Ruthless Scotland slay Argentina in 85-point thriller as debutant among seven different tryscorers

They scored seven tries to make it a winning start in the Nations Championship and although it was not perfect, there was plenty to like.

Two very late Argentina tries meant the 47-38 scoreline flattered the home side somewhat but it also ensured the Pumas took a bonus point, which could prove important in the final analysis.

But it was Scotland’s day and a particularly memorable occasion for three of their players who were making landmark appearances. Gregor Hiddleston, who enjoyed a winning Test debut off the bench, and Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings, who were both winning their 50th caps, all scored tries. The other scores came from captain Sione Tuipulotu, the outstanding Rory Hutchinson, Gregor Brown and Kyle Rowe.

For Scotland, it was a record points haul on Argentine soil, eclipsing the 44 they scored in Resistencia in 2018. It also helped atone for last November’s spectacular collapse against these opponents when they blew a 21-0 lead at Murrayfield and conceded five tries in the final 24 minutes to lose 33-24.

It was a different story at the Estadio Mario Kempes and the great Argentina striker would have been impressed by Scotland’s ruthlessness. Their finishing was excellent and particularly efficient in the first half when they scored three tries in only four entries into the Argentine 22.

It will be far, far tougher next week in South Africa but this was a highly pleasing start to the Nations Championship for Gregor Townsend and his players.

These two teams always seem to serve up high-scoring games and it was no different this time.

Argentina started off impressively and went through the phases to pin Scotland back in their own 22. They kicked a couple of penalties to the corner and they plundered the game’s opening try from the second lineout, with No 8 and local boy Joaquin Oviedo bursting out of the drive to score. Tomas Albornoz converted.

A second try almost followed after Argentina turned over Scotland in midfield but Jack Dempsey and Kyle Steyn combined to snuff out the danger.

It was a bruising start for the Scots who lost Tom Jordan - temporarily - to a head injury and then saw Elliot Millar Mills limp off. The prop looked in some distress and was replaced by Zander Fagerson, his game lasting a mere 13 minutes.

Scotland show their attacking prowess

Scotland clicked into gear soon after. Their forwards put in some serious grunt to take the visitors up the field and then the flair players did the rest. Tuipulotu was the scorer but Hutchinson was creator supreme. The Northampton player’s selection was a mild surprise but he more than justified the decision with a delightful step before hurling the perfect pass out to Tuipulotu who was lurking on the left wing and had plenty of time and space to score.

Fergus Burke, on for Jordan, nailed the extras before making way for the returning stand-off, who had passed his HIA.

The try seemed to settle Scotland and they scored their second soon after. A slick exchange between Tuipulotu and Jordan allowed the latter to put Rowe away in space. The full-back was having a great half made serious yardage. The ball was quickly recycled for Schoeman to crash over to put the Scots 12-7 ahead.

Jamie Dobie and Steyn were bossing the aerial jousts and Rowe was causing all sorts of danger with his pace but Argentina gained some respite with a long range penalty from Albornoz.

Scotland were the better team and scored again four minutes before half-time. This time Tuipulotu was the creator and Hutchinson the finisher, as the Scots plundered their third try from only their third visit to the Argentina 22. Jordan missed the conversion but an early charge down attempt saw it retaken and he made no mistake the second time.

Scotland went close again just before the break as tempers began to fray and Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli had a word with both captains.

Argentina came out firing after the interval and Scotland’s 19-10 half-time advantage was cut almost immediately. Rodrigo Isgro, who sparked the Pumas’ famous comeback in November with their first try of the day, did the damage, showing good physical awareness to latch on to Santiago Carreras’ well-judged grubber. Albornoz converted to reduce the lead to two points.

The home side had made changes to their pack and their scrum looked better for it. It was at around this point in the Murrayfield game that the Scotland collapse began but the visitors made sure there was no repeat in Cordoba with two tries in three minutes.

Brown got the first of his Scotland career, powering over from close range after a neat no-look pass from Rory Darge. And then the Scots showed great improvisation to put Cummings away for their fifth try of the day, with Jordan and Dobie’s interplay too slick for the Pumas. Jordan converted both to make it 33-17 to the visitors.

By this point it was end to end. Tomas Rapetti, Argentina’s replacement prop, squeezed his way over to cut Scotland’s lead to seven points but Hiddleston replied with his debut score from a lineout drive. Jamie Dobie and Joaquin Moro were shown yellow cards at each try and then Rowe got away for the try his performance deserved after a lovely passing move from the Scottish backline.

Burke’s conversion made it 47-24 and Scotland seemed out of sight by that point, but late converted tries by Lucio Cinti and Agustin Moyano cut the margin of victory to nine points.

Teams and scorers

Scorers: Argentina: Tries: Oviedo, Isgro, Rapetti, Cinti, Moyano. Cons: Albornoz 5. Pen: Albornoz. Scotland: Tries: Tuipulotu, Schoeman, Hutchinson, Brown, Cummings, Hiddleston, Rowe. Cons: Burke 3, Jordan 3.

Yellow cards: Dobie (Sco, 65min), Joaquin Moro (Arg, 68min).

Argentina: S Carreras; R Isgro (B Delguy 45), L Cinti, F Sanchez Valarolo (M Moroni 60), M ⁠Carreras; T Albornoz, G Garcia (A Moyano 15-29; 75); M Vivas (B Wenger 45), J Montoya, P ⁠Delgado (T Rapetti 45), G Petti, M Alemanno (F Molina 54), P Matera (I Ruiz 69), S Grondona (J Moro 60), J Oviedo.

Scotland: K Rowe; K Steyn (D Graham 60), R Hutchinson, S Tuipulotu, J Dobie; T Jordan (F Burke 4-19, 66), B White (G Horne 60); P Schoeman (R Sutherland 60), E Ashman (G Hiddleston 60), E Millar Mills (Z Fagerson 13), J Gray (G Brown 48), S Cummings, M Fagerson, R Darge, J Dempsey (A Samuel 60).

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).