Jaguares delight in defeat

Argentina’s Jaguares qualified for the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time despite the end of their seven-match winning streak in Pretoria yesterday.

The Jaguares lost to the Bulls 43-34 at Loftus Versfeld, scoring five tries, one fewer than the winners, and missed a chance to overtake the idle Lions for the South African conference lead.

But the Sharks then lost to the Stormers 27-16 in Cape Town in the last match of the 18th round, guaranteeing the Jaguares at least a wild-card berth in the playoffs.

Also, the Waratahs clinched first place in the Australian conference. The eighth and last spot was between the Rebels and the Sharks, and possibly the Brumbies.

The Jaguares, running from everywhere, were 19-0 up on the Bulls after 20 minutes. However by halftime, the Bulls led 21-19. Three more tries extended their lead to 43-29.

After the fulltime hooter, Jaguares flanker Pablo Matera scored his second try of the match and Emiliano Boffelli lined up the conversion for a losing bonus point.

But he hit the post. The bonus point wasn’t missed a few hours later thanks to the Sharks’ loss.

The Stormers, out of playoff contention and playing their last match, just managed to hold off the Sharks, whose comeback from 21-9 down at halftime ran aground midway through the second half when a Lwazi Mvovo try was ruled out after video replay. In the end, the Stormers snapped a four-match losing streak, and the Sharks won only once away from home this season, their fewest in 13 years.

The Waratahs clinched their conference by thrashing Japan’s Sunwolves 77-25 in Sydney, running up 53 points against seven in the second half. Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Alex Newsome scored two tries each.

There’s a carrot for the Waratahs when they face the Brumbies this week. A second-place finish will have playoff benefits. AP