versus Jaguares, Round 13, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Matias Moroni dotted down for his 7th Super rugby try after Cancelliere’s line-break.
The 25-year-old winger burst through some weak defending in midfield and raced into the Otago half before putting a grubber into space for Moroni to chase.
Moroni beat Josh Ioane to the bouncing ball, gathered and scored.
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, back in the side for Domingo Miotti (who took his place), added the extras.
James Lentjes scored the fourth Super Rugby try of his career after some good work by Iaone, a young player on the rise.
The first-five burst through a gap near the goal-line, and sold a dummy to Elliot Dixon, playing in his 100th Super Rugby game.
The Jaguares’ defence bought it. He then popped a pass out the back door to Lentjes when he could have scored himself.
Ioane did miss the relatively easy conversion, but the Highlanders were on the board.
Jaguares conceded twice after scoring themselves, killing momentum
Díaz Bonilla kicked a 28th-minute penalty, but the hosts struck back soon afterwards.
Rob Thompson and Aaron Smith both make line-breaks before Sio Tomkinson puts Matt Faddes away to score his third try of the season to level.
The Jaguares’ defence was at sixes and sevens, but the angled runs and offloads were sublime.
Another Díaz Bonilla penalty gave the visitors a one-point lead.
But, like the previous try, the home team hit back immediately.
Some superb work at the restart by Tom Franklin, who contested the restart and chased down Javier Ortega Desio, set-up the next try.
Ortega Desio made a mess of gathering the rolling ball. The Highlanders recycled quickly.
Ioane sent a pass to Tomkinson, who darted through from close range. Easy as you like.
Liam Coltman scored his sixth try of the season from a powerful rolling maul, on the stroke of halftime.
It was textbook as the Landers’ forwards splintered to the right to set-up the hooker’s five-pointer.
Jaguares heed coach’s words and start strong after the break
Quesada said his side needed to score first after the break if they wanted to have a chance, and they did.
Marcos Kremer finished off after Díaz Bonilla’s break to make it a one-score game.
Ioane added two penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking as the Jaguares emptied their bench in search of fresh legs.
The Highlanders found themselves inside the opposition’s 22 on a couple of occasions, but some handling errors and ill-discipline hampered them.
Ramiro Moyano finished a flowing move, on 64 minutes.
Agustin Creevy made the initial line-break in midfield, the ball was sent wide, and Moyano scored in the corner.
He got up sucking his thumb a la European footballer who has recently had a baby.
The Highlanders ruined a good chance when Ioane missed a penalty touch-finder.
It would have given his side an attacking lineout inside the Jaguares’ 22.
The ball was booted back, and Tompkinson dropped the ball into touch, gifting the visitors a reprieve.
The Highlanders ran the clock down as the Jaguares leaked penalties.
The Argentines had several chances to claim another Kiwi scalp, but a combination of head-scratching officiating and ill-discipline proved costly.
Final Score: Highlanders 32 (26) Jaguares 27 (13)
Scorers
Highlanders
Tries – Lentjes, Faddes, Tomkinson, Coltman
Pen – Ioane (2)
Con – Ioane (3)
Drop –
Cards –
Jaguares
Tries – Moroni, Kremer, Moyano
Pen – Díaz Bonilla (2)
Con – Díaz Bonilla (3)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: James Doleman
TMO: Shane McDermott
Teams
Highlanders
15 Matt Faddes, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Daniel Hollinshead, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Jaguares
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Juan Manual Leguizamon , 5 Lucas Paulus, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Enriqua Pieretto, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matias Orlando
