The Jaguares claimed a 39-26 win against the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.
It was a case of new season, same old story for the Kings, who were predictably competitive for large periods of the match, but couldn’t produce an 80-minute performance.
You certainly couldn’t accuse the hosts of lacking commitment, but they do deserve criticism for the number of handling errors they made (26) and for failing to turn the 46% possession they had into more points, especially in the first half when they occasionally came close to scoring a try, but couldn’t get over the line.
The Kings made an encouraging start in front of a woefully small crowd at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, with three penalties from Lionel Cronjé giving them a 9-3 lead.
The Jaguares hit back in the 15th minute with an outstanding team try, which began deep inside their half. The ball went through several pairs of hands before Gonzalo Bertranou dived over under the crossbar. That, though, was as good as the first half would get.
Cronjé put the Kings back in front with another penalty, but they were reduced to 14 men soon after when Ross Geldenhuys kneed the back of a Jaguares player on the ground. The hosts did well to concede only six points while the prop was off the field, but a penalty from replacement Santiago González Iglesias on the stroke of half-time extended the visitors’ lead to 19-12.
More indiscipline from the Kings after the break allowed Iglesias to slot another two penalties and give his side some breathing room.
The Jagaures struck the killer blow in the 54th minute. The Kings were on the attack inside the opposition 22, but lost possession, with the visitors counter-attacking and Leonardo Senatore cantering away without a defender in sight.
The Kings self-destructed again soon after when a risky pass inside the touchline was kicked ahead by Santiago Cordero, who regained possession and put Joaquín Tuculet away for his side’s third try.
Makazole Mapimpi finally gave the tiny crowd something to cheer about when he cut back inside past Tuculet to score a try.
The visitors would finish the game with 13 men, thanks to two yellow cards, and it allowed the Kings to cross the line again through Luzuko Vulindlu.
Kings – Tries: Joaquín Tuculet, Luzuko Vulindlu. Conversions: Lionel Cronjé (2). Penalties: Cronjé (4).
Jaguares – Try: Gonzalo Bertranou, Leonardo Senatore, Joaquín Tuculet. Conversions: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Santiago González Iglesias (2). Penalties: Díaz Bonilla (3), Iglesias (3).
Kings – 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Lionel Cronjé, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Ruan Lerm, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Schalk Ferreira (c).
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Chris Heiberg, 19 Tyler Paul, 20 Chris Cloete, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Masixole ‘Coyi’ Banda, 23 Luzuko Vulindlu.
Jaguares – 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Orlando, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Tomás Lezana, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (c), 1 Lucas Noguera Paz.
Subs: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Rodrigo Báez, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano.
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
