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Super Rugby: Jaguares v Sharks Preview

Super Rugby: Jaguares v Sharks Preview

A Los Jaguares side presiding over five-consecutive victories will be favourites to outperform the Sharks at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires on Friday night, writes Shaun Goosen. 



Jaguares v Sharks
25 May 21h40
Estadio Jose Amalfitani

To Win (80 mins)
Jaguares 4/10
Draw 25/1
Sharks 37/20



Handicap
Jaguares (-6.5) 9/10
Sharks (+6.5) 9/10

Jaguares

The Argentines’ impressive mid-season surge now sees them sit as high as second on the South African Conference and seventh overall. The Sharks who are one-point behind will usurp them with a win this weekend.

Mario Ledesma’s influence at the Jaguares this season has been palpable. The former Argentina rugby international, who previously enjoyed coaching stints in France and Australia, has steered his side to new heights in 2018. Before dispatching the Bulls 54-24 last weekend, Ledesma’s men beat all and sundry on their four-match tour to the antipodes, which included the scalps of the Rebels, Brumbies, Blues and Chiefs.

How many South African sides can claim to have achieved that feat?

The pace, power, and width – with which the hosts play is quite remarkable and not unlike that which Argentina produced at the 2015 World Cup. This Jaguares side is unlike any that has been on display before, and there is every reason to believe that this will be the year they push on and claim that elusive playoff berth. They seem fit, firing and hungry to prove they belong among the southern hemisphere’s elite after so many disappointments.

Ahead of the Sharks’ visit this weekend, however, the Jaguares may need to reconsolidate their defensive alignment. The knock-on effect of their high-intensity game of width is that they do become stretched when defending quick turnover ball, look no further than Warrick Gelant’s first-half try last weekend as evidence.

Sharks

With players like Lukhanyo Am and Andre Esterhuizen in midfield, the Sharks have racked up the most line-breaks (82) and offloads (169) in this year’s tournament. The Durbanites have the potential to cut teams to shreds on their day (think of their 63-40 win over the Blues) and any Jaguares ill-discipline in this department won’t go unpunished.

The Sharks are ranked first for kicks (259) and kicking meters (7860) this year and will look to play deep inside the Jaguares territory via the boot of Robert du Preez Jnr before suffocating them through their disciplined defence. Whether they can withstand the intensity of their hosts, however, remains to be seen.

Verdict: Jaguares (-6.5) 9/10
Argentina has proven to be a burial ground for South African teams in the past. Sides struggle to adapt to the unique and vociferous atmosphere of stadiums such as the Jose Amalfitani and thus the Sharks have been rightly marked as underdogs. Both teams will be desperate for the June break, but I’m backing the Jaguares to dig deep and come out victorious by seven or more.

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Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
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