Five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez steered the Jaguares to a fifth consecutive victory as the Argentine team matched their record for wins in a Super Rugby season with a crushing 54-24 triumph against the Bulls at Velez Sarsfield.
Sanchez, who contributed 24 points, was at the heart of the home side’s best moments, setting up tries for wing Bautista Delguy and centre Matias Orlando as the Jaguares recorded their seventh victory of the campaign.
The Jaguares’ forward play, revitalised by coach Mario Ledesma, was key as the hosts took a 20-10 halftime lead and scythed through an increasingly demoralised South African side’s defence in the opening quarter of the second period.
Flanker Marcos Kremer also went over as the Jaguares, consolidating a fine run of four wins on the road in Australia and New Zealand, took sole possession of second place in the South African conference behind the Lions.
The Bulls were always chasing the contest but could have taken the lead in the 25th minute when flanker Thembelane Bholi spilled the ball after he had crossed the line when the Jaguares were 13-7 up after fullback Warrick Gelant’s early try.
The visitors did add two tries in the final 10 minutes as replacements Nick de Jager, from a rolling maul, and Andre Warner, from a kick to the corner by five-eighth Manie Libbok, grabbed some consolation points late on.
However, the Jaguares, in earning their first bonus point win of the season, were brilliant as they drove forward in the second half with confident passing and handling.
The pick of their tries came from Orlando, after a break by fellow centre Jeronimo de la Fuente, and a move involving half the team rounded off by wing Sebastian Cancelliere.
Juan Cruz Mallia’s debut off the bench was cut short in the 77th minute by a yellow card for a shoulder charge but the home side still had time for a seventh try.
Emiliano Boffelli, standing in at fullback for the injured Joaquin Tuculet, touched down as time expired to take his season tally to 10.