Argentina's Jaguares shrugged off a poor start and overcame a 21-point deficit in their Super Rugby debut to beat South Africa's Cheetahs 34-33 in a high-scoring thriller in Bloemfontein.
Argentina's Rodrigo Baez breaks through South Africa's Cheetahs on Friday (South African time) in Bloemfontein. Photo: AFP
The Jaguares are among three new teams in the expanded southern hemisphere competition and they began the match with 10 of the 15 players who featured in Argentina's line-up in October's World Cup semi-final defeat by Australia.
Look back at live commentary of today's match
The Argentine team were on the back foot when Cheetahs captain Francois Venter notched a try in the 10th minute.
That was followed by a series of disciplinary indiscretions that saw two Jaguars players sent to the sin bin.
Nicolas Sanchez was the first to be sin-binned in the 17th minute, and Martin Landajo followed a minute later - when he kneed Torsten van Jaarsveld in the head as the Cheetahs prop dived over the line, dislodging the ball.
A penalty try was awarded and Van Jaarsveld got his name on the scoresheet when the Cheetahs grabbed a third touchdown.
Tomas Lavanini was fortunate not to be sin-binned when he dived on top of William Small-Smith, after the centre claimed a fourth Cheetahs try to open a 24-3 lead.
Restored to a full compliment of players, the Jaguars rallied with tries from lineout possession for Landajo and captain Agustin Creevy - cutting the deficit to 24-17 at halftime.
Sanchez's kick then set up a third touchdown for the visitors early in the second half by flanker Rodrigo Baez.
Flyhalf Fred Zeilinga slotted two penalties to put the Cheetahs six points ahead, before a darting run from Landajo and a conversion by Sanchez helped the debutants go in front.
A Sanchez drop goal extended the lead to four points before substitute Daniel Marais reduced the gap to a single point with a Cheetahs penalty.
