Brumbies smash bumbling Jaguares
Emerging fullback Tom Banks scored two tries in four minutes just before the half-hour mark to set up a win that takes the Brumbies nine points clear of the Waratahs with three games to play.
The Jaguares looked disinterested for large parts of the game and internal discourse became flashpoints throughout the second half.
The visitors trailed twice in the first quarter, but took control with Banks's brace.
He showed exceptional speed to zip through a hole after a back row move from a scrum in the 25th minute.
Banks also showed plenty of toe when he won the chase to a kick from flank Chris Alcock.
The 22-year-old former Reds back also threw the final pass for wing Henry Speight's second-half try.
It was a sixth loss in their past seven games for the Jaguares, who had hooker Agustin Creevy sin-binned on the stroke of halftime for coming in from the side.
The Brumbies dominated up front and also sparkled out wide in one of their most complete performances of the season
Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez gave the Jaguares first points with a third minute penalty, but the Brumbies hit the front after Carter crossed from one of their trademark rolling mauls.
The home team regained the lead when hard-running lock Tomas Lavanini crashed over the line.
But Banks's brace and a penalty from flyhalf Wharenui Hawera on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a 10-point buffer at the break.
The penalty was awarded after Creevy was sin-binned.
The Brumbies didn't add any more points while Creevy was off, but Speight's try and Muirhead's double pushed the visitors clear before a late consolation five-pointer to Guido Petti Pagadizaval.
Man of the match: Tomas Lavanini and Leonardo Senatore were two of the few Jaguares players who showed constant enthusiasm in the game. Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani exposed the porous Jaguares defence, while Scott Fardy, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold provided the energy up front. However, our award goes to Brumbies fullback Thomas Banks. His two-try burst just before the half-hour mark changed the complexion of the game and swung momentum the Brumbies' way.
The scorers:
For the Jaguares:
Tries:Lavanini, Petti
Con: Sanchez
Pen: Sanchez
For the Brumbies:
Tries:Carter, Banks 2, Speight, Muirhead 2
Cons: Hawera 2
Pen: Hawera
Yellow card: Agustin Creevy (Jaguares, 40 – cynical foul, slowing down the ball at the ruck)
Teams:
Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Bautista Ezcurra, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Lucas Noguera Paz.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto Heilan, 19 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Juan Martin Hernández, 23 Matias Moroni.
Brumbies: 15 Thomas Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Aidan Toua, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Jordan Smiler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Les Makin, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 De Wet Roos, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Andy Muirhead.
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Jose Covasi (Argentina)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
