MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Argentinas Jaguares rallied from 19-3 down in the second half to beat the Melbourne Rebels 25-22 in Super Rugby on Saturday, dispelling any notion the Rebels are contenders for the title this season.
The Jaguares improved their record to 3-5 from eight matches with a rare away win which resulted from a magnificent second-half effort and a dramatic late decision by the Rebels.
With fulltime showing on the clock, the Rebels were awarded a penalty close to the posts which, if kicked, would have ensured they would draw the match and take two championship points and likely keep them atop the Australian conference.
But after a lengthy team conference, the Rebels chose to go for a try which would give them the win and, after being sacked at a maul, lost possession and allowed the Jaguares to clear to touch and end the game.
Rebels captain Adam Coleman said he fully supported the collective decision to give up the certainty of a draw for the faint possibility of a win.
”Were not here for a draw. All or nothing,” Coleman said.
In the Australian conference grudge match, the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Queensland Reds 37-16 in Sydney, with Taqele Naiyaravoro crossing twice and Jake Gordon and Harry Johnson-Holmes also scoring.
A 90-meter intercept try in the 60th minute by All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo set the Dunedin-based Highlanders on course for a 43-17, bonus-point win over the ACT Brumbies. The match was close, with the Highlanders leading 15-10, until Naholo pounced on a loose pass by Brumbies flyhalf Wharenui Hawera and ran away to score.
Leading 22-10, Highlanders were then able to relax and play their natural attacking game, adding late tries to Ben Smith, Shannon Frizell and Fletcher Smith for a win which extended to 34 matches the winning streak of New Zealand teams over Australian teams in Super Rugby.
The Auckland-based Blues had to come from behind to beat the Sunwolves 24-10 in Tokyo to avoid their second-straight loss to the Japan-based team and their fourth-straight loss this season. The Sunwolves won 48-21 when the teams met last season.
Winger Jordan Hyland scored two tries to propel the Blues to their second win in seven matches this season, after the Sunwolves had started strongly and taken an early 10-0 lead.
Hyland launched the Blues rally with a 28th-minute try and second-half tries to Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Hyland carried the Blues to victory.
In Melbourne, the Rebels seemed to have the match in safe keeping after a strong first half in which tries to center Billy Meakes and winger Marika Koribete gave them a decisive 14-3 lead. The lead increased to 19-3 with a try to winger Dane Haylett-Perry eight minutes into the second spell.
The Jaguares put themselves back in the match within two minutes with a try to Sebastian Cancelliere and closed the gap to one point with a 54th-minute try to Ramiro Moyano. A penalty to Jack Debreczeni increased the Rebels advantage before the Jaguares seized the lead with a try to Bautista Ezcurra six minutes from fulltime.
The Rebels held the ball through 35 phases in the final minutes but were unable to break down the Jaguares defense. Their only scoring chance came from the late penalty which they passed up in the hope of greater glory.
”It wasnt the last play that lost us the game,” Coleman said. ”It was our play throughout the second half.”
The Rebels were the early pacemakers in Super Rugby this season but have now lost to the Waratahs, Hurricanes and Jaguares and have a 4-3 record. The Jaguares, meanwhile, savored a rare away win.
”We didnt have the start that we wanted but I think in the second half we really wanted to get the win,” Jaguares captain Pablo Matera said.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Argentinas Jaguares rallied from 19-3 down in the second half to beat the Melbourne Rebels 25-22 in Super Rugby on Saturday, dispelling any notion the Rebels are contenders for the title this season.
The Jaguares improved their record to 3-5 from eight matches with a rare away win which resulted from a magnificent second-half effort and a dramatic late decision by the Rebels.
With fulltime showing on the clock, the Rebels were awarded a penalty close to the posts which, if kicked, would have ensured they would draw the match and take two championship points and likely keep them atop the Australian conference.
But after a lengthy team conference, the Rebels chose to go for a try which would give them the win and, after being sacked at a maul, lost possession and allowed the Jaguares to clear to touch and end the game.
Rebels captain Adam Coleman said he fully supported the collective decision to give up the certainty of a draw for the faint possibility of a win.
”Were not here for a draw. All or nothing,” Coleman said.
In the Australian conference grudge match, the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Queensland Reds 37-16 in Sydney, with Taqele Naiyaravoro crossing twice and Jake Gordon and Harry Johnson-Holmes also scoring.
A 90-meter intercept try in the 60th minute by All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo set the Dunedin-based Highlanders on course for a 43-17, bonus-point win over the ACT Brumbies. The match was close, with the Highlanders leading 15-10, until Naholo pounced on a loose pass by Brumbies flyhalf Wharenui Hawera and ran away to score.
Leading 22-10, Highlanders were then able to relax and play their natural attacking game, adding late tries to Ben Smith, Shannon Frizell and Fletcher Smith for a win which extended to 34 matches the winning streak of New Zealand teams over Australian teams in Super Rugby.
The Auckland-based Blues had to come from behind to beat the Sunwolves 24-10 in Tokyo to avoid their second-straight loss to the Japan-based team and their fourth-straight loss this season. The Sunwolves won 48-21 when the teams met last season.
Winger Jordan Hyland scored two tries to propel the Blues to their second win in seven matches this season, after the Sunwolves had started strongly and taken an early 10-0 lead.
Hyland launched the Blues rally with a 28th-minute try and second-half tries to Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Hyland carried the Blues to victory.
In Melbourne, the Rebels seemed to have the match in safe keeping after a strong first half in which tries to center Billy Meakes and winger Marika Koribete gave them a decisive 14-3 lead. The lead increased to 19-3 with a try to winger Dane Haylett-Perry eight minutes into the second spell.
The Jaguares put themselves back in the match within two minutes with a try to Sebastian Cancelliere and closed the gap to one point with a 54th-minute try to Ramiro Moyano. A penalty to Jack Debreczeni increased the Rebels advantage before the Jaguares seized the lead with a try to Bautista Ezcurra six minutes from fulltime.
The Rebels held the ball through 35 phases in the final minutes but were unable to break down the Jaguares defense. Their only scoring chance came from the late penalty which they passed up in the hope of greater glory.
”It wasnt the last play that lost us the game,” Coleman said. ”It was our play throughout the second half.”
The Rebels were the early pacemakers in Super Rugby this season but have now lost to the Waratahs, Hurricanes and Jaguares and have a 4-3 record. The Jaguares, meanwhile, savored a rare away win.
”We didnt have the start that we wanted but I think in the second half we really wanted to get the win,” Jaguares captain Pablo Matera said.
