SCOTLAND BOOED OFF AT MURRAYFIELD AFTER BLOWING 21-POINT LEAD IN DEFEAT BY ARGENTINA
Madness at Murrayfield! Just when you thought you had both of these teams sussed, this is the fruits of their labours; one of the most mind-boggling, if thrilling, matches of the autumn thus far – with one of the great South American smash-and-grabs and a staggering Scottish capitulation.
Scotland, on the back of that gut-wrenching defeat to New Zealand last week, led 21-0 after 55 minutes thanks to a brace from Ewan Ashman and another score by Jack Dempsey. Argentina had played the best part of an hour as if they did not want to be there – some of their kicking and organisation was truly woeful – before mounting the most dramatic of comebacks, earning their first victory at Murrayfield since 2009. At the last, Scotland, distraught, were booed; Argentina, euphoric, were serenaded.
“We deserve to cop it a bit as a playing group,” said Sione Tuipulotu, Scotland captain. “That performance just was not good enough and we have to own that.
“I think [the booing was fair]. Gregor [Townsend, head coach] spoke in the changing room about back-to-back home sell-outs – not every stadium does that. There’s a bit of guilt there; people have paid good money to come and watch us and we need to cop this one as a playing group, put our hands up and say that was not good enough.”
This is where it went wrong for Townsend’s side.
Indiscipline and Russell’s wayward pass
All it took to ignite the Argentina rearguard was a Blair Kinghorn sin-binning and one wayward Finn Russell pass. Russell would knock over another three points but from then it was one-way traffic as Argentina plundered five tries, four of which came from close range. It was Pablo Matera’s effort which gave Los Pumas the lead for the first time in the 76th minute but the replacement’s score followed tries by Julián Montoya, Rodrigo Isgró and Pedro Rubiolo. Justo Piccardo added a longer-range late score to put the result beyond doubt as Argentina secured two autumn victories for the first time since 2014.
“Twenty-one points up, in their 22, we turned the ball over and then after that we lost our composure,” added Tuipulotu. “It was an avalanche of penalties, too. We got a yellow card, allowed them to run out of their own half, and we didn’t touch the ball for large parts of that second half. A lack of composure under a bit of adversity. We couldn’t stem the flow and that’s on us as players.
Argentina’s answer to the ‘Bomb Squad’
Another factor in the resurgence was the introduction of Argentina’s own “bomb squad” – La Brigada Bomba, if you will. In the 45th minute, with nothing to show for their efforts, head coach Felipe Contepomi rang the changes: Santiago Carreras, Thomas Gallo and Matera among others. In victory against New Zealand on Saturday, England held back some of their front-line starts to finish the game with vigour and here Argentina aped them. That trio were immense.
“We don’t plan replacements,” said Contepomi. “You can have an injury in the first minute and your plan goes to scratch. It’s about feeling the game, and we know who can make an impact. We don’t have it pre-set. We are very lucky as coaches that we have a very good talented group who can play in different positions. They cover different positions so we can adapt to situations. We saw that maybe they could have an impact – and they were ready for it.”
Townsend added: “[Keeping front-line players on the bench] could be an option for us. We are seeing the impact of benches on games. It was the right time for the Argentina guys to come on, when they were trailing, and they threw everything at us and some of those guys off the bench were outstanding.”
Mental fragility
But where does this leave Townsend and Scotland? Leading by 21 points this week and letting an historic victory against the All Blacks slip through their fingers last. The fact of the matter is that Argentina were rudderless for almost an hour but Scotland were nothing more than six out of 10. No one could have foreseen what followed but a better side would have already been home and hosed by the time the Argentinian cavalry arrived. The Scottish meltdown has a familiar feel for fans north of the border. The past eight days have not been anomalies; think back to how Scotland crumbled – but, crucially, held on – in their past two Six Nations meetings with Wales. “I definitely didn’t see today coming,” said Townsend.
It was one of those afternoons where frustration was rife. As Los Pumas butchered yet another attack in the first half, Contepomi was spotted punching a wall in the coaches’ box. By the final throes, it was Contepomi’s counterpart, Townsend, who was giving the Edinburgh handymen some extra work for the coming week. In the end, however, it was the frustrations of Townsend which lingered longest at full-time. With the spotlight on his extra-curricular work with Red Bull and Newcastle, this Scottish side will probably end 2025 having won just five of their 12 Tests.
