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The Jaguares have become Super Rugby's much-needed feel-good story

By Alex Shaw
The Jaguares' maiden run to a Super Rugby final bodes well for the Argentine national side (Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images)

In a year in which certain pundits have criticised and called for the expulsion of the Jaguares from Super Rugby, it seems only fitting that they have become the competition’s feel-good story.

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No one knew back in 2016 how the Jaguares would go in the tournament, whether or not they would prove to be a sustainable venture or how successful they would be in stemming the tide of players leaving Argentina for contracts in Europe.

The only thing that was certain was the immense potential that the side offered. Whether or not they would ever fulfil it was another matter.

The critiques levelled at the Buenos Aires-based side this season – they conveniently coincide with their improved fortunes and ability, in particular, to start picking up away wins – have revolved around the fact they are, in essence, a national side.

Argentina may have abandoned their cut and dry home-based selection policy, but they do still lean on it heavily, ensuring that most times the Jaguares take to the pitch, they are fielding a 23 that is almost entirely capped at Test level. This, critics argue, makes them a national side and not a provincial one like the opposition they face in Super Rugby.

Frankly, this is not news. The goal of the Jaguares was always for the franchise to be a vehicle for Los Pumas and this was set out quite clearly when the side was created and joined the competition in 2016.

It’s funny how there were no complaints when the Jaguares finished 13th in 2016 or 10th in 2017. There weren’t even murmurings when they finished seventh in 2018 and made the play-offs for the first time.

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But now that they’re finishing second on the overall log and knocking off a team like the Chiefs in the play-offs, it seems as though their presence is harder to stomach.

Thankfully, though, these criticisms are in the minority, with most revelling in the success of the Argentine side and using their upward trajectory as a way of pushing higher standards in their own teams and nations.

The Jaguares’ haul of 11 wins this season had them level with the Crusaders at the top of the table. Of those 11, five came on the road, with two victories in South Africa and Australia apiece, as well as a memorable night knocking off the Hurricanes in Wellington.

For a competition that has been accused of over-expansion, diminishing quality and an inability to hold fan interest, the rise of the Jaguares has been a much-needed feel-good story, especially following the development that the Sunwolves are set to be cut from the tournament.

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Having advanced from the quarter-finals with the aforementioned win over the Chiefs, Gonzalo Quesada’s team are now faced by a Brumbies team full of confidence following their 38-13 trouncing of the Sharks in Canberra. The Jaguares won the match-up between these two earlier in the season, a 20-15 victory in Buenos Aires.

That match encapsulated the success the franchise have had since their creation four years ago. Scrum-half Tomás Cubelli and flanker Pablo Matera were two of the standouts on the day. Cubelli was lured back to Argentina, ironically from the Brumbies as a result of opportunity at the Jaguares, while Matera has been part of the franchise’s entire journey having left Leicester Tigers to join them for their inaugural season.

The same goes for talismanic captain Agustín Creevy, who left Worcester Warriors to head home and lead the side in their fledgling 2016 season. Emiliano Boffelli and Marcos Kremer also stood out against the Brumbies and they are two clear examples of how the Jaguares have been able to help develop talent in Argentina and turn them into influential international players.

Chances were taken that day by Santiago Carreras and Domingo Miotti, which showed that the franchise have been able to blood younger, more inexperienced players this season while still competing at the very top of Super Rugby.

Their lineout has been one of the most consistent and effective units in the competition thanks to the almost telepathic connection between Creevy and Guido Petti, while their try differential of +22 is comfortably the second best in the competition. It sees off all rivals but the Crusaders, whose mark of +42 is indicative of their current dominance.

It is understandable then why the team’s fortunes may have caused an ounce of professional jealousy. That said, there is no special treatment for the Jaguares, who are subject to exactly the same kind of issues and challenges that face every other Super Rugby side.

Jaguares
Replacing Pablo Matera’s ability and leadership will be a tough task for Gonzalo Quesada (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Santiago García Botta and Martín Landajo are both off to Harlequins after the World Cup, Tomás Lavanini heads to Leicester Tigers and even stalwart Matera will link up with Stade Français. It should not be surprising then that Quesada has blooded a number of new faces this season and his impact as head coach has certainly been felt with the franchise finding the perfect balance between immediate performance and long-term development.

Although those personnel losses are significant, and there are likely to be a few more names added to the list before their squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season is finalised, the Jaguares have shown they are not adverse to plucking the brightest young Argentine talents and throwing them into the deep end of competition.

In addition to the names already mentioned, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano and Bautista Delguy have all been leant on heavily, while 2018 World Rugby Under-20 Championship stars Lucio Sordoni and Carreras have been given their first taste of senior club rugby.

Throw into the mix the next generation of players coming through that ever-improving Argentine pathway, such as Bautista Pedemonte, Ignacio Mendy and Mateo Carreras, and there is no reason to assume this peak is a one-season wonder for the men from Buenos Aires.

With Quesada in place at the Jaguares and Mario Ledesma on board with Los Pumas, the connected thinking between the franchise and the national team seems to be in place, the pathway is productive and all that remains is for the national team to settle on a style of play that works for them and is conducive to their success in the international arena.

As for Friday’s semi-final with the Brumbies, the Jaguares’ season will likely be deemed a success win or lose. But playing the way they have been and set to enjoy the backing of a vocal home crowd, few would bet against the Jaguares qualifying for their maiden Super Rugby final.

WATCH: Check out the trailer for the upcoming RugbyPass documentary with Ben Foden and Rugby United New York 

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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