The Jaguares have finished their 2017 Super Rugby season – and their Australian tour – on a high, claiming a 32-29 win against a brave Rebels side in Melbourne.
In a season that promised so much early on, the Jaguares fell away mid season, to drop out of finals contention. However they have finished off the season in fine style, winning the first ever encounter between these sides.
The Rebels came out keen to move the ball early and had much the better of the first half, Reece Hodge keeping the scoreboard ticking over, as well as adding a sparkling try in the 25th minute. It was something local fans had seen too little of this season, Nic Stirzaker working a set move off a scrum with impressive full back Jack Maddocks, who sent Hodge racing away for the score.
The Rebels could have been further ahead at the break, if not for their Achilles heel this year, the attacking lineout, letting them down when in scoring positions. Failure to maintain pressure in the attacking 22 and come away with points, is a killer at this level.
To their credit the Jaguars stayed in contact, and then ramped things up in the third quarter, both in defence and attack. A series of tries came on the left hand flank, plus one on the right, after a pinpoint kick pass from the experienced Juan Martin Hernandez.
Their defensive line got stronger as the match progressed, and by the time the substitutions came on, the Rebels had run out of ideas.
The Rebels will wonder how they fell away so much in the second half, the only highlights being a spectacular 55m penalty to Hodge and a try after the siren to the hardworking Steve Cummins. Unfortunately they were unable to get the ball to Marieke Koroibete, who looked thirsty for more work.
The biggest cheer was reserved for Amanaki Mafi, as he was replaced, the Rebels’ player of the season once again into everything. Outgoing coach Tony McGahan gave Mafi a huge wrap after the match; every bit of it fully deserved for a player
Full credit however to the Jaguares, who win successive games on the road for the first time, and who finish the season full of promise for another step up the competition ladder next year.
Perhaps the off season will allow them to do more work on the discipline. It was poor again in the first half tonight, although Angus Gardner leniently kept his cards in his pocket.
As for the Rebels, their next moves will come via the boardrooms and legal offices. Hopefully the single, lame firework that marked the end of the match isn’t a sign of things to come! But at least the 6,250 fans who showed up tonight will have taken good heart from a spirited effort from their side, even if the season hasn’t quite worked out as planned.
Final score
Jaguares 32
Rebels 29
DaveR
Guest
Clutching at straws a bit Huw to base anything on season 2017, the rugby season from hell. Far more telling was the poor crowd for the Wallabies v Pumas in Perth in September 2016 with only 16,202 present.
Train Without A Station
Guest
We are losing quality players to overseas for better offers and your solution is to cut wages?
Train Without A Station
Guest
Well done you pathetic nobody. How are easts going? S---house.
BeastieBoy
Guest
We are a mess.Lets dig in and climb out. Team ARU go NOW. Keep all 5 Australian teams. Cut their wages by 10%. Find players who can win in NZ and bring them in now. We must win to get the spectators back. Change the conferencing to play Aussie and kiwi only with a view to moving to a Trans Tasman Cup.
Unanimous
Guest
It's the same indictment. Both crowds were almost exactly in proportion to each teams season total. Both games were irrelevant to the finals. Both games were isolated home games coming after four or five weaks of nothing. This game was a good game however, and those who went came away happy they did.
Unanimous
Guest
Or maybe do what every other sport does and give all teams equal access to the player pool, and equalise the competition. Probably not. I'm sure they'll continue to break their own salary cap with 'top ups' (illegal in nearly every other sport) while they strategise about how to kill off the next weekest team, because killing randomly chosen weak teams that league management causes to be weak is a good way to prove they've got what it takes to make the 'tough decisions'.
Mattocks
Guest
The same can be said about the NRL obsessed media in Sydney. Each time I'm in Sydney I have a chuckle at the lack of afl media. Is it just further manifestation of melbourne Sydney rivalry. I don't know which team, if any will be dropped. None I hope. This has been a horror year for rugby in Aus. No team has been especially good. Our No. 1 team has many more losses than wins. NSW and Qland with a century of history behind them have looked 3rd rate all year. So instead of all the negative comments wanting to get rid of either the rebels or the force maybe we should all metaphorically stampede the ARU and demand no teams to be dropped. And a more sensible set up of the Comp so we can actually see our teams play regularly rather than the crazy two to three week breaks between games. I could go on.
