Sub Miotti makes dream debut as Jaguares shock Bulls
JOHANNESBURG: Jaguares substitute Domingo Miotti made a dream Super Rugby debut on Saturday by scoring two late tries in a shock 22-20 victory over the 13-man Bulls in Pretoria.
The 22-year-old fly-half replaced Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias with the Buenos Aires outfit trailing by 10 points at Loftus Versfeld stadium.
He converted his 73rd-minute try to narrow the deficit to three points and scored again three minutes later although he failed to add the extra points.
It did not matter, though, as the Argentines held on for their first Super Rugby victory in Pretoria, which completed a double this season after a 27-12 triumph in Buenos Aires.
The Bulls were reduced to 13 men after two substitute forwards, flanker Tim Agaba and prop Conraad van Vuuren, were yellow carded during the final nine minutes.
Earlier, the Jaguares substitute prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro was sin-binned, but the Bulls were unable to take advantage as they scored and conceded three points during his absence.
Official man-of-the-match Pablo Matera, the Jaguares flanker and scorer of their first try, was thrilled by the upset victory.
“We did not start well, conceding a lot of penalties, and we soon found ourselves nine points behind,” said the Argentina skipper.
“However, we kept going and did not lose faith in our ability to win this match, even when trailing by 10 points going into the closing stages.
“The last 10 minutes were fantastic as we gave everything and were rewarded with two tries from Domingo. What a wonderful first Super Rugby appearance for him.
“This result makes me and my team-mates really happy and now we turn our attention to the match against the Sharks in Durban next weekend.
“We watched their huge victory over the Lions in Johannesburg last night and they gave an incredible performance. Playing them represents a major challenge for us.”
Defeat was a bitter blow for Bulls coach Pote Human after having his one-year contract extended by 12 months this week.
It was a second successive home loss after a 36-point drubbing by the previously winless Chiefs of New Zealand two weekends ago.
Human also saw another lock, Eli Snyman, leave the field injured, joining fellow secondrow forwards Lood de Jager, RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins on the sidelines.
Critics are sure to question whether the coach chose the right match to rest two Springbok backs, captain and fly-half Handre Pollard and centre Jesse Kriel.
The Jaguares conceded a succession of early penalties and were punished as fly-half Manie Libbok slotted three penalties.
Matera took advantage of weak midfield tackling to score and Iglesias converted before the Bulls scored their only try with winger Jade Stighling displaying good handling to dot down.
An Iglesias penalty trimmed the gap to four points before two more Libbok penalties gave the hosts a 20-10 lead and Miotti then joined the fray with devastating effect.
The Bulls lie sixth in the combined standings, 11 points behind leaders and defending champions the Crusaders of New Zealand, and the Jaguares 10th. - AFP