Argentina head to Twickenham next Sunday to face “the form team in the world” according to Contepomi, with Los Pumas riding the crest of a wave after their storming of Murrayfield and their record victory in Cardiff last weekend; Scotland, meanwhile, are left to lick their wounds against Tonga where, no matter the manner of victory, the scars from the Sunday’s surrender will run deep.
Scoring sequence: 5-0 Dempsey try, 7-0 Russell con, 12-0 Ashman try, 14-0 Russell con, 19-0 Ashman try, 21-0 Russell con, 21-5 Montoya try, 21-7 S Carreras con, 21-12 Isgro try, 24-12 Russell pen, 24-17 Rubiolo try, 24-19 S Carreras con, 24-24 Matera try, 24-26 S Carreras con, 24-31 Piccardo try, 24-33 S Carreras con.
Scotland: B Kinghorn; D Graham (Jordan 80), R Hutchinson (Van der Merwe 64), S Tuipulotu (capt), K Steyn; F Russell, J Dobie; P Schoeman, E Ashman (Turner 70), D Rae (Millar Mills 32); S Cummings, G Gilchrist (Bayliss 72), G Brown (Fagerson 7), R Darge, J Dempsey.
Replacements: McBeth, Horne.
Sin-bin: Kinghorn.
Argentina: J Cruz Mallia; R Isgro, M Moroni (Piccardo 66), S Chocobares, M Carreras; G Prisciantelli (S Carreras 45), S Benitez Cruz (Moyano 45); M Vivas (Gallo 45), J Montoya (capt, Elias 72), P Delgado (Coria Marchetti 45), G Petti (Ruiz 72), P Rubiolo, S Grondona, J-M Gonzalez, J Oviedo (Matera 45).
Sin-bin: Mallia.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland). Att: 67,130.
More of your views
- Alexander Jeffrey: “Well played Argentina, they are a great team to watch, bit like France.”
- Robert Collins: “Matera, what a magnificent player. Good job he didn’t start as they probably would have scored fifty. Time for a brew!”
- Bob Brown: “This is why Finn Russell has detractors. Game management out of the window. One of the most gifted players of his generation but also one of the most error prone.”
- Mark Liddiard: “Next Sunday’s game should be a cracker then - ENG Vs. ARG.”
- Fraser Brown: “Townsend must go. To almost go 28 points up then totally collapse is not acceptable. Should also have won by quite a few points last week but didn’t deliver. Still think we are more than good enough to beat England but we need to beat better teams to progress. Get Franco Smith in now.”
Your reaction
- John Logie: “Standard Scotland - good-ish but rarely good enough. We can beat second tier sides and first tiers like Wales and England before England’s recovery but never the real high fliers.”
- William Young: “I know we had to make two injury subs in the first half, but where were the rest of our ‘bomb squad’ to try to change things? Thanks for nothing Townsend....P45 is waiting at reception, or are you hoping for a 3rd job?”
- Ian Hunter: “Townsend is way past his sell by date.”
- Ted Docherty: “Argentina are a good side, that’s Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Wales beaten this year and the lost a game to SA by 2 points. That is two weekends in a row Scotland could have won and didn’t!”
- Toby Pateman: “Swapping Hutchinson for Van der Merve was not a good idea.”
Not fully utilising their bench
Argentina’s bench made a huge impact off the bench during the second half but Scotland did not bring on either Tom Jordan or George Horne. Will Gregor Townsend rue not utilising those two when the momentum started to swing and how much criticism does he deserve for that?
Former Scotland captain John Barclay on TNT Sports
“That is a disaster. 21-0 up and going for a fourth try. The unravelling of it was spectacular. Scotland will be aware of how good Argentina will be. The last 25 minutes it was almost an unrecognisable side.”
Post-match thoughts from Gregor Townsend
“Second half performance [where it went wrong]. We started the second half well but there was a huge momentum swing. Argentina did take that momentum. We were not good enough in the last 10 minutes and they were the better side then. Decisions and discipline are the areas we will have to look at. We have to be better with our discipline.