Jock Cornet
Guest
$$$$. SPOON $&&&&&&&. Well done TWAS
Drongo
Guest
What are the Rebels 'noble'? Noble: Having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles. You certainly never describe any other Australian team in those terms. Unless they are all in line for the throne?
Jock Cornet
Guest
Jaguars were the easy beats but have smashed our teams in succession. Next year the sun wolves will beat our teams. But TWAS don't change a thing everything is a ok
Geoff Parkes
Expert
McGahan doesn't want to play Timani at lock stillmissit. But he's had no choice. Geoff Parling is coming next year from England. Remember Jeffries was a standout in the NRC, and he will be back, hopefully uninjured. Cummins was very good last night. Even if McMahon is lost, Fainga'a, Mafi and Timani would be close to the best loose forward trio in the country. The secret is getting them on the field at the same time.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
A very watchable game, which cant be said for many australian games this season. Mafi was outstanding and Maddocks 15 is a great talent who will be a Wallaby subject to major injuries. Putting Timani in the row was a bit stupid, why not put him at 8 Mafi at 6 and bring on Macmahon for the last 20 mins. If they don't have 2nd R players, why not? Hint do not buy any from Qld... As their is no article on the game - How great was it to see George Smith v Highlanders! Amazing player and still fairly quick.
The Sheriff
Guest
There were more potential Wallabies on show in Melbourne than amongst those who played for the Reds at Dunedin. Cooper has lost it, Moore is also past it , Smith has the smarts but not the motor to use them and the rest of them were third rate which is very sad indeed. When Qld rugby is thriving, as the saying goes, Australian rugby is booming.
The Sheriff
Guest
And and indictment of the Super competition! Why is the Argentine national team in the competition? Who cares about them except at Test Match level. They can barely draw a crowd when they play Test football here,, so who would want to watch a Super Rugby team. This also applies to the Sunwolves. They may be promoting the game in japan but they are buggering it up in other places, like here and in South Africa.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
The forecast in Perth is a 100% chance of rain when the match is on and it's kicking off only an hour after Premier Grade finishes to suit Easten State's TV. As a result I expect many will make the decision to stay in their clubs and watch it on TV. Conversely it's Hodgo's last game so who knows?
Craigo
Guest
@wag, I agree wag. The AFL-obsessed Melbourne media are verging on religious fundamentalism when it comes to AFL. In 2015 I attended the Rugby League SoO in Melbourne. The next day at breakfast I picked up a copy of The AGE newspaper to read about the 90,000 strong crowd they got the night before at the MCG. There was not one mention of the SoO game in the paper. With one of the biggest sporting events in this country being played at The MCG the Age newspaper was to petty to write a single line about the game. In fairness the Herald Sun (NewsLimited) paper did give the SoO it's due respect. I also attended the "The National Sports Museum at the MCG" (which should change it's name to the The AFL, Cricket and Athletics Sports Museum because that the only sports they cover.) again verging on religious fundamentalism when it comes to AFL.
Hannes
Guest
I hope the ARU does not buy out Cox and his Imperial group and that no team will be axed. Let the Melbournians decide if the Rebels survive. 6,250 to watch a game in a city the size of Melbourne cannot be defended. Cox is playing hard ball, let him take the losses that are surely coming his way. If he can turn the Rebels around, let him take a profit. If the Rebels fail in the meantime,,let then fail.....but do not give him a windfall by combining the Force and Rebels under his ownership.
Jock Cornet
Guest
80000 at arsenal vs Sydney . So quality of athletes is the key. The rebels should just be replaced by the Manly marlins/ Norths. Go the sun wolves at home. 1 win = spoon. But TWAS will explain why the sa deserve 2 teams dropped and Oz nil. TWAS your team was complete lard.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Horwitz I assume is headed there with the 10 jersey in mind. I doubt he went there to play bench cover to Hodge. I think he could prove useful. To me the Rebels seemed to be passing to flat footed players who didn't know what to do with it, so they we caught behind the line. At some stages the jaguares were making as many metres while defending as they did attacking. I like Maddcoks, he's a good find. Very young and green but loads of potential for the 15 to let Hodge stay at 12. Hard to get excited about prospects for next year given the current state of things though.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
This is what I presumed. And I now am convinced that this is a serious matter for a team captain in the RC. Maybe OK playing with Garces and Poite, but not with other anglo referees. I would like to know which half of the interpreter you used. In my business, many times you have "blind assessors" of data or patients, and it is always funny to meet the "blind assessor"....(I work in medical science and research).