Preview: Argentina v Scotland
JUNE INTERNATIONALS: Coaches Daniel Hourcade of Argentina and Gregor Townsend of Scotland are equally desperate to win a one-off Test in Resistencia Saturday, but for contrasting reasons.
The match at the 25,000-seat Estadio Centenario in the northeastern city is the last in charge for 60-year-old Hourcade after a mixed-results reign.
Townsend wants to complete a three-Test Americas tour on a winning note to banish memories of a shock defeat by the United States in Houston last weekend.
Hourcade succeeded Santiago Phelan in 2013 and exceeded expectations by guiding the Pumas to the 2015 World Cup semifinals in England.
But since then he has endured many disappointments with Argentina losing 21 of 27 Tests, including two heavy beatings from an experimental Welsh side this month.
After the second loss to Wales, Hourcade announced he was quitting just over a year before the next World Cup in Japan.
“We [with his assistants] think that the message is no longer getting through to the team, we have reached the end of a cycle,” Hourcade told the Argentine Rugby Union website.
“We assume the responsibility of making this decision, having already mentioned the possibility before the June Tests.”
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Overconfidence could have been a factor as Hourcade had spoken of the “unbeatable condition” of his players before the Wales Tests.
His optimism was based on the Jaguares, who dominate the national squad, winning six Super Rugby matches in a row before the June international window, including two in New Zealand.
Hourcade assumed stars like fullback Emiliano Boffelli, flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, hooker Agustin Creevy and flank Pablo Matera would take the Super Rugby form into the Tests arena.
But it has not happened and the Scots hope to emulate Wales, who controlled matches in the hostile environments of San Juan and Santa Fe despite leaving many stars at home to rest.
Argentina could not control the set pieces nor loose exchanges and there was a lack of backline imagination and successful tactical kicking.
Hourcade has made six changes for his final match, giving a first cap to centre Bautista Ezcurra and a first start to winger Sebastian Cancelliere.
Former Scotland star Townsend must hope that the Argentines do not suddenly rediscover that Super Rugby form as he strives to get back on the winning trail.
He certainly is not underestimating the Pumas as the Scots chase a fifth consecutive win in Argentina having lost their first three Tests there.
Despite that confidence-boosting statistic, they are the only top-tier rugby nation that has lost more Tests than they have won against Argentina.
“Argentina will bring their passion and physicality where they have traditionally been strong — set pieces, ball carrying and in the contact area,” said Townsend.
“They also have a host of excellent attacking players, and the last few seasons have seen a much more expansive brand of rugby from them since joining the Rugby Championship.”
Scotland has changed eight of the side that started in the United States, with versatile Tim Swinson the only forward to survive.
Swinson will have a new role, though, moving from tighthead prop to lock, where he partners Grant Gilchrist in a side with seven players each from Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh.
Flyhalf Adam Hastings, who earns his second cap, is a son of former Scotland and British and Irish Lions skipper, Gavin Hastings.
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https://www.facebook.com/scottishrugby/videos/1671275012920739/
Players to watch:
For Argentina: The big names in the Argentinean team have misfired badly this month – Nicolas Sanchez, Martín Landajo, Pablo Matera and Agustin Creevy – to name but a few. They need to take responsibility and set the tone for their teammates.
For Scotland: Tour captain Stuart McInally will start his first match on the trip, after recovering from injury. The hooker, McInally, is one of eight changes to the starting XV – seven of them in the pack. Tim Swinson is the only forward to be retained from last weekend’s loss to the United States. Edinburgh props Allan Dell and Simon Berghan return to join McInally in the front row, with lock Grant Gilchrist coming in, to partner Swinson. A new back row was also named, with Magnus Bradbury, David Denton and Fraser Brown named.
Head to head: Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina) and Stuart Hogg (Scotland) are world-class attacking fullbacks. However, the crucial contests will be up front – especially in the scrums: Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy and Javier Diaz (Argentina) against Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally and Allan Dell.
Recent results:
2016: Scotland won 19-16, Edinburgh
2014: Scotland won 41-31, Edinburgh
2014: Scotland won 21-19, Cordoba
2011: Argentina won 13-12, Wellington (World Cup pool match)
2010: Scotland won 13-9, Mar del Plata
2010: Scotland won 24-16, Tucuman
2009: Argentina won 9-6, Edinburgh
2008: Scotland won 26-14, Buenos Aires
2008: Argentina won 21-15, Rosario
2007: Argentina won 19-13, Paris (World Cup quarterfinal)
Prediction: Scotland doesn’t seem to have problems with beating Argentina, unless it is a World Cup match. This is not a World Cup match. Scotland will be determined and Argentinean coach Daniel Hourcade is unlikely to get his dream send-off. Scotland should win by 10 points or more.
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Javier Diaz
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 David Denton, 7 Fraser Brown, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally (captain), 1 Allan Dell.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 James Lang, 23 Chris Harris.
Date: Saturday, June 23
Venue: Estadio Centenario, Resistencia
Kick-off: 16.40 (20.40 UK time; 19.40 GMT)
Expected weather: Times of sun and clouds, very warm; with a couple of afternoon showers. High of 26°C and a low of 10°C
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
AFP & @rugby365com