“It is really disappointing. We looked to bounce back after the defeat last week. Rugby is an 80-minute game and Argentina are a very good side. We needed to stop their momentum and we did not do that.”
Scotland’s autumn campaign
November 1: Scotland 85 United States 0
November 8: Scotland 17 New Zealand 25
Today: Scotland 24 Argentina 33
November 23: Scotland vs Tonga
Pablo Matera speaking to TNT Sports
“We enjoyed the whole game and week. Always special to be here in Murrayfield. It is special to win in the final few minutes. For me and this group it is our first win here so very special. We knew it was going to a tight game to the last minute so we knew as a bench we needed to make an impact.
“Today is just about enjoying this one and then from tomorrow it is thinking about England. They are playing great at the moment so it will be a tough game and one we will look forward to. We knew it was going to be an intense game here so it was exactly like Felipe [Contepomi] told us.”
Post-match thoughts of Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu
“We just feel asleep at the wheel. We started the second half really well. We then conceded a penalty and the momentum swung from there. It is not good enough from us. They got a roll on and we just could not stop them. We started losing our discipline and they marched down the field. We need to take a pretty hard look at ourselves this week. It will probably be a pretty hard few days.”
Mateo Carreras speaking to TNT Sports
“We spoke during the week that it was going to be an 80-minute game. We are in a moment where we have to focus on our game. It is going to be a tough game. We are just trying to control what we can control. The competition during the week is hard. We have quite a young squad. We do have some experienced players as well.”
Man of the match Santiago Carreras
He really should have started the game but what an impact he had in the second half off the bench. Here is what he has had to say after the game having been named man of the match:
“The effort we put in week by week. We are not thinking about the result, just the process during the game and the year. We put the effort in during the first half to make Scotland tired. It is so important to win. This place is amazing and to win here at an historic stadium is great. None of us had won here before so it is a great achievement.”
Full time
Darge knocks the ball on and that brings the game to an end. Boos ring around Murrayfield as Argentina have come from 21 points down to win. What a comeback from Los Pumas, who looked down and out 50 minutes into the game. The hosts are stunned.
TRY! Piccardo seals it for Argentina
That puts the seal on the victory for the visitors and their travelling fans are sent into a state of jubilation. They are on attack inside the Scotland 22 and come down their left. Piccardo gets out of a tackle and finds his way to the line. S Carreras adds the conversion and that will be that as the lead is now by two scores with just seconds remaining.
78 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 26
That is so intelligent from S Carreras, who puts the kick through and the ball rolls into touch in the Scotland 22, exactly where Argentina want to be. S Carreras has made a big impact off the bench and really should have started.
TRY! Matera powers his way over to give Argentina lead
The initial call on the field is no try but it does like Matera does have it down on the line. The try is given and it will be the easiest of conversions for S Carreras. The Bath makes no mistake and, from 21 points down, Argentina now lead by two.
75 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 19
Have Argentina scored? The visitors think they are over through Matera...
74 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 19
Argentina attack from a scrum not far outside their own 22 and after great work by S Carreras and M Carreras down the left, they are now attacking inside the Scottish 22. They are inches shy of the line...
72 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 19
Double change in the Argentina pack as Ruiz and Elias are on.
71 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 19
Double change for the hosts as Turner and Bayliss are on.
TRY! Rubiolo crashes over
This match is well and truly on. The pressure pays off for the visitors as Rubiolo powers his way over from close range. S Carreras adds the easy conversion from right in front of the sticks and Argentina have come from 21-0 down to within five points.
This is going to be a *very* nervy finish.
69 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 12
Nothing comes from that advantage so we go back for the penalty just over five metres out from the Scottish line.
Argentina will take the quick tap.
68 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 12
Penalty advantage to Argentina...
67 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 12
Argentina are deep inside the Scotland 22. A try here would make the last 10 minutes very interesting...
66 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 12
There is more speed and urgency in Argentina’s attack and they are getting much quicker ball. Graham is caught offside and I am stunned that Scotland have not received a yellow card yet for the number of offsides they have committed so far today. Gregor Townsend is not happy with that in the coaches’ box.
