Jaguares 'grateful' for short trip to Joburg

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Melbourne Rebels will have been furious when the Jaguares fielded a virtual reserve side in a 10-20 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

The Australian outfit hoped the Argentines would at least draw in the South African port city, allowing the Rebels to reach the play-offs for the first time at the expense of the Sharks.

But a Jaguares starting line-up lacking stars Emiliano Boffelli, Nicolas Sanchez and Agustin Creevy rarely looked like avoiding defeat and doing the Rebels a huge favour.

Argentine skipper Pablo Matera dodged questions about the line-up, preferring to say “we are grateful that our play-off opponents [Lions] are only one hour away by plane”.

The Sharks and Rebels both finished on 36 points, but the South Africans’ superior points difference earned them a quarterfinal against defending champions Crusaders in Christchurch.

The Jaguares will make their first appearance in the Super Rugby play-offs.

The Lions secured second spot on the overall standings with a 38-12 win against the Bulls in Johannesburg.

Source: AFP