RECAP: Jaguares v Chiefs
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby quarter-final between the Jaguares and the Chiefs at the José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Reaching the quarterfinals was a remarkable feat for the Chiefs, but they accept they play second-fiddle to the Jaguares in the fairytale stakes.
Two of the competition’s form teams meet in Buenos Aires, having recovered from forgettable starts that had both residing in the bottom three after six rounds.
The Chiefs overcame a crippling run of injuries, including the absence of All Blacks Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Damian McKenzie for long periods, to qualify seventh.
Winning four of their last five games doesn’t compare with the Jaguares, however, who were beaten in just one of their last 10 to clinch the African Conference and set up their first-ever home play-off match.
Chiefs assistant coach Neil Barnes tipped his hat to the vastly-improved South Americans, who had conquered an onerous travel itinerary.
Previous results:
2019: Chiefs won 30-27. Buenos Aires
2018: Jaguares won 23-19, Rotorua
2016: Chiefs won 30-26, Buenos Aires
Prediction: This will be the fourth meeting between the Jaguares and Chiefs in Super Rugby history, the away side on the day has been victorious in the first three encounters. The Chiefs have won only two Super Rugby finals matches outside of New Zealand in their history, both against the Stormers (2016 and 2017). This will be the Jaguares’ second appearance in the Super Rugby finals series and first on home soil, having lost to the Lions in Johannesburg in 2018 (23-40). The Jaguares have scored 21 tries in the final quarter of matches in Super Rugby 2019, the most of any team and two more than the Chiefs in second place (19). Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs, 32) and Pablo Matera (Jaguares, 22) rank first and joint third respectively for offloads in Super Rugby this year.
Prediction: Jaguares
Margin: Five points
RECAP: Jaguares v Chiefs
Our updates will appear below. There might be a slight delay in the match centre loading, please be patient. We apologise for any inconvenience. Our coverage will begin at kick off.
Kick off time: 19.05 (22.05 GMT; 10.05 NZ time Saturday, June 21)
Teams:
Jaguares: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Matias Moroni, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Tomas Lezana, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 21 Domingo Miotti, 22 Santiago Carreras.
Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Atu Moli.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Mitchell Jacobson, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell/Ataata Moeakiola.
