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Jaguares on track to take out Currie Cup first division but won't feature in the premier competition next year
By Tom Vinicombe
The condensed Currie Cup season is coming to a close for another year and there have already been some big casualties in the Premier Division, with the Blue Bulls and Western Province missing out on the semi-finals.
One division lower, we've entered the last week of the season, with the Jaguares XV now set to take on the Griffins in the grand final.
The Argentinian B team - comprised primarily of players who have missed out on World Cup selection - have dismantled most of their opposition to date. It's their first time taking part in a South African domestic competition since 2013.
With 35 competition points to their name, the Jaguares have managed a bonus point win in each of their seven fixtures. Their closest match, against the team they'll come up against in the final this weekend, was a 50-43 win.
At the other end of the scale, the Jaguares destroyed the Falcons 122-9 and also smashed the SWD Eagles 83-3.
Suffice to say, it would be a fairly big surprise if the Argentinians didn't take out the competition this weekend.
Regardless, the Jaguares won't gain promotion into the Premier Division - where the traditional South African heavyweights do battle.
Instead, the Griffons will play a one-off match against the Mpumalanga-based Pumas to decide who will compete in the top flight next season.
It's evidently been decided that the Premier Division of the Currie Cup should be reserved for South African sides - something which is hard to argue with, given the competition's 80-year history.
Any opposition is good opposition, as far as Argentina will be concerned, but the second-tier South African teams won't exactly be looking forward to being on the receiving end of more major floggings next year.
A South American competition will be launched in the coming years, with most of the players in that tournament likely to be provided by the Argentinians. At least until then, it looks like the Jaguares will remain kings of the savannah in South Africa.
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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