[2017 Super Rugby] Round 3: Jaguares vs. Lions (11/03/2017)

[SomeOke]

I'm OK with Ackerman's decision to rest players, it makes sense, and even if they lose they have a relatively easy run. They've already dispatched arguably their toughest foreign fixture.
I'm just saying it is a second team, Ackerman has made a decision to play a worse team, whether his reasons are good or not isn't what I was saying.

I'm actually one of the few people who still think he probably made the right call doing it last year as well. Everyone says he shouldn't have sent a weakened side last year but if he HAD sent a full stregnth side who knows what would have happened. Maybe the battered Lions wouldn't have made it to the finals.

In the end the Lions have decent depth but it definitely gets worse when they lose their stars, as we can see from the Currie Cup. To me Ackerman has sent this side to win if they can, but the team suggests winning is not the primary objective.

It may pay off handily, but it might also be Hubris, don't take your play-off spot for granted, maybe the other SA franchises will be more competitive this year.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Decent start by the Jaguares, close call on the TMO and I'd prefer the ref to say "is there any reason I can't award the try" as it makes the TMO's decision a lot easier.

I'm maybe being optimistic in thinking the Jaguares defence has improved this year a little (despite losing a fair amount of points in the first two games). If it has, then I really fancy them for this.

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Didn't know Tuculet had such a good boot on him too. That must have been 60 yards.

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Aaaaaaaaand.... turns out I was being too optimistic about the Jaguares defence. Very soft. This will be going the distance on that evidence.

 

[FNS]

Well a decent first half. Good kicking helped a lot. Defense is ok. We should score another try if we not for Cordero haste to kick the ball in the yards from ingoal.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

So far so good, except for that soft missed tackle on their try. We re doing quite ok.

 

[CocoPampas]

In general, a good first half. However, we were also very lucky. We showed several problems in the scrum, and some more in the lineout.
If we can keep the ball and the discipline in defence (not easy tasks), we may win this one.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

What the hell Sanchez?

 

[JH1315]

Honestly, there's been three tackles now from the Jaguares that were definitely worse than the one the lions were yellow carded for.
That Sanchez one was just stupid. How can the ref say "he just mistimed the jump", when that never seems to be an excuse for tackles in the air, and this one wasn't even a contest.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

That was a tad harsh to be fair

 

[FNS]

welp. I dont know if we are playing well or lions playing too badly haha.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Sanchez could realistically have been yellow carded twice. This isn't a game where Jaguares fans can complain about the refereeing. I'm seeing significant improvements from the Jaguares:

i) Absolutely no chat back to the ref about decisions, they just accept it and focus on the game.
ii) A lot more patience in the opponents 22, they aren't making desperate offloads all the time, only offloading if they think it is going to succeed.
iii) Better shape in attack with de la Fuente than Hernandez at 12.
iv) A fair few new names, all of whom seem to be doing alright.

...and that's the game. I put the boot into Perez a lot for the big difference between Pumas and Jaguares, but here, there is no difference.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Now Ackermann brings Kriel on. With 15 to go? Not sure why he even traveled along then TBH. Fair play though.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Now Ackermann brings Kriel on. With 15 to go? Not sure why he even traveled along then TBH. Fair play though.

For me it is either stay at home and rest, or travel and start for the likes of Kriel and Faf. I can make no sense of this.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Bit of a weird game. Think the Jaguares look uncharacteristically poised while the Lions look jarred and disjointed. Usually their rotating players fit in almost seamlessly but that was not the case here. Bit odd not seeing Kriel, Marx and the like coming on while the game was still within some sort of range. The pack was beat from the word go but no adaptation. The Lions can't complain here. Does this mean the Stormers move ahead of them... yes. Yes it does LOL. Never would've said that at the start of the season.

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For me it is either stay at home and rest, or travel and start for the likes of Kriel and Faf. I can make no sense of this.

Yeah, with the strong bench I was thinking the plan is to stay in it and bring on the 1st choice players with at least 30 minutes to go. To bring on the likes of Marx adn Kriel with 10/15 minutes and having to go 4 scores unanswered to win at that stage... Yeah, makes no sense.

