Argentina’s Jaguares picked up a significant win in their second season in Super Rugby, convincingly beating 2016 runner-up the Lions 36-24 in Buenos Aires in the last match of round three.
The Jaguares forwards overpowered the Lions on Sunday morning (AEDT), and the backs outclassed them, despite the teams sharing eight tries.
A rampaging run down the wing by flanker Tomas Lezana set up fullback Joaquin Tuculet for the Jaguares’ first score in the fourth minute, Ramiro Moyana added a second, and backs Jeronimo de la Fuente and Nicolas Sanchez rounded off compelling team moves early in the second half.
Two late tries by the Lions, with Lezana yellow-carded, made it a little more respectable for the Lions.
“They dominated us physically today,” Lions captain Warren Whiteley, who scored two tries, said.