Jaguares continue impressive road trip
The stunning run of the Jaguares continues, with the Chiefs the latest to fall victim to the rampant, reinvigorated Argentinian Super Rugby side.
After a tour featuring wins over the Rebels, Brumbies and that firstever on Kiwi soil against the Blues last weekend, the Jaguares have now banked a record fourth consecutive victory for their franchise, with a 23-19 win over an out-of-sorts home side at Rotorua International Stadium last night.
The Chiefs have fought through their fair share of adversity already this Super season, but here was a case of anything that could go wrong, did go wrong – pre-game injuries, two yellow cards, a penalty try and their own one ruled out – and they just couldn’t pull off anything to save their bacon this time out.
The Chiefs were forced into a raft of changes late in the piece, with cocaptain Sam Cane ruled out with an abdominal strain, and blindside flanker Lachlan Boshier also scratched, with appendicitis.
Having enjoyed a massive 80 per cent share of territory in the first half, the Chiefs led by two at the break, thanks to four penalties to first five-eighth Damian McKenzie.
But it was the Jaguares who would have been the happier, having scored the only try of the half, in the 27th minute, when captain and fullback Joaquin Tuculet seared through the hosts’ defence from inside his own half, and right winger Ramiro Moyano finished well.
With the Chiefs in need of a lift, they instead fell behind after Nicolas Sanchez slotted from in front to make it 13-12, before a tillthen-perfect McKenzie hit the post from distance, and the pocket of Jaguares fans found their voice.
But if Chiefs coach Colin Cooper’s mood wasn’t cherry at that point, it got a whole lot darker very quickly.
In the 50th minute, lock Michael Allardice was contentiously sinbinned, having chucked an arm out which Jaguares blindside flanker Tomas Lezana tipped over. Because of the dangerous landing, referee Mike Fraser deemed it a yellow card offence.
Then, as if the Chiefs thought they weren’t in enough of a pickle, straight after that came a Jaguares maul off the lineout, which Liam Messam was called to have collapsed on his rejoining. That resulted in a penalty try and another yellow card.
Somehow, with their two-man disadvantage, the Chiefs held out more Jagaures attacks, before suffering another setback with lock Tyler Ardron forced off with injury.
Having to chase in desperation, the Chiefs captain for the night Charlie Ngatai sliced through to finish a 64th-minute stunner which had even Cooper on his feet. But TMO Shane McDermott’s eagle eye was on hand to check a knock-on against Nathan Harris, and the try was ruled out.
After that the Chiefs still had plenty of opportunities, but handling errors put paid to any hope of a late comeback, before debutant Jesse Parete crossed after the siren to secure them a losing bonus point.