Late Weber try sees Jaguares outpaced by Chiefs

A BRAD WEBER try at the death gave the Chiefs a 30-26 victory and spoilt the Jaguares’ home debut as Super Rugby came to Argentina at Velez Sarsfield on Saturday night.

It had looked like being a different story three minutes from the hooter, however, after the Argentine side had scored two brilliant counter-attacking tries in quick succession to go 26-23 ahead.

The Chiefs, champions in 2012 and 2013, had kept their cool in an unfamiliar and noisy environment, though, and worked their way back up the pitch for flyhalf Aaron Cruden to break down the touchline and pass inside for scrumhalf Weber to score.

“It’s disappointing but we’re happy to play in Argentina. It was a great match, “said Jaguares scrumhalf Martin Landajo.

After overhauling a slim 14-13 first-half deficit, the Chiefs had largely dominated the second half and led 24-13 going into the last 10 minutes.

The Jaguares finally managed to get out of their own half in the 70th minute when nippy wing Santiago Cordero broke up the middle and kicked ahead for Matias Moroni as the replace- ment centre made for the line.

The Chiefs got to the ball first and the attack was halted but the Jaguares kept up the pressure and in a series of phases moved the ball across to the right where Landajo spotted a gap and dived over for a try.

Three minutes later, the Jaguares broke again from deep in their half down the left with a good run by replacement flanker Facundo Isa who passed inside to Moroni and the centre evaded the defence to dive over in the corner.

Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez missed the conversion, leaving his points tally at 11. – Reuters