In an historic day for Argentine rugby, the Jaguares made their long-awaited debut in Super Rugby, the most important rugby competition of the southern hemisphere and probably the world’s toughest rugby tournament.
“Never give up” is the phrase that sums up the Jaguares’ game in Bloemfontein.
First half
The start was fast with a lot of adrenaline and many mistakes from both teams in their first game of the season.
The first big error for the Argentine team was a loose pass from Nicolas Sanchez which led to an intercept try by Francois Venter at the other end of the field. Sanchez slotted a penalty soon after to reduce the deficit, but then came the hell of indiscipline that should have ruined the chances of the visitors.
First, Sanchez, got a yellow card for a cynical infringement at the breakdown at 17 minutes and almost immediately scrumhalf Martin Landajo was sitting next to Sanchez in the sin bin after he tried to kick the ball out of the hands of Cheetahs’ hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, who was trying to ground the ball for a try, but contacted his head.
It was a clear penalty try and with only a quarter of the game played the Cheetahs were ahead 14-3 and their opposing scrumhalf and flyhalf were sitting down.
Lock Guido Petti on the charge in Bloemfontein
Against 13 men van Jaarsveld got the try he was looking for and centre William Small-Smith got another before the two culprits were back on the field.
The Jaguares’ debut had become a nightmare worthy of a Hollywood movie. A string of errors of all kinds, including defensive mistakes, poor ball handling and gross indiscipline had allowed the Cheetahs to make points with amazing ease.
In just 25 minutes, the “weak” South African team was ahead 24-3 against the Jaguares who seemed to help them by beating themselves.
But when the two halves came back on the field the Argentine team returned to his roots and started to deploy their game.
In a period of five minutes tries by Landajo and skipper Agustin Creevy were the water in the desert that revived the mood of the team and got them in touch.
Half time score: Cheetahs 24 – Jaguares 17 – it was “game on”.
Skipper Augustin Creevy scoring a “water in the desert” try
Second half
The Jaguares came out of the blocks fast after the break when flanker Rodrigo Baez scored to tie the game, after the conversion.
Happiness was short-lived as Fred Zellinga kicked two penalty goals in a period of 20 minutes when the visitors were scoreless.
But at 64 minutes, Matias Orlando made the most incredible play of the game, eluding five South African players with a side step from another planet to facilitate the second try of Martin Landajo.
Los Jaguares were ahead 31-30 with 15 minutes remaining.
The game was intense, with many blows until Nicolas Sanchez, the top scorer of the last Rugby World Cup [RWC], made a drop goal like Stephen Larkham at his best against South Africa in the 1999 semi-final. 34-30 to the Jagaures.
They didn’t allow to the South Africans visit their in-goal in the second half, though the Cheetahs slotted a penalty with seven minutes left—enough time to score another—but they were not given the opportunity.
Final score: Jaguares 34 – Cheetahs 33.
Pablo Matera – it took two Cheetahs to stop him
The wrap-up
The game changer: the Landajo try set up by Orlando was a try for the ages and got the visitors back to level terms.
Man of the match: the official man-of-the-match was Cheetahs’ skipper and center Francois Venter but the GAGR award goes to Nicolas Sanchez for the things he did: both good and bad.
The Argentine franchise won by just enough, against an opponent who is not near one of the best teams in the Southern Hemisphere. But it is a first step forward for this team that must pay its dues in a tournament he has never participated in.
The inclusion of Jaguares in this competition, is the icing on the cake in the evolution of Argentine rugby. Many years of steady improvement made this dream come true.
The Pumas team won only one game in its first three RWCs but improved to be third in 2007, and then finished fourth last year. But to be more consistent against the top nations they have to keep evolving below the level of test rugby and now the famous Super Rugby gives them the opportunity.
ESPN match details here
