The Jaguares progressed to their first-ever Vodacom Super Rugby final after claiming a comprehensive 39-7 win over the Brumbies in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
And so it is the Jaguares who have booked their berth in next weekend’s title decider, and will face the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Coming into Saturday’s semi-final against the Brumbies, the Jaguares had won 10 of their last 12 Super Rugby games on the bounce in Argentina, and quite comfortably extended that impressive record at home.
Although the Brumbies did arrive in Buenos Aires having won their last seven Super Rugby games in succession, they were ultimately undone by an error-riddled performance, which was surely also negatively influenced by the gruelling travel from Australia to Argentina.
In the opening quarter of the semi-final, the Jaguares established a commanding 20-0 lead, and from there, it was always going to be an impossible task for the Brumbies to find a way back into the contest.
Although the visitors did score just before the break, Matias Orlando wrapped up a brace of tries after the restart to effectively seal the result, and send the Jaguares into a historic final.
Jaguares – Tries: Tomas Cubelli, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Orlando (2), Emiliano Boffelli. Conversions: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (4). Penalties: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (2).
Brumbies – Try: Folau Fainga’a. Conversion: Christian Leali’ifano.
Jaguares – 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente (c), 11 Matias Moroni, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Subs: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Carreras.
Brumbies – 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Jahrome Brown, 22 Matt Lucas, 23 Tom Wright.