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Also, Akker van der Merwe is the perfect hooker for SR level and would probably walk into any of the other SA franchizes yet can't get even a bench spot for the Lions. Many touting him for a Bok berth yet he seems to be 3rd choice at the Lions at this stage.

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Also odd that they had JvdW at 15 who is known for his goal kicking but they hand the kicking duty to a rookie.

 

[FNS]

When Sanchez plays well jags are another team. Also good performance overall.

A few things:

- Tackling improved but we missed in the late 20
- We need to avoid some retarded play choises.
- Scrum is a disgrace.

but a win is a win. Whats this felling? joy maybe...mmm haha

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Not that I want to take anything away from the Jaguares mind. I've said from the start of last year they are contenders and even if they didn't live up to the hype that was mainly due to a 'culture shock' of sorts I believe. They could've/should've beaten both us and the Chiefs last year and did the Lions (they can't be blamed for Ackermann sending a B team!) so thats 3 of the finalists right there. Consistency nd disciplie will come and to a certain degree there needs to be a subtle shift in identity between the SR side and the national side because even if its basically the same team the contexts just simply cannot be compared IMO. That can also only come with time in the comp.

No, I'm bagging the Lions because I'm disappointed by the decision making on and off the park and a lack of commitment in particular rather than trying to make excuses for them. A very well deserved win and I'm sure there'll be many more especially at home. Its going to be an interesting 3-way between the Jaguares, Lions and Sharks for those two spots!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Still too soft in defence in their 22 for the Jaguares, and they should never have given the Lions a sniff of a bonus point. But signs that the Jaguares will put up a genuine push for the playoffs this year. Yet again, if the Lions lose out on top seed at playoff time, they will remember Argentina.

 

[CocoPampas]

Sanchez could realistically have been yellow carded twice. This isn't a game where Jaguares fans can complain about the refereeing. I'm seeing significant improvements from the Jaguares:

i) Absolutely no chat back to the ref about decisions, they just accept it and focus on the game.
ii) A lot more patience in the opponents 22, they aren't making desperate offloads all the time, only offloading if they think it is going to succeed.
iii) Better shape in attack with de la Fuente than Hernandez at 12.
iv) A fair few new names, all of whom seem to be doing alright.

...and that's the game. I put the boot into Perez a lot for the big difference between Pumas and Jaguares, but here, there is no difference.

Yep, we easily could get 1/2 more yellow cards.
I'm happy with the general performance. I'm happy with the result. But, this doesn't mean that we are better than the Lions. The referee and the Lions gave this one to us.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Forget about top seed the Lions will need to get into the play-offs first. I know its round 3 and there's a long ways to go but the Sharks and Jaguares lie above the Lions now and the Sharks have finished their travel to Oz. Losing points to your direct opposition for a play-off spot like this is taking a combination punch. All that needs to happen is for the Lions to struggle in Aussie and for the Juagares and Sharks (admitedly both teams with a track record of being very inconsistent TBF) to stay strong or to take another match off of them and the Lions could miss out on a play off spot.

If I were to put money on it I'd rather back the Lions to bounce back and the Jaguares and Sharks' season to be a more mixed bag but its not inconceivable. The Lions hardly had injury issues last year. That's not something to rely on. Especially considering their in-conference opposition had difficult seasons; 1st year for the Jaguares in the comp and the Sharks played the whole season without key men (Lambie, Reinach, Coetzee, an actual fullback..)

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Jantiles showed his true colours today.

Missing a game for the birth of your child is taking a game off to brag about having sex. The props gotta be upset about him shoving it in their face like that.

Real team players know to only have unprotected sex 9 months before the offseason smh.

 

[SomeOke]

I honestly have no idea what Ackerman was thinking, but perhaps a week of rest for some players will pay off later in the season.
Robbie Coetzee should not be in the squad. He's not a bad player but world class hookers were a big part of why the Lions were so deadly last year.