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Four consecutive road wins have sent the Jaguares near the top of the South African conference and reinvigorated Super Rugby with an underdog story for the ages.
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The Jaguares arrival to the competition has closely resembled the nature of their namesake.
After limping through their first two seasons they looked endangered and on the fast track towards extinction, nothing more than a SANZAAR experiment gone awry.
But in 2018 they have backed up their place in the competition, and have stalked and ambushed their prey across unfamiliar territory over a remarkable four weeks.
Under the tutelage of 15-year Pumas veteran Mario Ledesma the Jaguares have proudly marched where no side has gone for a number of years, providing a competition starved of interest with its greatest storyline.
Their current streak of four consecutive wins beats a previous franchise record of three, and is made even more impressive by the fact that all four have come on the road.
To put things in perspective, in their first two years of existence, the Jaguares managed to notch a total of four wins away from home – two coming against sides that no longer compete in Super Rugby; the Kings and the Cheetahs.
One week after beating the Blues – achieving a feat that no Australian side has been able to accomplish in their last 36 attempts – the Jaguares became the first team since May 2014 to record two consecutive away wins in New Zealand when they outlasted the Chiefs 23-19 on Friday night.
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Stingy defence, improved discipline and pure passion has been the key to the Jaguares’ magical run.
After surrendering 75 points across their first two fixtures of the season, they have allowed just 74 points during their historic four game stretch – an average of 18.5 points per outing. Before embarking on their Australasian tour they let in an average of 32.8 points per game.
In terms of discipline, an area where the Jaguares have struggled in the past, the side are much improved.
After finishing last season with 12 yellow cards, good for second most in the competition, the men in orange have been shown yellow just four times across the course of the season, improving from a rate of 0.8 cards per match last year to just 0.36.
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With the Jaguares firmly in the mix after playing solely for pride at this point of the season during their first two years, it can’t be overlooked just how much pride and passion this side plays with.
“Really proud of the work they’ve put in since the beginning of the season,” said Ledesma after defeating the Chiefs.
“I hope everybody in Argentina is proud too.”
With just four games remaining, the proud Jaguares can be assured that they have all of Argentina behind them as they make a playoff push and look to separate themselves in the South African conference.
Currently sitting second in the conference and seventh overall with a record of six wins and five losses, the Jaguares are just one win shy of equalling their best record and with a light end-of-season schedule they should approach a new franchise record after finishing last season with seven wins.
The Jaguares’ final four regular season fixtures will see them play three times at home after a week of rest, before finishing the year in Pretoria.
Ledesma’s men will only play within their conference until the end of the season, providing a fantastic opportunity to nail down a playoff spot. They’ll take on the Bulls twice (home and away), the Stormers and the Sharks after they evened their ledger with the Lions in week six.
Only time will tell how long this fairytale run will last, but it can be guaranteed that no side will be taking the Jaguares lightly when they come to town.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
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