Nicolás Sánchez scored 21 points as the Jaguares stormed to a 36-24 win over a second-string Lions side in Buenos Aires on Saturday, reports JON CARDINELLI.
Last year, Johan Ackermann took a young and largely inexperienced Lions side to the Argentine capital. The decision backfired as the Lions went down 34-22.
Earlier this week, a few eyebrows were raised when Ackermann favoured a similar selection policy. Unsurprisingly, it led to a similar outcome as the Lions failed to salvage as much as a losing bonus point.
The Jaguares have looked a more pragmatic side in 2017. They scored a comfortable victory against the Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in round one and then pushed the Stormers close at Newlands in round two.
On this occasion, the Jaguares married power with precision to record their most convincing win yet. They were too strong for the Lions at the set pieces and dominant at the breakdowns and collisions.
There was no arrogance about this Jaguares performance. They employed a pragmatic approach, and when they were awarded a penalty within goal-kicking range, captain Agustin Creevy pointed to the posts. Sánchez contributed 11 points with the boot to steer his side to a 21-7 half-time lead.
The Lions started poorly, losing the collisions and eventually conceding two tries. Lock Andries Ferreira was shown a yellow card after two tackle infringements.
The visitors also battled to get out of their own half. The Jaguares kicked well out of hand and contested well in the air.
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Sánchez sank his fourth penalty in the 43rd minute to stretch the hosts' lead to 17 points. The Lions scored a try through Jacques van Rooyen and then conceded one at the other end of the park. It was that kind of contest where they were never allowed to build any momentum.
Robbie Coetzee was sent to the sin bin in the 55th minute for a reckless tackle. Sánchez scored the Jaguares' fourth try shortly after that.
Tomaz Lezana was shown yellow in the 72nd minute, and so the Lions had the opportunity to finish strongly against a 14-man Jaguares side. Malcolm Marx and Whiteley managed to cross the line for the visitors during this period.
The Argentinian side did not claim a try-scoring bonus point, and will have to be content with second place on the Africa 2 log as a result.
Jaguares – Tries: Joaquin Tuculet, Ramiro Moyano, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Nicolás Sánchez. Conversion: Sánchez (2). Penalties: Sánchez (4).
Lions – Tries: Warren Whiteley (2), Jacques van Rooyen, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Shaun Reynolds, Jaco van der Walt.
Jaguares – 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (c), 1 Santiago García Botta.
Subs: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Matías Moroni.
Lions – 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Louren Erasmus, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Andries Coetzee, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Photo: Juan Mabromata/AFP Photo
