Johannesburg’s Lions recovered from losing to the Bulls last week by beating the Jaguares 47-39 for a third straight Super rugby victory over the Argentina side.
The Lions went into the match having won their last two matches against the Jaguares and with this latest victory now have a record of three straight wins.
Overall the Lions have played the Jaguares 9 times and won six of the contests. The victory also means that the Lions retain their unbeaten record against the Jaguares at home in Johannesburg.
The Lions outscored the Jaguares by seven tries to six in the match and were on track for a bonus point but the visiting Jagaures finished the stronger side as they crossed twice in the final five minutes which cost the Lions the extra point.
The Lions opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Rhyno Herbst crossed the line. Herbst’s try allowed Elton Jantjies to break the 1000 points scored mark in Super rugby with his conversion.
The Jaguares got onto the scoreboard after 18 minutes with a penalty by Joaquin Diaz Bonilla.
Jantjies was next to score for the Lions with a try of his own in the 24th minute and he converted his own try.
Wandisile Simelane then scored a long-range try after the Jaguares lost the ball in attack and Jantjies added the conversion.
The Jaguares set up a maul from a line out shortly before half time and hooker Julian Montoya crossed from short-range by slipping around the side of the ruck. Bonilla missed the kick so the half time score was set at 26-13.
The Lions extended their lead with a brace of tries from Courtnall Skosan early in the second half before Montoya scored again for the Jaguares.
Diaz Bonilla added the conversion from out-wide but the Lions still had a comfortable lead.
In the final quarter the Jaguares began to look the better side on attack as the Lions attempted to protect their lead until the 74th minute when the Jaguares got some reward for their attacks with a try by replacement Gaspar Baldunciel. Juan Cruz Mallia added the conversion which reduced the points deficit marginally.
The Jaguares then scored two quick tries in the 78th (Moroni) and in the 80th (Tuculet) but only one try was converted. The conversion for Moroni’s try was rushed and missed. Had it been converted by Mallia as Tuculet’s try was, the Jaguares would have come away with a losing bonus point.
Instead the Jaguares can take some solace in losing from costing the Lions a try bonus point and knowing that they remain above the Lions in the standings for this week.
Next week the Lions host Melbourne’s Rebels at home in Johannesburg while the Jaguares take on the Stormers in Cape Town.
Final score Lions 47(26) Jaguares 39(13)
Scorers
Lions
Tries -R.Herbst, E.Jantjies, K.Smith, W.Simelane, M.Schoeman , C. Skosan 2
Pen –
Con – E.Jantjies 6
Drop –
Cards –
Jaguares
Tries – R.Moyano, J.Montoya 2, G.Baldunciel, R.Moroni, J.Tuculet
Pen – J.Diaz Bonilla 2
Con – J.C.Mallia 2
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Ref 1:Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Ref 2:Griffin Colby
TMO :Willie Vos
Teams
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcom Marx (captain), 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 James Venter, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Gianni Lombard/Tyrone Green
Jaguares
15 Joaquin Tuculet (c), 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramira Moyano, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Juan Pablo Zeiss
Replacements: 16 Gaspar Baldunciel, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Matias Orlando
