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The Kings have claimed some revenge for their humiliating loss to the Jaguares earlier in the season, defeating the expansion side by seven points at home.
REPORT: KINGS COMEBACK DEFEATS ILL-DISCIPLINED JAGUARES
Final score
Kings 29
Jaguares 22
Two of Super Rugby’s expansion teams will do battle this morning, as the Southern Kings host the Jaguares for late season pride. Join The Roar from 3am (AEST) for all the live highlights and action.
Who could forget the last time these two played just four weeks ago? The Jaguars broke nearly every club record and thumped the hapless Kings 73-27.
Sharing just three wins from 22 games between them, two of the three sides new to this year’s competition – yes, I know the Kings have been in Super Rugby before – have struggled big time against the established outfits.
The Kings have let in 40+ points seven times out of their ten losses and sit dead last in the competition for points against, astonishingly nearly 100 clear of the next best, or worst. At this rate, their current average of points conceded per game will break their own record from 2013 for most points conceded in a Super Rugby season. Ever.
Not to be outdone in defence though, the Kings attack is equally the worst in the comp this year, picking up just 17 points per game on average.
Despite being thumped 53 points to zip by the Sharks last week, the Kings can take some solace into this round knowing that their only win this season came at home, against the Sunwolves in Week 6.
Even though the Jaguares are sitting at the wrong end of the table as the finals approach, they’ve had a solid few weeks leading up to this game.
The aforementioned thumping of the Kings was in Round 10, followed with a bye, and then they put on one of their best performances all year, losing to the much more fancied Sharks by just three points two weeks ago.
So while the wins and losses column doesn’t look so great for the Jaguares, the Argentinians actually have the most bonus points in the competition for losses by seven or less, meaning they’ve still been strong for most of the season.
Team News
The main talking point of the week for the Kings has been the arrival of winger Wandile Mjekevu, who has been loaned out by the Sharks to help bolster an injury ridden Kings backline.
Mjekevu will slide onto the left wing in place of Luzuko Vulindlu who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Stefan Watermeyer returns to outside centre after a couple of weeks off due to tendon strain in his foot, pushing JP du Plessis to the bench.
The other two changes are Edgar Marutlulle, who comes back from illness to regain the hooker’s jersey from Martin Ferreira, and flanker JC Astle is preferred to Schalk Oelofse.
For the Jaguares, skipper Agustin Creevy returns to the run on squad from his suspension, slotting back into the front row at the expense of Julian Montoya who shifts to the bench.
Segundo Tuculet is set to make his debut at centre, while Matías Orlando gets a starting spot on the wing.
In the second row, Juan Manuel Leguizamón take the place of Javier Ortega Desio to round out the scrum.
Prediction
It’s a real battle of the bottom between these two. The Kings have a home crowd to drive them forward as the Jaguares look to snag back to back wins against them.
It won’t be an absolute blowout like last time, but expect a lot of points and a Jaguares victory. Maybe something like 52-30.
Jaguares to win by 22
Can the Kings notch a second win for the year in front of a home crowd? Or will the Jaguares be the author of their pain once again? Follow all the thrilling live highlights and action from 3am (AEST) on The Roar.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.