Argentina’s Jaguares have completed Australia’s round of Super Rugby misery with a 25-20 win over the Brumbies in Canberra.
The result on Sunday means all four Australian sides have lost to overseas opposition this round.
Down 13-0 early, the Brumbies got back to within three points by halftime following a two tries by fullback Tom Banks.
But their failure to post points when the Jaguares were down to 14 men early in the second half proved costly as the South American side extended their lead soon after getting winger Emiliano Boffelli back from the sin bin for tackling Henry Speight in the air.
Centre Jeronimo de la Fuente crossed just before the hour and five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez converted to put the Jaguares 10 points ahead.
The Brumbies got the deficit back to three with 13 minutes to go when winger Chance Peni escaped three defenders to score and five-eight Wharenui Hawera converted.
But Boffeli atoned for his earlier indiscretion, crossing in the left-hand corner in the 71st minute for the match-clinching score.
The Jaguares claimed their third Australian scalp of the season having beaten the Waratahs in Buenos Aires back in round three and the Rebels in Melbourne last week.
It also gave them their second double in Australia in successive seasons after wins over the Rebels and Tahs last year and they are their first overseas team to win their first four matches on Australian soil.
The Jaguares dominated the first half-hour, with centre Matias Orlando crashing over from close range after a patient 18-phase move.
Sanchez converted and kicked two penalties before the Brumbies finally woke up and applied pressure.
Banks crossed in the 35th minute from a Hawera pass and the two combined again on the stroke of halftime when the fullback pounced on a perfectly placed kick from his pivot.
Hawrea salvaged a bonus point for the Brumbies with a penalty after the siren.
Nobody
Guest
I decided to quit reading his articles over a year ago now. Never been tempted to go back.
Markus
Guest
A frustratingly bad game to watch. Brumbies had problems in every aspect of their play. Ineffective attack for most of the game and way too high in contact, poor kicking, lineout weak again and disorganised in defence. The best area would be the scrum outcomes though that came more down to referee decisions than a decisive performance there. I really enjoyed watching the Jaguares. They were hard-edged in defence and at the breakdown, and their kicking game employed well tactically. They had handling errors creep in toward the end of the game, but up to that point I was extremely impressed with their catch and pass execution, regularly creating a one man overlap out wide just through speed and accuracy of their passing across the line.
Corw
Guest
Yet again Speight made multiple bad reads in defence - resulting in 2 tries. He took a couple of high balls and made a couple of decent runs but I don't think what he offers balances out his liabilities unfortunately. I've always enjoyed watching him play but don't know that he should be starting for us anymore.
Charles Plowdog
Guest
The Brumbies were very poor yesterday. Their edge defence was poor, particularly Speight. Why does he come off his wing for tackles constantly? surely that has been coached out of him. Maybe one of the 2 tries he could have saved, but that was the match. And what poor attacking mentality the Brumbies have (and have had for a number of years); Banks kicking (and kicking poorly) when attacking down the wing of a yellow carded winger!! I can't understand why the impetus was not there to try to run the ball. Stupid. And do the Brumbies players not know the rules of offside? That said I thought though that Gardner was too harsh on the Brumbies in the 1st half; they didn't get the rub of the green but the players should have held their views. If the coache's half time message was to do in the 2nd half what they did in the last 10 minutes of the 1st half, they mustn't have been listening. I have a feeling the coach isn't much good and that the previous coach didn't help. Bring back Jake White!! or Andy Friend.
Ben
Guest
Speight made some rookie mistakes on defence. Rushing out of the line or coming in and taking guys who were already marked and leaving the winger unmarked. Defensively he was poor. In contrast i thought the Jaguares showed a bit of steel in defence. Yup wasnt long ago Lord wrote a similar article rubbishing the Jaguares being in super rugby as the one he just wrote about the sunwolves.
Mzilikazi
Guest
Good post, Carlos. This phase in Aussie rugby history is driving one to distraction. Indeed we do need to get our house in order. David Lord....personally, I have now decided it is better not to read his articles.
Carlos The Argie
Guest
Please, can someone tell David Lord that the problem is not the Sunwolves or the Jaguares but Australian rugby? Aussies please, get your house in order. You were fun, entertaining, creative, witty, intelligent rugby players. Get back to that. Even if you needed a few Argie props, you were good. The rest of the world misses you.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Not one of the worst teams last season. They won seven games, more than any Aussie side.
Touko
Guest
Brumbies were pathetic. Whatshisname, the replacement halfback who came on at the 60' mark wins my award for stupidest player. Standing up, looking around like a meerkat and whining like a two year old while a Jaguares player picks the ball up from the ruck. I've seen more focus from a broken camera. I don't think if I was his coach I could ever, ever select him again.
If I am not mistaken they beat the Lions earlier this season.
Froddo
Guest
Jags also won their matches in Australia last year and that did not change the fact that they were one of the worst teams in SR 2017. Lets see if they can confirm against some NZ and SA teams the little bit of improvement that has been shown.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Solid win by Jaguares. Not really firing on all cylinders, but they look more structured and calm now than ever before. That they have fixed the discipline is a huge up. All the sudden the opposition doesn't get free ball and territory every ten minutes. Thet got two nasty injuries in the end. Maybe Matera can be back against the Blues? Gonna be interesting to follow the Jags now, maybe they are finally living up to their potential. Could the Wallabies struggle against the Pumas this year? Remember, the Pumas will call on European based players again this season. Spice this Jaguares side with the best of best from Europe and they could be a handful.