Jaguares make solid start in first 'Currie Cup' appearance since 2013

The second-string Jaguares have picked up where the first choice team left off in Super Rugby, with a solid start to their Currie Cup First Division campaign.

The Jaguares travelled to Potchefstroom to take on the Boland Cavaliers over the weekend for their second match of the season and emerged with a comfortable 54-17 victory.

The Cavaliers finished 5th in last year’s competition but were top of this year’s table after the opening round last week. Still, the loss will come as a surprise to few.

The First Division, despite its name, is actually the second tier of South Africa’s traditional Currie Cup competition.

In last week’s fixture, the Jaguares narrowly beat the Griffons 50-43.

The last time an Argentinian team took part in the competition was back in 2013, when the Pampas XV were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the then-Vodacom Cup.

Although the Jaguares share a name with the beaten Super Rugby finalists, the personnel differs considerably between the sides. Most of the Super Rugby team’s players are now in camp with the national squad, which makes the Currie Cup team the second-tier of Argentinian players.

There have been calls to introduce a second Argentina-based side to Super Rugby in the near future, given the growing strength of the country. There are many factors that will likely prevent a new team anytime in the near future, but the Jaguares participation in the Currie Cup will at least allow the next generation of players to get some professional game-time against reasonable opposition.