Solid Kings pip Jaguares
Mapimpi scores brace of tries
SOLID defence has been pinpointed as one of the factors that helped the Southern Kings to a stunning 31-30 Super Rugby win over a powerful Jaguares team packed with Test players in Buenos Aires.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the revitalised Kings who were on the receiving end of a 73-27 hiding when they played at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani Stadium last year.
Kings speedster Makazole Mapimpi crossed the whitewash twice while Luzuko Vulindlu and Wandile Mjekevu also scored.
Cool-headed captain Lionel Cronje, one of the stars of the team this season, contributed 11 points with the boot.
It was the fourth win in six matches for the Kings, and the seventh loss in eight games for the Jaguares who have lost their sparkle.
Thanks to their five victories this season, the Kings now boast a healthy tally of 23 points from 13 games.
When the sides clashed at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium earlier this season, the Jaguares ran out 39-26 winners.
The decisive score came nine minutes from time when Kings wing Mjekevu scored a try which Cronje converted for a six-point advantage.
Jaguares fullback Joaquin Tuculet scored in the corner to trim the gap to one point, but substitute flyhalf Joaquin Diaz Bonilla missed a conversion that would have given his side the lead.
Poor goal-kicking cost the Jaguares dearly as flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez fluffed four of six shots at the posts and Bonilla was wide with his two attempts.
“I think the Jaguares have the most carries in the tournament, so we knew we had to defend really well and just focus on what we had to do,” Kings prop Ross Geldenhuys said.
“All the games in Super Rugby are different. The scrums were really hard and it was a battle for us. We made it difficult for ourselves and we made a lot of mistakes which did not happen in the past games.
“But in the end, we did really well. The Kings wanted to stop the Jaguares maul and we did that. We wanted to scrum well and put them under pressure out wide and it took 80 minutes.
“It was awesome to play against a really quality team and the Argentine people were awesome to us on this trip. To get the win was really good for the team.
“Every rugby team that runs onto the field always gives of their best and expects to win and that is what we did. We have been doing that all season.
“Any win is awesome and in Super Rugby you play against quality sides. A lot of the Jaguares team play for the Argentine Test side and they are a really good team.”
Geldenhuys said the Kings were forced to work extra hard after the half-time break to gain the victory.
The home side led 20-14 at the interval, but it was the Kings who rose to the challenge to take the honours.
“We needed to graft hard – after half time they scored a try, so we needed to regroup and get back to what we do best.
“We had a meeting before we came over here and our goal was to win in Argentina because it is hard to do that.
“Not many teams have won here in the past. But that one is done now and we have to focus on the next game against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
“The Kings only look a week ahead and when we go into the next game, we want to win it. That is against the Bulls at Loftus and it will be a massive game.
“The Bulls also won this weekend so they will be really amped for our game. We need to focus on what we need need to do and what we have been doing all season.
“The Kings need to give our best for each other and we should get the result,” Geldenhuys said.