Argentina kick towards the Scotland 22.
64 mins: Scotland 24 Argentina 12
Kinghorn is back from his sin bin and Scotland are back up to 15 men.
Scotland make a change at the back as van der Merwe replaces Hutchinson.
PENALTY SCOTLAND!
It is 47 metres out and Russell makes no mistake, increasing the hosts’ advantage to 12 points.
62 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 12
Graham wins Scotland a penalty at a breakdown on the Argentina 10-metre line and Russell will go for goal...
TRY! Isgro gets Argentina’s second
In the space of a few minutes, Scotland have gone from complete control to now being under huge pressure. Argentina go bang bang as Isgro powers his way over from close range and the travelling fans are making their voices heard for the first time today. S Carreras’ conversion though misses to the right.
Good grief. Did Argentina read my last blog entry? One wayward Russell pass and the game has been tipped on its head. Los Pumas are rampant with the hosts down to 14. Where was this earlier?
59 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 7
Perhaps the momentum is just starting to swing. Argentina attack down their left and have plenty of numbers but somehow they do not score as Gonzalez fails to pass as he approaches the Scottish 22. Argentina are now just inches shy of the Scotland line...
TRY! Montoya gets Argentina on the board
Montoya thinks he is over the line but referee Andrew Brace is unsure. We go for a TMO review with the question “try yes or no?”. Montoya stretches out to try and dot down and it appears that he has got it down on the line but the question will be whether there is enough conclusive evidence to give it. They deem that Montoya maintained control all the way to the ground and it feels like the right call to give the try. S Carreras adds the conversion and maybe it is not quite game over yet.
55 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 0
Russell’s long pass is loose and Argentina break from their own 22. It looks like Moyano will sprint all the way down the right touchline but he is going to be chased down so he kicks in-field. M Carreras picks up brilliantly but is immediately tackled by Graham. A few phases later, inside the Scottish 22, the whistle goes and Scotland are penalised. Not only that but Kinghorn is sent to the bin. End-to-end and, interestingly, they go for a scrum.
Well I think that botched try, from an interception, sums up Argentina’s afternoon pretty well thus far.
53 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 0
Scotland are knocking on the door, looking for their fourth try...
52 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 0
Scotland are dominating currently at scrum time and win a penalty on their own feed just inside their own half. Russell sends the kick into the Argentina 22.
48 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 0
Huge chance wasted by Argentina and they should have had their first try of the game. It all starts from a great offload by S Carreras, just off the bench, to send Moroni racing towards the Scottish 22. Moroni moves into the 22 and gets the pass off to M Carreras but the ball is knocked on just five metres from the Scottish line. You can already see the difference S Carreras has made; should he have started? Probably.
46 mins: Scotland 21 Argentina 0
Another offside penalty conceded by Scotland and it is a surprise considering what referee Andrew Brace said towards the end of the first half that there is no further punishment.
Felipe Contepomi has had enough and rings the changes, making five alterations. Matera, S Carreras, Gallo, Coria-Marchetti and Moyonao all on. Have those changes been made to late and has the game already gone?
TRY! Ashman doubles up for the hosts
Scotland’s hooker has two tries on the day. A bit like his first try, he runs a hard line at pace and powers his way through a few tackles to score. Russell gets the conversion and Scotland now lead 21-0. Argentina have not been at the races so far today and Scotland have taken advantage.
44 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Scotland are once more on the attack in the Argentina 22 after Prisciantelli missed touch...
43 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
The focus is on Darge, who could be in some strife here for a clear-out on Grondona, who was making a tackle on Ashman. There is clear contact to Grondona’s head as Darge attempted a clear-out.
After a lengthy review, the officials decide it is just a penalty and that feels a touch on the lenient side. That could have been a yellow card for Darge on another day.
The referees have been squinting - in vain - at the actions of Rory Darge on the big screen for nearly five minutes here. At least the introduction of the bunker has sped these interactions up! It is farcical.
42 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Scotland are enjoying a good spell of possession in the first few minutes of this second half and earn themselves a penalty in the Argentina 22.
We are though going to a TMO review...
Second half
We are back under way at Murrayfield.
