Chiefs snatch victory from Jaguares
Leading Super Rugby points scorer Damian McKenzie converted from the touchline, leaving the Buenos Aires-based hosts needing a try to regain the lead.
But the South Americans lost possession from the kick-off and the relieved Chiefs booted the ball into touch for a third victory in four outings this season.
Playing at home for the first time after a win and a loss in South Africa, debutants Jaguares looked set for a dramatic win when they scored two tries in as many minutes to turn a nine-point deficit into a 26-23 advantage.
A Santiago Cordero break led to a five-metre scrum, and after two resets scrumhalf Martin Landajo dotted down with flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez converting on 72 minutes.
Within a minute, the sell-out 25,000 crowd were back on their feet as a dazzling 90-metre handling move ended with substitute Matias Moroni diving over far out. Leading 2015 World Cup points scorer Sanchez failed to convert, but Jaguares had a three-point advantage with six minutes left.
Chiefs stormed back, moved into Argentine territory and kept the ball alive long enough for Weber to dive over and stun the crowd. It was a thrilling climax to a pulsating seven-try encounter full of running rugby which saw the Argentines take a 14-13 lead into half-time.
The Jaguares will regret not taking more advantage of a 10 minute numerical superiority either side of the break when Kerr-Barlow was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 39th minute.
Both sides kicked one penalty while the New Zealanders were a man short and when Kerr-Barlow was eligible to return, Weber came on. Wings Sam McNicol and James Lowe, fullback Damian McKenzie and Weber were the try-scorers for the Chiefs.
McKenzie kicked two conversions and a penalty and flyhalf Aaron Cruden one penalty for a visiting team missing several injured stars, notably All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick.
Hooker and captain Agustin Creevy, Landajo and Moroni crossed the try-line for the Jaguares, whose starting line-up contained 14 Argentine Test players. Sanchez slotted one conversion and three penalties from five shots at goal.
Man of the match: Agustin Creevy was his usual self while scrumhalf Martín Landajo was a real live wire. The Jaguares backline were lethal at times but not consistent enough. Hikawera Elliot was ruffling feathers off the ball and it seemed to have worked as he got under his opponents' skin while James Lowe looked as if he would score with every touch of the ball. However, for moments of magical runs and sheer individual brilliance in broken play, Damian McKenzie walks away with the honours.
Scorers:
For the Jaguares:
Tries: Creevy, Landajo, Moroni
Con: Sanchez
Pens: Sanchez 3
For the Chiefs:
Tries: McNicol, McKenzie, Lowe, Weber
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pens: Cruden, McKenzie
Yellow card: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs, professional foul – deliberately killing the ball, 39)
Teams:
Jaguares: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 12 Juan Martin Hernández, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Santiago García Botta.
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Roberto Tejerizo, 18 Felipe Arregui, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Matías Moroni.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sam McNicol, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Johan Bardoul, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Seta Tamanivalu, 23 Glen Fisiiahi.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
