The Brumbies Super Rugby season has come crashing to an end in Buenos Aires on Saturday morning (AEST), as the Jaguares knocked them out of the finals with a 39-7 victory.
The Jaguares, playing in their first home semi-final in club history, started the game in excellent fashion, running on a 20-0 scoreline inside the first 20 minutes.
Playing in front of 31,000 fans, the Brumbies appeared shell shocked during the opening quarter of the game and struggled to get into the contest.
Tomas Cubelli was first over the line, scoring in just the third minute of the contest, before a pair of penalty goals had the Brumbies down 13-0 in 13 minutes.
With the Brumbies struggling for discipline and ball control, Tomas Lavanini was then able to cross to extend the lead.
The Australian franchise were able to get back into the contest, but not the scoreboard, during the second 20 minutes of the first half, as they stemmed the bleeding.
A try to Folau Fainga’a as the final play of the first half gave the Brumbies some hope of a revival, however, more mistakes and poor defence in the second half had the game over as a contest about 20 minutes from fulltime thanks to a double to Matias Orlando, with the first on the counter-attack and the second bursting through a missed tackle.
By then, it was 34-7 with 17 minutes to go, and the Brumbies hopes of qualifying for the final were well and truly over.
The intensity had gone out of the clash during the final minutes, however, a late mistake saw Emiliano Boffelli cross in the 77th minute to complete the demolition job.
The loss for the Brumbies marks the fifth straight year no Australian team will appear in the final, with the Waratahs the last team to do so back in 2014 when they beat the Crusaders in a thriller by just a single point to claim the championship.
The Jaguares will now take on the winner of the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the final. That game kicks off at 5:35pm (AEST) on Saturday evening. Should the Crusaders win, the final will be in New Zealand, otherwise, it will be played in Buenos Aires.
Jaguares 39
Brumbies 7
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Yeah, maybe. Most would say the pressure got to him and then the Jags took full advantage.
Rajah
Roar Rookie
There’s really no way of knowing. They got to play weak teams like the Sunwolves and Waratahs twice but did not play the Sharks or Highlanders at all. Just conjecture with law of averages. They came top of what was clearly the weakest conference.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
If Quade Cooper had made as many mistakes as Lealiifano did, the pundits on this site would be pouring on the criticism. It's good to see one contributor who doesn't play favourites. Arnold could not win line-outs either and he is a chronic high tackler.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
JP, I would not be so blunt. Bernard is a fine player and a brave one. But bravery does not a playmaker make. I hope someone in the WB selection panel has studied ‘systems theory’ and ‘pattern language’. For back system to function there needs to be a facilitating craftsman at 9 or 10, or both. For that system to work there needs to be secure positive movement in the pack system, aka the forward platform. We probably should not even discuss the comparative worth of 10’s in games where the 1-8 system was limp. Akin to discussing the quality of polish on t u r d s. Sure a 10 can make it hard for the pigs with mistakes etc. But a weak forward platform makes quality playmaking improbable. Bernard would be a fantastic sevens player where sniping runs are important and tight attack crafts less so.
taylorman
Roar Guru
In Auckland we used to call it the house of gain, but now we know the true house of pain is... Eden park. :-)
terrykidd
Roar Pro
You might be there by yourself ..... the final is in ChCh
terrykidd
Roar Pro
PeterK as a point of difference my back line would be ..... Powell, Foley, Banks, Kerevi, Kurindrani, Speight, Beale .... With a bench of White, CLL, Hodge Not much in the way of combinations I know but the best performed players v incumbents as I see it.
Patto
Guest
You mean the: Beale/Foley/Simmons/Hannigan/Dempsey/Phipps/Robertson/AAC/Latu/Gordon combo.
JP
Guest
Yeah we ( Wallabies Fans) like a guy at 10 who is a distributor, that`s what they are there for " distributing ".No playimaking or organising needed just distributing. No wonder we have been the worst Wallabies of all time with Bernard " the distributor " Foley distributing at 10 for 5 years.
Origin
Roar Rookie
Thanks, Harry! True, Velez Sarsfield had its time of glory and magic. Now a bit more thrilled than last Saturday evening, I’ll be on the same plane with Jaguares on the way to ChCh and shall sing for Jagaures all game long at the Orangetheory Stadium. Anyone could recommend a good pizza close to this stadium for an after-match celebration? Cheers!!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
no after initial complaints teams and coaches would adjust and see that intentionally infringing does not gain them an advantage especially when penalties are combined with plenty of yc's.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Wha ha ha, well said mate.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
It would be too fragmented - nobody would bother watching
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Probably was, its just that nobody told him Pocock wasn’t playing.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
LOL! Or... there is hope for humanity.
Jacko
Guest
Murderers!!!!! Geezz I thought it was just a game....Why is no one arrested and locked up?
Jacko
Guest
And yet all the actual facts show that you are so wrong peter.....Wernt the Rebels the most penalised team in SR? So wouldnt that mean an Aus team is doing all the law breaking...Just saying
Jacko
Guest
Yes I guess it had to happen eventually............dont worry I have no doubt it wont last long......lol
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Agree: We know what we are going to get if we pick the Beale/Foley/Simmons/Hannigan/Phipps combo. how? We have seen that combo lose more matches against top sides than we have won over the last 3 years. Try something new that may work. Try an inform combo - CLL/Banks/K in the backline with Powell on the bench and most of the Brumbies forwards. I believe that jaguars side beats any side in the comp at home this year
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Amalfitano stadium also is the home of Velez Sarsfield football club who won the 1994 Copa Libertadores and defeated AC Milan to win the Intercontinental Cup. Must have been a great event to attend origin. Jaguares were absolutely brilliant. Their offloading is superb. Good signs for the Pumas in the World Cup as this is a very solid base to work with.