Jaguares win back-to-back games in Australia
Argentina's Jaguares completed an unbeaten tour of Australia with a come-from-behind 32-29 Super Rugby victory over the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday.
The much-improved Jaguares leave for home having won back-to-back games on their first trip to Australia after downing the New South Wales Waratahs 40-27 in Sydney last week.
The Jaguares trailed 19-10 at half-time but they finished strongly, outscoring the Rebels four tries to two with the home side's second try coming after the full-time siren.
The Argentines completed their second season in Super Rugby winning seven of their 15 matches and finished third behind the Golden Lions and Coastal Sharks in Africa 2 conference.
Winger Santiago Cordero scored a try double with other tries to lock Guido Petti and replacement scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou.
Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez kicked two conversions and two penalties with Juan Martin Hernandez adding another conversion.
"This is our second season and it's still all new for us and it's great to finish with a win, next season will be much better," scrum-half Martin Landajo said.
"We've learned more about our mentality. We have a small group, not many players, so we are learning a lot and we are enjoying our rugby."
The Rebels, who may have played their last game in Super Rugby with a decision still to be made on which Australian team to be culled for next season, began strongly with Wallaby back Reece Hodge scoring all his side's 19 points in the first half.
But the Jaguares were stronger in the second half with Petti backing up a break from Sanchez to score, Cordero scoring off a high Sanchez kick and Bertranou burrowing his way over close to the line.
The Jaguares were strong in the set piece and the forwards began to dominate during the second half with the Rebels falling off the pace and missing a total of 43 tackles.
"Obviously, it's been a tough season for us and we've let ourselves down with our results but we showed tonight that we can mix it and we can play good rugby," Rebels skipper Nic Stirzaker said.
The Rebels finished the season last in the Australian conference with just one win and a draw, and will face an anxious time awaiting their fate for next season.