The Waratahs were their own worst enemies as they capped a horror home season with another loss – this time to a free-flowing and expansive Jaguares outfit 40-27.
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Final score
Waratahs 27
Jaguares 40
The Waratahs will be looking to win their last home game of the season when the 2014 premiers host the enigmatic Jaguares from Argentina on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:45pm AEST.
There’s a lot to play for when these two sides meet on Saturday night at Allianz. Despite neither side being in finals contention, it’s the inaugural clash between the two franchises.
Throw in a number of Wallabies and Pumas, and it has the makings to be quite an exciting game of rugby.
Not much needs to be said of the Waratahs season. The fall from grace for the 2014 premiers has been as swift as it has been ugly. Daryl Gibson would love nothing more than a win against the Argentinian side to try and repay some love to what remains of the Waratahs faithful.
The NSW side has a number of changes from their last match across the ditch. Tolu Latu is a late dropping, with speculation suggesting he missed Thursday’s training session to be at his partner’s university graduation ceremony. Hugh Roach comes into the starting fifteen at hooker, while Damien Fitzpatrick takes his spot on the pine.
Bryce Hegarty has been a quiet achiever for the Tahs this year, and will start on the right wing – with injection off the bench in the form of Taqele Nayirovoro.
For the Jaguares, their season hasn’t been much better. They sit just above the bottom-placed Southern Kings in their conference.
They will take great confidence from the fact that that very team beat the Waratahs in their fixture in Sydney earlier this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them playing this game like an elimination final of sorts.
For the Jaguares, Augustin Creevy, the Argentinian skipper, is a massive in and will lead his troops around, taking over the captaincy reigns from halfback Martin Landajo.
Where will the game be won and lost?
The Waratahs attack has been inconsistent this season to say the least, however, they’ve found form in a little someone named Israel Folau. He has scored five times in his last four matches, including two doubles in the June test window. If he gets enough of the ball, and Folau and Horwitz distribute well – the Waratahs will win this match.
Little needs to be said of the Jaguares’ attacking flair however, and this poses a real threat to the Tahs if they come out and their passes stick from minute one. Sanchez and Landajo are dangerous in the halves, and they have pace to burn out wide in the form of Tuculet, Moroni and Boffelli.
Either way, it’s two attacking minded sides with little to lose on a dry paddock in Sydney. Should be a belter.
Prediction
The Waratahs have been disappointing in season 2017, however they have enough there that if they decide to show up and play – they could do some damage. Defensively, the Jaguares are one of the worst teams in the competition, and I expect the men from NSW to do some damage.
Waratahs by 16
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
Link
Guest
Turnstyle = Fooley
Carlos
Guest
Good to read here. At home, we are the same depressed as you are.
Demak
Roar Rookie
So where are the eastern states big mouths now, constantly bagging the Western Force. What was the crowd number in Sydney tonight ? any better than the turn out here for the force on Friday. By the way the force beat the argies in argy pathetic pretenders supposedly the benchmark of Australian rugby. When you play rugby you need to play with a big heart tuhat's why I like watching the force play, not always brilliant but this year a young group playing with guts and pride in their jumper. As an Australian rugby supporter from NSW living long term in WA it makes my skin crawl watching the debacle that is oz rugby at the moment
Blinky Bill
Guest
Ha, ha. Maybe it was your family. Who ever it was, they all had smiles from ear to ear and were driving me crazy. But hey that's Rugby and after all winners are grinners. ;-[ Half your luck mate. Hats off to you and your team.
Hannes
Guest
Maybe. However if the Force wins they have the same number of wins than the conference winners and will put it beyond doubt that they are the second best side in Australia. If you compare the number of players and funding that each team gets it should be a David vs Goliath matchup, with the Tahs Goliath. However the Force has a reasonable chance to win. It just underscore how redicilous, unfair and stupid it is for an administration to even consider to axe one of their best sides that is achieving more on the field with less resources? Credit to the Force, they have ticket all the boxes this year and made it a difficult for the ARU to axe them! Anyone with a sense of fairness would like to see them play on.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Hey, I ended up having seven family members watching the game! Two Argie nephews, one Oz nephew (who played for Doral), two brothers, my mom and one unknown woman (presumably some kind of GF for one of my Argie nephews). Maybe the rowdy fans were my family.
Bakkies
Guest
They off load regularly and often at the wrong times
Bfc
Guest
The TAHs concede 40 or more points in three consecutive games and one of the worst (if not the worst..) defences in Super Rugby...yet Nathan Grey, who has been their defence coach for some time (he has apparently been the Wallabies' defence coach on a part time basis), gets appointed to a full time role with the Wallabies...? Por que?
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Agree with all that.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
We have a real problem.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Watching the Reds v Brumbies on Friday night was the equivalent of 5th grade subbies. The Tahs tonight looked like u15s. So many basic errors. Didn't see the Force v Rebels game but can assume (based on years of data) that it too was average. RIP Australian rugby. You honestly see better skilled athletes, and all round footballers, in the u20s NRL. People blame the Wallabies coaching. After blaming the Wallabies coaching year on year for a decade or more. But where are the players? Do kids choose to play rugby anymore? If they are they are certainly the average ones only. People think it's bad now. It's only going to get worse.
DJW
Guest
Another 40 points shipped by a grey coached defence. But lets get him in the wallabies, nepotism at its finest.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
If the Tahs cannot beat the Jaguares at home then you guys have a real problem.
Quinny
Guest
The Waratahspack perform poorly, especially in the scrum yet supply a front row and back 3. Please explain Cheika.
Wobbliesarewoeful
Guest
Was a bit disappointed by the AB's not clinching the series decider... but thankfully Wobbly rugby provides in spades... always good to see Wobbly rugby struggling.
Bill
Guest
I say again: Seriously, an absolute disgrace. Drop the lot of them. Send them to second grade for a year. These people have no heart and no gumption. Enough is enough
Cleveland
Guest
When they were playing against 13...
Mike
Guest
Having watched the AB’s Lions game, one must admit it’s a tough gig to back up with the Tah’s Jaguares game. That said, and despite the Tahs putting some points on the board, the Jag’s were simply too slick around the park. From my observation, no form of ‘spin’ can be applied to the Tah’s who appear destined to be cellar dwellers for some time to come.
Bill
Guest
Seriously, an absolute disgrace. Drop the lot of them. Send them to second grade for a year. These people have no heart and no gumption. Enough is enough.
Dubaikiwi
Guest
Oh well, maybe they can beat the team being dropped from the competition, the Force.