Super Rugby takes a step into new territory when the Jaguares host the first semifinal played on South American soil on Saturday at 1.05am.
The Jaguares have delighted the neutrals this year and march into the clash with Australia’s Brumbies on a six-match winning streak.
Effectively a ghost Pumas team, the Jaguares long ago shed the tight-five dominated game that once defined Argentinian rugby in favour of a more free-wheeling style that showcases some fine talent in the outside backs.
The Brumbies, meanwhile, are Australia’s most successful Super Rugby team with titles in 2001 and 2004 and they too have momentum going to the clash at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium, having won seven straight games since they lost to the Jaguares in April.
Semi-Finals
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Top four teams battle it out for a place in the Final
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Disciplinary improvement may be most important to the Jaguares because if the Brumbies are kings of anything in Super Rugby, it is the catch-and-drive.
Few aspects of the modern game attract more penalties, and penalty tries, than the rolling maul.
And the importance of the lineout was illustrated when coach Gonzalo Quesada named lock Guido Petti in his team despite a question mark over his fitness.
With both teams building their games around field position, a tight, set piece-dominated contest might be expected and ultimately it could be the home advantage the Jaguares earned by winning the South Africa conference that proves the key factor.
Jaguares:
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 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.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti and 23 Ramiro Moyano.
Brumbies:
15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Leali’ifano (captain), 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.
Replacements: 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.