In-form Jaguares stun Chiefs, Crusaders trounce Rebels

The Jaguares made another big statement by finishing a perfect Australiasian tour with a 23-19 win over the Chiefs and the Crusaders extended their winning Super Rugby run to six matches with a brutal hammering of the Rebels.

Mario Ledesma’s Jaguares made history with a maiden win over a New Zealand side when they beat the Blues last weekend and claimed their first win over the Chiefs in Rotorua just six days later.

The in-form Argentina side will head home riding on the crest of a wave following four tour wins out of four after Ramiro Moyano went over in the first half and they were also awarded a penalty try.

Four Damian McKenzie penalties put the Chiefs, without the injured Sam Cane and starting with Brodie Retallick on the bench, 12-10 up at the break after Emiliano Boffelli landed a long-range penalty and Moyano scored the opening try when the home side were caught out by a counter-attack.

It was very much advantage Jaguares when Liam Squire was sent to the sin bin for a collapsed maul which resulted in a penalty try just after Michael Allardice was yellow-carded.

Nicolas Sanchez’s second penalty nine minutes from time gave them further breathing space and Jesse Parete’s try came too late in the day as the second-placed Jaguares moved seven points behind the Lions in the South African Conference. 

The Jaguares make history in Rotorua!

First win over @ChiefsRugby: 
Four wins in a row: #CHIvJAG pic.twitter.com/LzcrBJduAF

— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) May 4, 2018

The Crusaders scored 42 without reply in the second half at AAMI Park, consigning the Rebels to a 55-10 drubbing.

Seta Tamanivalu and Andrew Makalio scored first-half tries to give the defending champions a slender 13-10 lead at the break, Reece Hodge scoring for the Rebels after returning from the sin bin.

The Crusaders turned on the style after the break, Makalio, the returning Jack Goodhue, Peter Samu, Bryn Hall, Wyatt Crockett and Manasa Mataele crossing to send the Crusaders top of the overall standings and stretch the Rebels’ losing streak to six matches.

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