Jaguares eager to take over SA Rugby piece by piece
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Aside from dominating the South African conference in the Super Rugby competition, the Jaguares will now try to dominate South Africa's domestic competition as well.
The Argentinian team namely the Jaguares XV embarked on a new journey as they travelled to Potchefstroom to prepare for their first-ever Currie Cup First Division match.
The squad that has several players with International experience with Los Pumas will take on South African team the Griffons on Saturday in Welkom.
Jaguars XV, who will be based in Potchefstroom for next two months, is coached by Ignacio Fernández Lobbe and also include promising star Bautista Ezcurra.
Commenting in the side's new journey, Ezcurra said: "The arrival in Potchefstroom was a little long because of the stops, but we are already well installed. We want to continue improving and building the team to play the best rugby we can.
"Personally I take it as an opportunity to continue playing rugby, adding minutes and therefore I have many expectations and a lot of desire,"
Knowing very little of the Griffons, the 24-year-old centre Ezcurra does not underestimate the Potchefstroom side and believes the contest will be very challenging.
"I think the match against Griffons will be very tough as it is every time we face a South African team. We have a week to prepare it and we aim to arrive in the best form. "
This is not the first time that an Argentinian team has played in a South African domestic tournament, with the Pampas XV – who was based in South Africa – having featured played in the Vodacom Cup between 2010 and 2013.
The Currie Cup First Division will kick off on the weekend of July 5/6, with the Border Bulldogs coming into the competition for the Namibian team, who have decided to withdraw.
The defending First Division champions, the SWD Eagles, start their campaign with a tough trip to the East Rand to face the Valke.
Currie Cup First Division:
Fixtures:
July 5/6
Valke v SWD Eagles
Leopards v Multisure EP Elephants
Griffons v Jaguares XV
Boland Cavaliers v Border Bulldogs
July 12/13
SWD Eagles v Leopards
Jaguares XV v Boland Cavaliers
EP Elephants v Griffons
Border Bulldogs v Valke
July 19/20
Leopards v Valke
Down Touch Griffons v SWD Eagles
Boland Cavaliers v EP Elephants
Border Bulldogs v Jaguares XV
July 26/27
SWD Eagles v Boland Cavaliers
Valke v Down Touch Griffons
Leopards v Border Bulldogs
EP Elephants v Jaguares XV
August 2/3
Griffons v Leopards
Boland Cavaliers v Valke
Jaguares XV v SWD Eagles
Border Bulldogs v EP Elephants
August 9/10
SWD Eagles v EP Elephants
Valke v Jaguares XV
Leopards v Boland Cavaliers
Griffons v Border Bulldogs
August 16/17
Boland Cavaliers v Griffons
Jaguares XV v Leopards
EP Elephants v Valke
Border Bulldogs v SWD Eagles
August 23/24 – Semi-finals
Friday, August 30 – Final
Source: @JaguaresARG