VIDEO: Reality bites as Jaguares embarrass Sharks
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: A week after their biggest win in years, the Sharks were brought back to earth in spectacular fashion.
Eight days ago the Sharks beat the Lions 42-5 in Johannesburg.
On Saturday they were handed a lesson in rugby and humility as they failed to arrive mentally and lost 17-51 to the Jaguares in Durban.
A motivated Jaguares outfit outscored them by seven tries to two – to record their first ever win in Durban.
The historic victory follows after last week’s come-from-behind win over the Bulls in Pretoria – giving them a rare clean sweep on their South African tour.
Winning catapulted the Buenos Aires outfit seven places up the combined table to sixth and raised hopes that they can match their performance of last season and make the play-offs.
Man of the match Pablo Matera scored his second try three minutes into the second half to stretch the lead and the match ended as a contest long before time.
“I think the whole team deserved the man-of-the-match award rather them me,” the outstanding flank said.
“Defeating the Bulls and the Sharks at their stadiums for the first time makes this an amazing tour of South Africa for us.
“Everyone contributed to this victory, including our replacements, who made huge contributions when they came off the bench during the second half.”
The Sharks took a 10-7 lead in the first half.
However, the South Americans scored 29 unanswered points in 20 minutes either side of the half-time break to take the game away from the Durban-based franchise.
Scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli got the ball rolling for the visitors with a third minute try.
The Sharks drew level through lock Hyron Andrews in the 11th minute.
The Sharks did take the lead through a Robert du Preez 22nd-minute penalty, but after that it was one-way traffic.
Pablo Matera started the rout when he was the recipient of the loose ball, which he chipped and gathered for a brilliant individual try.
Then followed a simple backline move four minutes later, when they cut up the Sharks defence and outside centre Matias Orlando trotted over.
Three minutes into the second half a stolen line-out led to Matera’s second try.
The Sharks defence was shockingly poor and elusive left wing Emiliano Boffelli exploited it to off-load to Matera.
Wing Matias Moroni scored an easy 54th minute try from first phase ball – a simple chipped-and-chase.
A 36-10 scoreline threatened to make the Sharks look silly, but Curwin Bosch, who was the best of a sorry school of Sharks, moved to flyhalf and immediately made an impact.
Bosch ran a good line and put Aphelele Fassi through.
That try was a false dawn as Orlando scored his second try in the 67th minute, following more shocking defence.
To compound their misery, Orlando completed his hat-trick on the on the stroke of full time with a try from another turnover.
Man of the match: Curwin Bosch finally sparked the Sharks to life when he moved to flyhalf in the second half. Young flyhalf Domingo Miotti showed what the future of Argentinean rugby looks like and it is very promising. Veteran hooker Agustin also provided great value from the bench, winning some amazing turnovers. Centre Matias Orlando scored a hat-trick. Jaguares flank Pablo Matera played lime man possessed. Not only did he score two tries – one of which was a sublime individual effort – but he was one of his team’s best on defence and only wing Emiliano Boffelli got more metres with the ball in hand. That is why he won our award.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: Andrews, Fassi
Cons: R du Preez, Bosch
Pens: R du Preez
For the Jaguares:
Tries: Cubelli, Matera 2, Orlando 3, Moroni
Cons: Miotti 5
Pens: Miotti 2
* Picture courtesy of Wayne Seagreen
RECAP: Sharks v Jaguares
Did you miss any of the action? Recap all the drama here!
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Tomas Lezana, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Enrique Pieretto Heilan, 19 Javier Ortega Desio, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Santiago Carreras.
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
