Jaguares vs Bulls: Jaguares better Bulls 27-12

Match result:

The Jaguares have secured a deserved 15-point over the Bulls in Buenos Aires.

In a tight contest, the Jaguares eventually ran away with it in the end, scoring three tries to nil in a welcome bounce back from last week’s below-par showing against the Lions.

The Bulls went into the lead in the second half courtesy of penalty goals to Handre Pollard but the Jaguares just looked the more likely to do something with the ball in the match and the scoreboard doesn’t lie in that regard.

The Jaguares are back in the winner’s circle and anything is possible for a team that can be very dangerous with momentum.

Final score
Jaguares 27
Bulls 12

Match preview:

The inconsistent but dangerous Jaguares host the Bulls in a match between two sides eager to fulfil potential and make a charge for the Super Rugby title. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 8:40am AEDT.

The Jaguares are no strangers to starting the season slowly as evidenced by another lacklustre defeat to last season’s finalists, the Lions.

At their best, the Jaguares can challenge the very best teams in the competition as highlighted by their very impressive winning run last season, particularly on the road when they defeated the Rebels, Brumbies, Chiefs and Blues away from home.

But as is so often the case with Argentina’s lone representative in Super Rugby, one defeat can completely stall momentum as evidenced by their soft showing in last season’s finals series.

The Jaguares will certainly need to improve if they are to upstage a Bull’s side coming off a commanding 40-3 win over the Stormers in Round 1. The Bulls possess all the confidence and will be keen on replicating the Lions success away from home.

Bulls coach Pote Human has made just one change to his side from the one that demolished the Stormers 40-3 in round one.

Winger Johnny Kotze is out with illness, handing an opportunity to former Springbok Cornal Hendricks, who has been sidelined for four years with a heart problem.

Prediction
The Jaguares on their day can prove to be formidable opposition but the difference between their best and worst form is vast.

The hosts tend to start the season slowly if past Super Rugby campaigns are anything to go by and this is therefore a chance for the Bulls to remain undefeated against opposition that tends to fire later in the season.

Bulls by 7

Jaguares
Joaquin Tuculet, Bautista Delguy, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente (c), Ramiro Moyano, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Gonzalo Bertranou, Javier Ortego Desio, Rodrigo Bruni, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas

Reserves: Julian Montoya, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Enrique Pieretto, Matias Alemanno, Marco Kremer, Martin Landajo, Juan Cruz Mallia, Matias Moroni

Bulls
Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Jessie Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Rosko Specman, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier, Duane Vermeulen, Hanro Liebenberg, Ruan Steenkamp, Lood de Jager (c), Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Schalk Brits, Lizo Gqoboka

Reserves: Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzima, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Eli Snyman, Thembelani Bholi, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Dylan Sage

Time: 8:40am AEST
Venue: Estadio José Amalfitani
Betting: Jaguares $1.96, Bulls $1.85