Rugby-Pumas enforcer Matera on crusade for first championship

By Ian Ransom

(Reuters) - Having been a driving force in the Canterbury Crusaders' run to Saturday's Super Rugby final, Pablo Matera feared his shot at a first championship trophy was in jeopardy after drawing two yellow cards in the semi-final against the Waikato Chiefs.

That brought his season total to four yellows and a mandatory judicial process which, to his huge relief, found no "pattern of concern", clearing the Argentina enforcer for the decider against the Auckland Blues.

"I couldn't handle my emotions. I was very happy, it's a dream come true to come here and be able to play a final," flanker Matera told New Zealand media in Auckland.

"You never know if you are going to have another chance to play a final."

Matera was a member of the Jaguares team who fell to the Crusaders 19-3 in the 2019 final in Christchurch.

The first Argentine side in Super Rugby, the Jaguares were left high and dry the following year when COVID-19 disrupted the competition.

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