Lambie kicks Sharks to Super Rugby victory in Argentina

Patrick Lambie kicked a 40-metre, final-minute penalty to snatch a 25-22 Super Rugby victory for the Coastal Sharks over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

Starting his first game this season after recovering from a shoulder injury, the South Africa fly-half scored 20 points through six penalties and the conversion of a try by loose forward Daniel du Preez.

Lambie, who came on as a substitute last weekend, missed only one of eight shots at goal with his first penalty attempt drifting right of the far post at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.

After trailing 19-17 at half-time, the Argentines dominated the second half and drew level eight minutes from time when loosehead prop Santiago Garcia Botta barged over.

Veteran centre Juan Martin Hernandez, one of 14 Test players in the Jaguares starting line-up, saw his conversion from the touchline drift left and wide.

Sharks then pressed for a winning score and Lambie defied the jeers of a hostile crowd to steer the ball between the posts and give the visitors four precious points.

Victory lifted the Durban-based side one place to third in the Africa standings with the top three finishers in July qualifying for the quarter-finals.

After winning their opening match, the Jaguares have lost eight of nine and have no chance of making the knockout phase in their debut season.

"We were under a lot of pressure during the second half and had to show tremendous character to win," Lambie told reporters.

"It was very difficult trying to contain the Jaguares in a hostile atmosphere and we committed a lot of errors."

Jaguares scrum-half Martin Landajo blamed ill discipline for the third loss in four home matches.

"We gave away far too many penalties and must improve this aspect of our game. Despite losing, I believe we gave an encouraging performance."

Tries from lock Tomas Lavanini and Landajo, both converted by fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, gave the hosts an 14-6 lead, which Lambie trimmed to 14-12 with two penalties, but the sin-binning of flanker Pablo Matera proved more costly for the home side.

Within a minute of the yellow card, Du Preez forced his way over and Lambie converted for a five-point lead which was reduced to two before the break when Sanchez kicked a penalty.

In a low-scoring second half, Lambie slotted a penalty and won the match at the death after Botta had brought the teams level.

Sharks spent much of the final stages a man short after replacement back S'bura Sithole was sin-binned in the 70th minute.