Western Stormers of South Africa battled to a 32-25 Super Rugby victory Saturday over a Jaguares of Argentina team reduced to 13 men for part of the second half.
Outstanding loose forward Pablo Matera and Matias Moroni were yellow carded within a minute just past the hour mark at Newlands stadium in Cape Town.
Stormers were awarded a penalty try soon after for a nine-point lead and the expectations were that the floodgates would open.
But the Buenos Aires-based side responded with a brilliant try by Santiago Cordero which replacement Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias converted.
Seconds before the two sin-binned Argentines returned, SP Marais scored a try for the Cape Town outfit to complete the scoring.
“The Jaguares shocked us with their physicality,” admitted Stormers try scorer and man of the match EW Viljoen.
“We were very happy to hear the final whistle sound. It was a really tough match for us.”
After a poor debut season, the Jaguares are looking more polished this year despite lacking injured stars Martin Landajo and Juan Martin Hernandez.
Star Nicolas Sanchez returned to fly-half and contributed eight points after missing the opening-round win over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
“The way the Jaguares forwards carried the ball was outstanding,” said SuperSport TV analyst and former Springboks coach Nick Mallett.
After receiving rave reviews for their South African derby win over the Northern Bulls last weekend, the Stormers looked much less impressive.
Viljoen, Jano Vermaak and Marais scored tries for the Stormers, who were also awarded a seven-point penalty try.
Jean-Luc du Plessis, a son of former Springbok star Carel, kicked two conversions and two penalties.
Santiago Cordero scored two tries and skipper Agustin Creevy one for the Jaguares while Sanchez kicked a conversion and two penalties and Iglesias a conversion.
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