HT verdict
Argentina have had a pretty decent 2025 so far, playing some zippy rugby and taking some scalps, but on each of the three occasions I have watched them in person - twice on England’s summer tour and then, so far, today - they have been perplexing and their attack has been poor. What’s Spanish for bad-luck charm? Here’s hoping for a better second half, although England fans will be hoping the trend continues into next Sunday.
In other news, if winter has not yet arrived in London, I can confirm that it has landed, emphatically, on Scottish shores. Ten degrees colder than at Twickenham yesterday. In fairness, I can’t imagine the Pumas are enjoying that too much...
Half-time
That is it for the first half and Scotland lead 14-0 at the break courtesy of tries from Dempsey and Ashman.
39 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
A real waste by Argentina as they concede a free-kick at the lineout for the same offence Scotland were punished for earlier in the half.
38 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Schoeman thinks he is about win the hosts a penalty as he gets over the ball at the breakdown just inside his own half but he cannot be rewarded as Dempsey, who was the tackler, had not rolled away. Argentina turn down the chance of three points and kick into the Scottish 22 for probably one last attack in this first half.
34 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Argentina’s attack has yet to click into gear, which makes those missed kicks by Mallia even more costly.
32 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Mallia’s bad day continues as he cannot land the kick from a central position from the Scottish 10-metre line. That is now six points Mallia has missed from the tee.
Scotland are being forced into a change at tighthead prop as Rae limps off and Millar Mills is on.
Goal-kicking is a real concern for Argentina here. Mallía has missed two - that second one was not even close - with the full-back goal-kicking for the first time in a Pumas jersey. Even if he has done it for Toulouse, one wonders how long it will be until Santiago Carreras is taking his tracksuit off on the bench.
31 mins: Scotland 14 Argentina 0
Scotland have now been offside on a number of occasions so far in this first half and referee Andrew Brace may not be too far away from giving a yellow card for repeat offences. In fact, he is now having a word with Scotland captain Tuipulotu and says that “the next one could go to the bin”.
Argentina will go for goal from the Scottish 10-metre line...
TRY! Ashman powers over for Scotland’s second score
The pressure in the Argentina 22 pays off. The hosts are close to the Argentina try line and Ashman runs a good line to run onto Dobie’s pass at pace and powers his way over the line. Russell adds the extras and Scotland’s lead grows to 14 points.
Jack Dempsey has been by some distance the best player on the park so far. Argentina cannot live with the Scottish No 8’s ball-carrying and when he combines that with deft offloads - as he did in the build-up to Ewan Ashman’s try - he is virtually unstoppable. One of Europe’s premier No 8s on this form.
27 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
Scotland are on the attack and are into double digits for phases. They are deep in the Argentinian 22 and have a penalty advantage...
23 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
Mallia has not had the best of starts to this game; he has already spent 10 minutes in the bin and now pushes this penalty kick wide of the right upright.
22 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
The ball stays in play for a long time and it is a test of both sides’ stamina and fitness. Argentina are awarded a penalty for a high tackle and as play finally stops there are so many bodies on the ground and receiving treatment including Carreras and Hutchinson.
The penalty is near the Scottish 10-metre line and Argentina point to the posts...
Without Tomás Albornoz, Argentina’s attacking organisation is leaving a lot to be desired. Juliàn Montoya, the hooker, was at first receiver, away from a pod of forwards, twice in that last Pumas attack. I’m not convinced that that was part of the plan...
18 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
Brown has failed his HIA so M Fagerson will remain on the pitch.
16 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
Chocobares spins out of tackle and gets to within six or seven metres of the Scotland line before he knocks on and the chance is gone for the visitors. Tuipulotu’s tackle dislodged the ball from Chocobares’ grasp.
15 mins: Scotland 7 Argentina 0
Ashman is caught offside to gift Argentina a penalty on halfway. As the kick is sent into the Scotland 22, Mallia returns after his 10 minutes in the bin.
TRY! Dempsey rumbles over for first score of the game
The hosts strike first and finally take advantage of the man advantage. Scotland are on the attack just outside the Argentina 22 and Russell gives the eyes as if he is about to throw the pass behind but instead fires a flat pass into Dempsey to put the number eight through the gap and he has open grass in front of him. Dempsey gallops his way over for the try. Russell adds the conversion and Scotland lead 7-0.
