Los Pumas stage incredible comeback to beat Scotland
MATCH REPORT: Argentina staged an astonishing rally as they came from 0-21 behind to beat Scotland 33-24 in a Nations Series international at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Scotland led 14-0 at half-time and that became 21-0 early in the second half when hooker Ewan Ashman scored the second of his two tries.
Argentina responded with five tries in the final 23 minutes as skipper Julian Montoya, Rodrigo Isgro, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera and Justo Piccardo all crossed Scotland’s line.
Santiago Carreras, on as a replacement, kicked four conversions and Argentina won in Edinburgh for the first time in 16 years.
Defeat followed last week’s agonising loss to New Zealand when Scotland fought back from 0-17 down to 17-17 before suffering a 17-25 result that left them still searching for a first win in 120 years of Tests with the All Blacks.
Argentina, fresh from a record 52-28 win over Wales in Cardiff, struggled to impose themselves early on at Murrayfield.
But as the match headed into the final quarter, the Pumas capitalised on a loose pass from Scotland playmaker Finn Russell and a yellow card for Blair Kinghorn to turn the tide in spectacular style.
Scotland were forced into a late change when scrumhalf Ben White dropped out due to illness, with Jamie Dobie taking his place.
The hosts soon found themselves up against 14 men when Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on
Mallia was still in the sin-bin when Scotland opened the scoring, Russell sending loose forward Jack Dempsey for a try the flyhalf converted.
Mallia missed two penalties, either side of Scotland doubling their lead when Ashman piled over for a try, again converted by Russell.
Scotland went further ahead in the 44th minute when Ashman scored a close-range try.
The match turned when, with Scotland threatening a fourth try, Russell’s ambitious pass was intercepted, with Argentina launching a counter-attack that led to Scotland fullback Kinghorn being sin-binned in the 54th minute for deliberate offside.
The Pumas, who still had not scored a point, made their man advantage count by scoring twice in three minutes.
Montoya was awarded a 57th-minute try. The hooker was ruled to have grounded the ball over the line following a lengthy television review. Carreras converted.
Pumas wing Rodrigo Isgo then struck from close range for an unconverted try.
Russell’s long-range penalty gave Scotland a 24-12 lead with 16 minutes left, but the Pumas were far from finished.
Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo scored a pick-and-go try under the posts in the 70th minute. Carreras’s conversion cut Scotland’s lead to five points.
In the 75th minute, the Pumas had a fourth try when replacement back row Matera was ruled to have grounded the ball on review.
Player of the match: The award goes to replacement flyhalf Santiago Carreras, who was sensational in the second half. He was brilliant on attack and provided a spark for his side’s best comeback in a rugby match.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Dempsey, Ashman 2
Cons: Russell 3
Pen: Russell
For Argentina:
Tries: Montoya, Isgro, Rubiolo, Matera, Piccardo
Cons: S Carreras 4
Yellow cards: Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina, 5′ – cynical play, deliberate knock-on); Blair Kinghorn (Scotland, 55′ – Offside)
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
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: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
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.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
