Super Rugby: Jaguares vs Lions – team news, kick-off time and live stream

The Lions are in Buenos Aires to play the Jaguares on Saturday, looking to keep up the form that sees them top the Super Rugby log.

Last season’s beaten finalists have only slipped up once this season.

That came on home turf a fortnight ago as the Blues snatched a last-gasp, 38-35 victory at Emirates Airline Park.

Swys de Bruin’s side were then subjected to an almighty test of their credentials last weekend by the Sunwolves.

The Japanese side pushed the Lions all the way for their 40-38 victory.

Battle-hardened they most certainly are, then, as they head to Argentina.

It has been another irritating campaign so far for the Jaguares.

All-too-familiar indiscipline as continued to cost them despite the arrival of Mario Ledesma as coach.

They sneaked their only win of 2018, 38-28 over the Waratahs, a fortnight ago.

But they couldn’t find a way past the Reds last weekend as they resumed normal service with an 18-7 loss.

Jaguares team and injury news

There are only two changes, perhaps surprisingly, for the Jaguares.

Bautista Ezcurra comes in for Santiago Iglesias at centre while Santiago Garcia Botta replaces Felipe Arregui at prop.

Jeronimo de le Fuente and Ramiro Moyano make it as far as the replacements bench.

Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta.

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Felipe Arregui, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 23 Ramiro Moyano.

Lions team and injury news

Props Jacques van Rooyen and Ruan Dreyer and hooker Robbie Coetzee form a brand new front row, with Malcolm Marx taking a blow.

Franco Mostert moves back to his natural habitat at lock with Cyle Brink and Robert Kruger in at six and seven.

Marco Jansen van Vuren gets a gig at scrum half thanks to an injury to Ross Cronje, as Sylvian Mahuza starts on the right wing.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Robert Kruger, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Shaun Reynolds.

Kick-off time

Saturday, 24 March, 21:40 (SAST) at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.

TV & Live Stream

SuperSport 1 (subscription required) from 21:30 (SAST).

Super Rugby form (most recent result first)

Jaguares: LWLLL

Lions: WLWWW

Betting Odds

Jaguares win: 2/1

Lions win: 4/11

Draw: 20/1