If Argentina are going to be fooled so comprehensively by a no-look Finn Russell pass, as majestic as it was, then this could be a long afternoon for them.
9 mins: Scotland 0 Argentina 0
Scotland’s maul defence is up to the job and they win themselves the scrum on their own 22.
8 mins: Scotland 0 Argentina 0
Dempsey is caught offside in defence for the hosts to give Argentina the penalty just inside their own half. Argentina are coping well thus far down to 14 men.
Scotland are being forced into an early head-injury assessment as Brown has to go off so M Fagerson comes on.
Argentina take play up to the Scottish 22.
6 mins: Scotland 0 Argentina 0
Scotland are in possession deep inside the Argentina 22 but Russell’s long, looping pass is intercepted by Prisciantelli and the move is over for the hosts.
4 mins: Scotland 0 Argentina 0
Mallia could be in trouble here. Scotland come down the blindside just inside the Argentina half and Hutchinson finds Graham, who runs a great line when not much looked on and makes the break. As Graham makes his way into the Argentina 22, he tries to offload inside to Dobie but Mallia sticks his hand out and knocks the ball on. Mallia had no chance of catching that so he is rightly sent to the sin bin.
The question now is whether it is a penalty try. The officials deem that Oviedo was in a covering position so it is not a penalty try. Whether Oviedo would have had the pace to get to Dobie is another question and it could well have been a penalty try on another day.
Scotland put it into the corner.
Juan Cruz Mallía has to go there but the Argentina full-back is somewhat unfortunate given Darcy Graham’s pass, which Mallía slapped down, was never going to find its intended target, in Jamie Dobie. Still, Los Pumas with 14 for the next 10 minutes.
2 mins: Scotland 0 Argentina 0
Scotland are in possession just inside the Argentina half but play is halted as medics are treating Isgro on the pitch near to where the attack was unfolding. Isgro has stayed down having gone up for a high ball and winning the contest with Kinghorn but had landed awkwardly. He is now back to his feet and fine to continue, at least for now.
Kick-off
We are under way at Murrayfield.
Mateo Carreras is a pocket-rocket at the best of times but the Pumas wing, formerly of Newcastle and now at Bayonne, looks unbelievably fired up for this one. Carreras could barely contain himself during that rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland - occasionally flailing his arms - and the moment it had finished he darted off to do some last-minute speed, agility and quickness work. Worth keeping an eye on him.
Reminder of the teams
Scotland starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamie Dobie, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 D’arcy Rae, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Duhan van der Merwe.
Argentina starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Efrain Elias, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.
Anthem time
Both sides emerge from the tunnel at Murrayfield and we are ready for the national anthems. Scotland were led out by Darcy Graham on his 50th cap whilst for the visitors, they are led out by Juan Cruz Mallia and Juan Martin Gonzalez on their 50th Argentinian caps.
Recent meetings
November 2022: Scotland 52 Argentina 29
July 2022: Argentina 34 Scotland 31
July 2022: Argentina 6 Scotland 29
July 2022: Argentina 26 Scotland 18
November 2018: Scotland 14 Argentina 9
Russell fully fit?
Scotland’s fly-half was unable to finish last weekend’s defeat to New Zealand and he has plenty of strapping on. Gregor Townsend will be hoping there is no flare up or recurrence of the knocks he picked up last week.
A look at the world rankings
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- England
- France
- Argentina
- Australia
- Scotland
Yesterday’s results
Italy 14 South Africa 32
England 33 New Zealand 19
Wales 24 Japan 23
France 34 Fiji 21
Ireland 46 Australia 19
Flashback: 28 November 2009- Scotland 6 Argentina 9
It has been 16 years since Argentina last won on Scottish soil. Andy Robinson’s Scotland were defeated courtesy of Martin Rodriguez’s two penalties and drop goal. Here is how the two sides lined up that day:
Scotland starting XV: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Alex Grove, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Cusiter, 1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Moray Low, 4 Nathan Hines, 5 Alastair Kellock, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Alan MacDonald, 8 Johnnie Beattie.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jason White, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Nick De Luca.
