The Lions escaped a tricky Super Rugby encounter against the Jaguares with victory thanks to a late Elton Jantjies penalty.

Last year's beaten finalists were being held by the Argentina franchise before Jantjies slotted a kick with two minutes to play, sealing their seventh win in eight games.

The Jaguares took the lead in the first half, with Nicolas Sanchez setting up Matias Orlando for the score, but Harold Vorster soon levelled things with a try for the Lions.

Centre Lionel Mapoe added a second try for the Lions to take a 14-7 lead into the break, but the Jaguares dominated after the restart and tries from Rodrigo Baez and Guido Petti gave them a deserved 21-14 advantage.

Ruan Ackermann finally brought the Lions level again with 10 minutes to play, before Jantjies nailed the winning penalty in the closing stages.