Waratahs have to back up against in-form Aussie team the Rebels after being whacked by the Jaguares

AFTER a woeful performance against the previous winless Jaguares in Argentina, the next challenge for the Waratahs will show us what they’re made of.

Australia's Waratahs fullback Israel Folau (C) is tackled by Argentina's Jaguares wing Emiliano Boffelli (L) and fly half Nicolas Sanchez during their Super Rugby match at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on March 10, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Alejandro PAGNI

AFTER being dominated by the Jaguares and with an in-form Rebels as their next opponents, the Waratahs already have an uphill challenge this week.

But when it rains it pours and before the Waratahs can look at the many problems exposed in Buenos Aires and the rising danger of the Rebels, first they’ll have to try to keep their eyes open.

​The Tahs, beaten by the Jaguares far more soundly than the 38-28 scoreline suggests, will arrive back in Sydney this week after doing a lap of the planet inside a fortnight.

​Having flown from Sydney to Durban​ to play the Sharks, then on to Buenos Aires​to to meet the Jaguares, and then back to Sydney, the Waratahs will have spent around 60 hours in planes and travelled 30,462km in the past 15 days.

TURNSTILE TAHS: Horror show as Waratahs demolished by the Jaguares

Australia's Waratahs fullback Israel Folau is tackled by Argentina's Jaguares fly half Nicolas Sanchez in their loss.

It’s the toughest road trip in rugby and the Tahs will need all seven days ​in their turnaround to adjust body clocks, let alone a flawed game.

​If jet​lag was already a factor in​ losing​ to the ​previously winless ​Jaguares, it’ll only be worse this week ahead of their clash with the unbeaten Rebels on ​Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.

Agustin Creevy crashes through the Waratahs’ defence.

​

In demolishing the Brumbies, the Rebels proved that power wise they are just as ​equipped as the Argentinians to hurt NSW​ in the same areas that led to their loss in Buenos Aires.

The Tahs were outmuscled and outplayed by Mario Ledesma’s men, unable to match the Jaguares’ power in contact, their set-piece and their tempo and skill with the ball.

​Two tries in the final two minutes by NSW painted a veneer of respectability on an otherwise one-sided defeat.

Bernard Foley will be keen to make amends against the Rebels.

Losing a bonus point as a result of the last two NSW tries, the Jaguares will be kicking themselves they didn’t kick on after they scored five tries in the first half to lead 33-7; the first after just 17 seconds.

With Ledesma no doubt using inside knowledge from his time in Australian rugby, the Waratahs were dominated at the collisions. And without leg drive to take them past the gainline, NSW’s plan to use backs to find gaps wide was shut down by a well-spread Jaguares defence.

Argentina's Jaguares flankers Marcos Kremer and Pablo Matera push off Michael Hooper.

The Waratahs were mostly able to fix last week’s problem of not maintaining possession but ultimately they weren’t able to mount any serious pressure with the ball, and mistakes were seized upon by the Jaguares.

As is the way, lost composure resulted in wheel nuts falling off everywhere: restarts, discipline, handling.

It was a disturbing re-emergence of the 2017 Waratahs, and the eighth time in the past two seasons NSW have conceded six tries or more.

“The Jaguares were very impressive at the start of the game,” Hooper said. “They capitalised on opportunities and put points on us easily.”

JAGUARES 38 (Emiliano Boffelli 2, Bautista Delguy, Matias Orlando, Nicolas Sanchez, Joaquin Tuculet tries Sanchez 4 cons) WARATAHS 28 (Israel Folau, Jed Holloway, Nicholas Palmer, Curtis Rona tries Bernard Foley 4 cons) at Velez Sarsfield. Referee: Mike Fraser.

Originally published as Waratahs have to back up against in-form Aussie team the Rebels after being whacked by the Jaguares