Moyano hat-trick helps in-form Jaguares rout Cheetahs

Wing Ramiro Moyano scored a hat-trick of tries as the Jaguares crushed the Cheetahs 41-14 for a third victory in four Super Rugby matches at Velez Sarsfield on Saturday.

The Argentine team scored five tries, securing a bonus point, after lock Matias Alemanno also went over in the first half and the team were awarded a penalty try at the hooter.

The Jaguares took over where they had left off with last weekend’s victory over the Lions, quickly piling up the points to cruise to a 24-7 halftime lead, their pace and handling skills carving gaps in the South African team’s defence.

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The home side lost left wing Santiago Cordero in controversial circumstances when he suffered a head injury in the build-up to Moyano’s first try in the seventh minute when he was the victim of a spear tackle that went unpunished.

Cheetahs got on the scoreboard for the first time after 25 minutes with a try by centre Michael van der Spuy, converted by flyhalf Neil Marais, when Jaguares were already 17-0 up.

Moyano’s second try, following a fine move down the left, involved most of the team, giving Jaguares a 24-7 lead at the break.

Cheetahs failed to add points from a barn-storming first 10 minutes of the second half, foundering on a well-organised home defence. Instead, a penalty from Hernandez put the Jaguares 20 points ahead.

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Both sides thought they had scored tries approaching the hour mark but the Jaguares were pulled back because of a foot in touch and Cheetahs were denied by a Marais knock-on as he went over.

With the Jaguares out of sight, the South African side finally clawed back some points while Jaguares replacement centre Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias was in the sin bin for a high tackle. Replacement prop Joseph Dweba went over for a try.