The Brumbies have come up just short in Argentina as they went down 20-15 to the Jaguares. It was a contrasting game with all five tries scored in the first half before a real grind in the second half with just a lone penalty goal to flyhalf Domingo Miotti and some big defence from the home side saw them come away with a crucial five point win.
The game was a chance for the Brumbies to claim outright second spot in the Aussie conference ladder but they failed to take their chances towards the back end of the game with carries into contact either too high or knocked on to get the Jaguares out of their own end but they come away with five competition points on tour with the overall ladder very congested.
The home side took their chances with an early try to Sebastian Cancelliere after just three minutes and back-to-back tries around the 30 minute mark to Matias Orlando and Agustin Creevy was enough for them.
The Match
The Brumbies started well with back-to-back penalties in the opening two minutes but the Jaguares punished a dropped ball from Henry Speight on attack. Former Brumby Tomas Cubelli found space down the left wing and kicked to an unmarked Sebastian Cancelliere on the right wing and the ball pulled him nicely in the in-goal area for him to fall on and score the opening try.
But the Brumbies pulled out some tricks of their own from an attacking lineout in the Jaguares 22 as they worked a variation with the opposition expecting a lineout drive, they switched it back to Allan Alaalatoa and he found Folau Fainga’a and his rig did the rest as went over in the left corner for his seventh try in 2019 to make it 5-5.
The scrums were becoming a theme but neither team could get any real advantage with dropped ball until the Brumbies got an attacking chance in the 22 and Tom Banks sliced through the Jaguares defence to continue his overseas try scoring form. Lealiifano’s conversion from the sideline made it 12-5.
The Jaguares started to get on a roll in the Brumbies half and had them under pressure in their 22 and on the back of a penalty, Matias Orlando dived over with the nod of the TMO after checking to see if he was held in a Pete Samu tackle that could have gone either way.
That score sparked them into action and three minutes later they had a roll on and scored another to Agustin Creevy after some great work from Cancelliere in the leadup as he managed to evade would be tacklers to get them good field position.
The Brumbies had a chance to hit back just on half time with back-to-back penalties but settled for a Lealiifano penalty goal to reduce the margin to 17-15.
The second half started with a real grind for both sides with the Jaguares slightly on top with a lot of niggly rubbish post whistle with the potential for the match to boil over.
The Brumbies defence kept them in the game as they played almost the first 20 minutes of the half in their own end. With their limited chances the looked to spread the ball wide and Banks found space down the left wing but was run down by the impressive Cancelliere.
Miotti extended the Jaguares lead to five with a penalty goal on 60 minutes with the game in the balance.
A brilliant kick to touch from a penalty from Banks gave the Brumbies an attacking five-metre lineout but the Jaguares defence was able to defend the series of rolling maul raids after Sam Carter knocked on even after they copped a yellow card to Marcos Kremer.
With time running down, the Brumbies received a lifeline with two penalties but they couldn’t execute with the ball run into contact too high and the Jaguares were able to clear their lines and hold on for an impressive 20-15 win.
The Brumbies will need to regroup quickly before returning home and short preparation week and taking on the Blues next Saturday.
[one_third last=”no”]
The Game Changer
In the last 20 minutes, the Jagaures defence stepped up big time to repel the Brumbies attack and force them into errors.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
The G&GR MOTM
I’m giving the nod to Sebastian Cancelliere in this one in a blanket finish. He scored the opening try, setup the second with his evasion skills and for good measure, ran down Tom Banks.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
Wallaby Watch
In a forwards dominated game, Tom Banks scored another try overseas and got his side out of trouble on a number of times. The Brumbies forwards contingent of Slipper, Alaalatoa and Fainga’a had a busy night out with a lot carries and some big tackles.[/one_third]
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 15
Tries: Fainga’a, Banks
Conversions: Lealiifano
Penalties: Lealiifano
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]JAGUARES 20
Tries: Cancelliere, Orlando, Creevy
Conversions: Miotti
Penalties: Miotti
[/one_half]
Cards
65 mins – Kremer (Jaguares) – Yellow
