Jaguares 30-31 Kings: Wandile Mjekevu piles agony on Jaguares
Last Updated: 01/07/17 12:33pm
A Southern Kings team facing the Super Rugby axe next week won 31-30 as the Jaguares' horror run continued.
It was the fourth win in six matches for the one-time South African whipping boys, and the seventh loss in eight games for an Argentine outfit who began the season promisingly.
Jaguares led 20-14 at half-time in an often scrappy, error-strewn round 15 tussle in which only pride was at stake in Estadio Jose Amalfitani as neither team can reach the knockout phase.
The decisive score came nine minutes from time when Kings winger Wandile Mjekevu scored a try which skipper and fly-half Lionel Cronje converted for a six-point advantage.
Jaguares full-back Joaquin Tuculet scored in the corner to trim the gap to one point, but substitute fly-half Joaquin Diaz Bonilla missed a conversion that would have given his side the lead.
Poor goal-kicking cost the Jaguares dearly as fly-half Nicolas Sanchez fluffed four of six shots at the posts and Bonilla was wide with his two attempts.
Cronje was much more successful, succeeding with five of six kicks at goal as Kings triumphed in what could be their last Super Rugby match outside South Africa.
South Africa have to cull two of their six teams and one Australian side among five - either Melbourne Rebels or Western Force - will also drop out.
The South African rugby board plan to announce the two casualties next Friday and the media favourites for the chop are Kings and the Bloemfontein-based Central Cheetahs.
They have the poorest overall records and lowest crowds among the South African sides, but the recent form of the star-less Kings has been impressive with two of the four wins on the road.
