The Brumbies have an opportunity to secure a rare Super Rugby away win when they travel to Argentina to take on the struggling Jaguares. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40am AEST.
After starting the season with a 4-1 winning record, the Jaguares have failed to kick on, losing 5 of their past 6 matches which included a hugely disappointing defeat to the Force a fortnight ago.
Indeed the Jaguares have failed to make the most of a favourable home draw in recent weeks, only securing a win over the Sunwolves to go with defeats to the Sharks and Force.
Now, a win against the Brumbies is a must for Argentina’s sole Super Rugby outfit. The Jaguares need to win their remaining matches against the ACT, Rebels and Waratahs to even stand a small chance of securing a finals birth. They also have to rely on the Sharks losing their remaining matches.
The Brumbies meanwhile have plenty to play for, given that they are well in the running to finishing as the best team within the Australian conference, with the Waratahs close behind.
The Jaguares at their best though could prove a significant hurdle for the Brumbies, and with plenty on the line for both teams, tonight’s contest should go down to the wire.
In team news, the Jaguares have named a powerful side to tackle the Brumbies as they look to bounce back from their upset loss against the Force.
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The team is laden with Pumas Test stars including captain Agustin Creevy, five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez, fullback Joaquin Tuculet and halfback Martin Landajo.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies will field an unchanged side for the first time this season as they look to take another step towards securing a finals berth.
Coach Stephen Larkham will rely on the same team which beat the Kings in Port Elizabeth last round for Sunday morning’s match in Buenos Aires where a win will tighten their grip on the Australian conference.
A victory will put a significant gap on the second-placed Waratahs.
Prop Ben Alexander is set to equal club legend George Smith’s record of 142 Brumbies caps.
Tom Banks keeps his place at fullback after a mixed performance against the Kings, making amends for giving away a penalty try and being sent to the sin bin by scoring an important five-pointer in the second half.
Aidan Toua remains on the wing after also scoring in the come-from-behind victory in the first leg of the Brumbies’ world tour.
Halfback Joe Powell will be among the Brumbies who are hopeful of making Michael Cheika’s 33-man Wallabies squad to be announced on Tuesday, after a strong season replacing injured Pumas playmaker Tomas Cubelli.
Prediction
The Brumbies simply have too much to play for to let this match slip. With the international break coming up, both teams should be expected to give it their all but the Brumbies have what it takes to secure the win.
Brumbies by 5
Brett McKay
Expert
Yeah, but we both picked the Sunwolves, so perhaps just re-cork that champagne!
Bakkies
Guest
You can't seriously say that. The Brumbies lost to the hapless Rebels this season so don't take anything for granted.
Pinetree
Guest
"I hope you didn’t let Harry Jones mislead you into backing the wrong teams; he even tipped the Stormers to win too and away from Newlands." Haha, Harry does tip well usually, but I went for the Sharks. Apart from the Reds/Jags tipping bumble, it was just the Blues/Chiefs which we all lost out on re the draw. I salute anyone who picked 8/9 this weekend!
Johnno
Guest
The Jags have really faded, losing all these home games.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Decision making and discipline.
Mikeypikey
Guest
Bakkies - get real - who is going to get past them - the hapless Reds or hopeless Waratahs? Seriously what were you thinking!
Faith
Guest
Next week now very important for the Tahs/ If they lose to the Chiefs and Brumbies win against Rebels they will have opened up a 13 point gap which means that Brumbies can even lose two games after that and the Tahs will not able to catch them. Brumbies have Rebels, Reds and Chiefs. Tahs have Chiefs, Jaguares and Force. Likely that they will both lose to the Chiefs which means unless Brumbies with a 9 point gap drops all games and Tahs wins all games they can't overhaul them. If Brumbies finish higher than the Storm their reward will just be changing Canes for Landers/Chiefs which might not be a bad thing for them. Brumbies looking to top the Storm would be hoping that Sharks can finish higher than Chiefs/Landers so that they can meet them in quarters. Sharks can overhaul Chiefs Landers. Chiefs win against Tahs and Brums that's it though they also have to play the Canes. Landers have Saders and Reds. Sharks in with a mathematical chance ...
Akari
Roar Rookie
The officials were as follows: Match Jaguares v Brumbies @ Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires Date Saturday 27 May 2017 Kick-Off 18:40 local Referee Mike Fraser AR1 Federico Anselmi AR2 Jose Covasi TMO Santiago Borsani
Akari
Roar Rookie
I was wondering whether the Jaguares' players were just waiting for the international season to kick off next month so they could get away from the current team environment.
Heather
Guest
You were saying about the brumbies ............
Akari
Roar Rookie
No worries, Pinetree. Of the Tipping Experts, only DC (in his wisdom) and Brett McKay (as one would expect) tipped the Brumbies to win. I hope you didn't let Harry Jones mislead you into backing the wrong teams; he even tipped the Stormers to win too and away from Newlands. It was indeed a great game if not the greatest from a supporters perspective.
Bakkies
Guest
The skill in attack is fine. It's the decision making.
Bakkies
Guest
Didn't see the whole of the match but the Jaguares' players looked over weight and out of shape. That has been the problem with the Pumas and the Jaguares since they joined.
Bakkies
Guest
The Brumbies still have to qualify as top Aus qualifier. That's not even guaranteed.
Targa
Guest
With the Stormers losing to the Sharks (and looking to have possibly hit the wall after a great start to the season) there is now a chance for the Brumbies (28 points) to qualify ahead of the Stormers (30 points). Also the Sharks might go past the 4th NZ side (Chiefs at the moment) to finish 7th.
Pinetree
Guest
Good game from the Brumbies, heartless from the Jags. The Reds and Jags have let me down again in my weekend tips, never tip them again! So much talent for poor results. Congratulations to the Brumbies fans, I have been guilty of tipping against them twice in a row, but they have shown that they are Australia's best despite the experience lost compared to Tahs and Reds from last year. Brumbies form looking better than the Stormers at this stage.
Carlos the Argies
Guest
The fluke were their initial victories, the rest is what I expected. Thanks Alan!
riddler
Guest
congrats brumbies tks alan for the blog.. off to bed lads, have a good sunday...
Andy
Guest
I agree. He is clearly the weak link in their backline. He has declined badly this year.
Alan
Roar Guru
The Brumbies have all but secured their place as the best team in the Australian conference following a comprehensive win against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires. Starting the match as outsiders, the Brumbies used their experience to frustrate the Jaguares into error and ill-discipline. The Brumbies then punished the Jaguares on the scoreboard, scoring 6 tries to 2 in a composed and professional performance. The Jaguares have faded away badly after such a promising start to the season. Questions will be raised about the Jaguares as their second season in Super Rugby falls big time. The Brumbies meanwhile are building towards a finals birth and should be favoured to finish the year strongly as they host the Rebels next week in Canberra. FULLTIME Jaguares 15 Brumbies 39