Can history repeat itself?

When the Sharks met the Jaguares in Buenos Aires last year, they edged a tight, ugly Super Rugby tussle 25-22, capitalising on the ill-discipline of the hosts and using heroic defence and a powerful scrum to get the win.

They will need the same resolve today as they look to become the first team to win in Argentina this year. The game management and precise goalkicking of flyhalf Pat Lambie had much to do with the 2016 triumph, and, with Springbok coach Allister Coetzee finalising his squad for the Tests against France in June, young Curwin Bosch has a massive opportunity to show what he can do.

With the hugely physical Jaguares once again expected to target the breakdowns, making them as much of an arm-wrestle as possible, the Sharks’ back row of Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez and new captain Philip van der Walt (above) will also have to shine if the visitors are to stay ahead of their closest challengers for the third South African Group qualification spot.

“The Jaguares haven’t lost at home this year, it’s going to be a very physical encounter, we know that and we know how tough they are at home. But having said that, we’re going with a very positive mindset. We beat them there last year and we want to go there to get the win. It’s going to require a massive performance from every single Sharks player, from 1 to 23,” coach Robert du Preez said.

The Jaguares’ approach cops a lot of criticism in these days of keeping the ball alive and raising the pace of the game, but there is no denying how effective their approach is.

It will require rugby of the highest accuracy from the Sharks if they are not to return from Argentina with their Super Rugby hopes having suffered a serious blow.