Jaguares sink Waratahs in first match in Australia
Argentina’s Jaguares ambushed the New South Wales Waratahs 40-27 to win on their first Super Rugby appearance in Australia yesterday. The Jaguares outscored the inconsistent Waratahs five tries to three after getting the early jump on the 2014 Super Rugby champions at 150 in the opening 13 minutes.
The Argentines led 25-10 at half-time and although they were reduced to 13 men with yellow cards to Guido Petti Pagadizaval and Benjamin Macome just before the interval and were pulled back to 24-25 five minutes after the resumption, they finished full of running.
It was the most points scored by the Jaguares outside of Buenos Aires in their second season in Super Rugby where they have won six of their 14 games. The Jaguares dominated territory through their kicking game and pierced the shaky Waratahs defence with their skilful offloads. “We had a tough week in Argentina last week losing by one point to the Southern Kings and we had a good week in Sydney and got the win tonight,” scrumhalf Martin Landajo said. “The travel is very tough for us, so it’s our first time in Australia and our first win, so we are very happy. “This is new for us, this is our second year in the tournament so we are learning a lot, so it’s good for us to have another week in Australia and play the Melbourne Rebels next week.”
The Jaguares played fast direct rugby and crossed for five tries to Pablo Matera, Matias Orlando, Benjamin Macome, Agustin Creevy and Matias Moroni. Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez landed three conversions and three penalties. It was another rollercoaster match for the troubled Waratahs, who have now conceded 130 points in their last three games and with one game left in the season away to the Western Force next game they have won just four games out of 14 this year.
“It’s really a shape of our year, it was really disappointing, really good, then really bad and letting teams get so far in front at the start of the game,” Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper said. “It’s a hit to our pride, but we’ll get back up, we’re just not getting it right on the field at the moment and it’s just so frustrating.”