Highlanders tame feisty Jaguares

The team from New Zealand produced fantastic rugby throughout the 80 minutes. They scored four tries to the Jaguares' three to secure a vital bonus point and secure their place in the top eight. 

The Highlanders made a blistering start to the game when fullback Ben Smith went over for a try in just the second minute of the game. Smith's try came after 12 phases in which flyhalf Lima Sopoaga was the chief orchestrator on attack.

It took the home side some time to settle in the game, but when they did they put the Highlanders under some pressure.

The Jaguares eventually opened their account in the 12th minute when Nicolas Sanchez converted a penalty to give his team three points.

The Argentinians seemed to have a spring in their step after that score, but they were soon on the back foot again when Highlanders centre Rob Thompson snatched onto a loose Jaguares' pass to sprint in for his team's second try of the game. 

The Jaguares did have a period of sustained pressure with ball in hand in the Highlanders half, however, the visitors rush defence stifled the home side out wide.

With less than ten minutes left in the first half, it was all Highlanders. The visitors started to look more and more comfortable with ball in hand then came on of the tries of the tournament.

The ball went through so many hands from halfway until it finally found Elliot Dixon who dotted the ball down for his team's third try. Lima Sopoaga converted and the Highlanders found themselves 21-3 in front.

However, the Jaguares did show what they were capable soon after when some swift handing saw Juan Martin Hernández run in for a try.

The Highlanders did have the final say however, with a Sopoaga penalty to give the visitors a 16-point half-time lead. 

It was more of the same in the second half with the Highlanders getting the first points in the 46th minute via Sopoaga again.

The game then went into a scoring drought, despite both teams playing some enterprising rugby. There was also a bit of frustration creeping into the Jaguares team as they struggled to execute in the strike zone.

Instead it was the Highlanders who basically put the game to bed in the 64 minute when Elliot Dixon went over for his second try of the game. Sopoaga converted to push the Highlanders lead to 26 points.

Man of the match: A number of the Highlanders' players produced some fantastic performances in this game. Rob Thompson showed what a talent he is in the midfield, while flyhalf Lima Sopoaga was again central to everything that Highlanders did on attack. However, the award goes to Elliot Dixon for his all-round performance. He was a monster on defence and showed some fantastic skills with ball in hand. Dixon also won a few turnovers and scored two brilliant tries as well.

The scorers:

For Jaguares:

Try: Hernández  

Pen: Sanchez

For Highlanders:

Tries: B Smith, Thompson, E Dixon 2

Cons: Sopoaga 4

Pens: Sopoaga 2

Yellow card: Matt Faddes (Highlanders, 78 – dangerous play, high tackle)

Teams:

Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 12 Juan Martin Hernández, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Javier Ortega Desio, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Ignacio Larrague, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Matias Orlando, 23 Lucas Gonzales Amorosino.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joseph Wheeler, 4 Thomas Franklin, 3 Siua Halanukonuka, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Josh Hohneck.

Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Te Aihe Toma, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes.

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)

TMO: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)