Inspired Jaguares pip Rebels in Melbourne

The Melbourne Rebels have fallen to an inspired Jaguares outfit 25-22 in wet conditions at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon. The Rebels opted for a scrum in the 79th minute to push for the win in the final play of the match, opting against a penalty conversion that would have forced a draw. In the early stages, both teams looked to take advantage of the slippery conditions with the match dominated by long-kicking duels. After the Rebels repelled three rolling maul attempts from the Jaguares inside their own 22, the visitors opted for three points instead on their next visit with a successful Nicolas Sanchez penalty. The Rebels responded immediately when Will Genia decided to snipe from the back of a Rebels lineout win. From 40m out the halfback broke into the backfield and found a lurking Billy Meakes in support for the Rebels to cross for the first try of the game. The attacking intent of the home side was rewarded again in the 19th minute when Captain Adam Coleman turned down two kickable penalty attempts at goal, in favour of consecutive lineouts. The ball was quickly dispensed to the wide sideline where Marika Koroibete easily accounted for his opponent and crossed in the corner. The constant showers made ball handling difficult to half time, but David Wessels would have been encouraged by the Rebels’ set piece which was rock solid at scrum time and repelled plenty of Jaguares mauls. It was from an attacking scrum on halfway that Genia would get his second try assist of the game; a neat loop play creating the line-break that resulted in a Dane Haylett-Petty try in his return match. The crowd had barely returned to their seat when the Jaguares had responded with a score of their own, courtesy of wing Sebastian Cancelliere. With the lead reduced to just six points, the job was made tougher for the hosts when prop Tetera Faulkner was sin-binned after repeated infringements. The Jaguares wasted no time with the one-man advantage, using a numbers overlap to put wing Ramiro Moyano over in the corner. Demonstrating more patience in attack, the Rebels were able to wind down the clock with long passages in attack negating their yellow card. The frustrated Jaguars responded with penalties around the ruck and Jack Debreczeni replied with a penalty to extend the Rebels’ lead to four points. The Jaguares weren’t done with just yet, and when Michael Ruru was charged down in his half attempting a box kick by Leonrado Senatore, the visitors were able to regather possession and find an unmarked Bautista Ezcurra in the corner for a try. The Rebels held possession for over four minutes past the final siren as they desperate searched for the winning score. But a knock-on just five metres from the line proved the undoing; the Jaguares claiming their second win in Melbourne in as many meetings. RESULT – Vodafone Super Rugby, Round 9 AAMI Park, Melbourne Melbourne Rebels 22 Tries: Meakes, Koroibete, D Haylett-Petty Cons: Debreczeni 2 Pens: Debreczeni Jaguares 25 Tries: Cancelliere, Moyano, Ezcurra Cons: Sanchez 2 Pens: Sanchez 2