Argentina starting XV: 15 Horacio Agulla, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Martin Rodriguez, 11 Federico Martin Aramburu, 10 Santiago Fernandez, 9 Alfredo Lalanne, 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 3 Martin Scelzo, 4 Manuel Carizza, 5 Patricio Albacete, 6 Alejandro Campos, 7 Alejandro Abadie, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Rodrigo Roncero, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Tomas Leonardi, 20 Agustin Figuerola, 21 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 22 Horacio San Martin.
Darcy Graham on his 50th Scotland cap
“I do not think I will be emotional this weekend; last weekend I was really emotional before the game. I looked up at the stands at the anthem and saw my whole family there.
“It brought back a lot of memories. Sometimes I am not sure if it is a good thing. You can let it get to you too much. This weekend my mind is on the game. It is just another game; go out there and do what I do.”
“Expect excitement”
Scotland the Brave sounds out from the bagpipes in the environs of Murrayfield and, one thing is certain, the hosts will have to be brave today to down an adventurous Argentina team whose confidence is sky high after a record Test victory against Wales last Saturday. History cannot separate these two today - it is 11 wins for each since the first Test in 1990 - and neither can I.
Scotland will be desperate for a victory after coming so close against New Zealand last weekend - indeed, a loss today would leave them clinging onto wins against the US and (probably) Tonga as the sole positives this November - and home advantage is in their favour; but Argentina are two places above them in the world rankings and have some of the world’s most threatening and thrilling attacking backs. Expect excitement today - and for this one to go down to the wire...
Argentina’s last five results
November 9: Wales 28 Argentina 52
October 4: Argentina 27 South Africa 29
September 27: South Africa 67 Argentina 30
September 13: Australia 26 Argentina 28
September 6: Australia 28 Argentina 24
Scotland’s last five results
November 8: Scotland 17 New Zealand 25
November 1: Scotland 85 USA 0
July 18: Samoa 12 Scotland 41
July 12: Fiji 29 Scotland 14
July 5: Maori All Blacks 26 Scotland 29
Visitors arriving
Hosts in the house
Late change for Scotland
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Teams
Scotland starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamie Dobie, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 D’arcy Rae, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Duhan van der Merwe.
Argentina starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Efrain Elias, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.
Match preview
Scotland look to bounce back from defeat as they host Argentina at Murrayfield. Gregor Townsend’s men fell to defeat to New Zealand last weekend; they had fought from 17-0 down to draw level at 17-17 but Damian McKenzie’s heroics at the tail-end of the game denied Scotland. Finn Russell has been passed fit for this afternoon’s game despite being forced off due to injury in the defeat to New Zealand last weekend. It will be a special day for Scotland’s joint-record try scorer Darcy Graham, who earns his 50th cap today, and Townsend has paid tribute to the winger.
“He has had a few injuries and to get to 50 caps and be a joint top try-scorer in our history is saying something for his ability when he gets those opportunities but also how he has responded to injuries. He has really improved his game too. When he first came through, he was very difficult to defend because of his footwork and his strength, but he has added so much more to his game.”
Argentina kicked off their European tour with a dominant 52-28 win over Wales last weekend, a record win for Los Pumas against the Welsh. They may have finished bottom in this year’s Rugby Championship but they did win in Australia and claimed their first-ever home victory over New Zealand. They come into today’s game sixth in the world rankings, two places above Scotland, and Townsend expects a tough challenge today.
“They are a top team. They have beaten New Zealand this year. They have played I think 10 or 11 Test matches since the summer and showed their quality throughout that period. Even in the recent games, they pushed South Africa close at Twickenham. They had a record win last week against Wales, so they are full of confidence, very cohesive. They play a brand of rugby that is enjoyable to watch, that will test our defence. They certainly seem one of the form teams in rugby right now.”
Argentina have not won in Scotland since 2009, when they edged a low-scoring match 9-6, meaning they have not won their four trips to Murrayfield since. The last time these sides met was three years ago, with Scotland thrashing Argentina 52-29.
Kick-off from Murrayfield is at 3.10pm.
2025-11-16T17:50:44Z
