RUGBY NEWS - The Cell C Sharks are not alone among the South African teams in needing to be at their best if this country’s participation in the 2018 edition of Vodacom Super Rugby is to be extended beyond this weekend’s quarterfinal stage.
Although the Sharks face more formidable opponents and are a long way from home, the Emirates Lions will have to be on point against the Jaguars if they are to advance to the semifinals.
The Jaguares have yet to win in Johannesburg and have dipped into a two-week losing sequence since surrendering their seven-match winning streak that brought them into playoff contention, but they are equipped to push the Lions.
A lot has been made of the Jaguares’ poor form in South Africa, but it should not be forgotten that they had struggled in New Zealand and Australia before this year.
Yet they returned from their Australasian trip a few months ago with a record that read played four, won four - and that is not something that any South African team has ever managed.
The counter-argument to that is usually “Well it should be expected, they are after all an international team”. Which is precisely the point.
It took a while for the Jaguares to settle in Super Rugby, but they have settled now, and neither the loss to the Bulls two weeks ago nor, and in particular, the defeat to the Sharks last week should be seen as an indication of their potential.
