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3 hours ago
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Nothing short of a disaster for Scotland, but a magnificent comeback by Argentina. The hosts were 21-0 up and cruising in the second half, when a loose Finn Russell pass was seized on by opponents that had been woeful until that point.
Five Argentina tries in the final 23 minutes, and a comeback orchestrated in stunning fashion by Bath’s Santi Carreras, sealed Scotland’s fate. Disappointment generated by inaccuracy and uncertainty is a familiar refrain for home fans but this, a record comeback for Argentina in Test rugby, was considerably more painful than most.
In some ways it was a typical home performance and a typical Russell display, too. The Scotland fly-half’s brilliance had cut Argentina open in a collectively dominant first half. A swivel of the hips or a dart of the eyes had carved the Pumas open, but like it or not, Russell will be held responsible for this collapse after his extravagant attempted pass, soon after half-time, led to a profound momentum shift.
The livewire wing Darcy Graham was denied a win on the occasion of his 50th cap. Two superbly taken tries by the Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, added to one by the No 8 Jack Dempsey, had initially overpowered the Pumas after Graham took to the field alone, before the rest of his teammates, to a richly deserved ovation.
It had all been going so well. Russell feinted to pass in the direction of his centres to create the first try, popping it short instead to the No 8 Jack Dempsey, running a perfect line that carved through the covering defence after Juan Cruz Mallía had been sent to the sin bin.
Russell soon coughed up a penalty for a high tackle but Cruz Mallía’s kick drifted right. Argentina had done a massive amount of defending but created almost nothing. They tore Wales apart in Cardiff last weekend, running in 52 points, but there was less space on offer in Scotland. At least in the first half.
The visiting defence was cracked open again after Russell’s creativity, this time via a huge garryowen collected by Graham. Ashman smashed through a couple of defenders, allowing Russell a simple conversion.
The Pumas full-back sent another long-range penalty wide, and when they won another two minutes before half-time, just over halfway, it was no surprise to see them kick for the corner. Argentina immediately spurned the chance with an early entry at the lineout. Felipe Contempomi, the Argentina head coach, held his head in his hands in frustration and no doubt let some of that frustration out on his players at half time.
There was potentially good news for Contempomi and his team when Darge was pulled up for a potentially dangerous clear-out. The resulting penalty, sadly for them, was kicked down the throat of Blair Kinghorn, and Scotland were in the mood for another clinical try, Ashman thundering over again. Russell converted and it was 21-0. All going well.
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Contempomi changed it up, making six replacements in one hit soon after the break. Santi Carreras, fresh on the pitch, immediately released Matias Moroni down the left with a perceptive offload but Mateo Carreras butchered their best attack of the match (at that point) by knocking on.
But then came that loose pass from Russell, with Scotland pushing for the score that would bury their visitors. The ball bounced free and was collected by Argentinian hands. Agustín Moyano scorched down the right wing, kicked inside into space for Mateo Carreras, and Kinghorn was sent to the sin bin for infringing at the ensuing ruck inside Scotland’s 22.
The Argentina captain, Julián Montoya, chose to take a scrum and the decision was vindicated when he forced himself over the line. Argentina smelt blood. Rodrigo Isgró powered over, then Pedro Rubiolo, with 10 minutes remaining, and from 21-0 down the Pumas had pulled it back to a five-point game at 24-19.
They were irresistible and they kept coming. Pablo Matera scored the try that took Argentina ahead, barging over from close range. Fittingly it was Santi Carreras, the architect of the comeback, that converted the decisive try after a TMO check. A turnover in the Scotland 22 then allowed Justo Piccardo, another replacement, to make the game safe. Murrayfield was stunned. Argentina could barely believe it either.
