The day of deciders continues in Santiago Del Estero on Saturday when Argentina vs Scotland Rugby face off once again to conclude this end-to-end series. After a shocking loss, Scotland reasserted themselves against in the second test match against Los Pumas. Now, the series heads to Santiago del Estero.
Here’s everything you need to know about the July 16 match between Argentina and Scotland.
Los Pumas vs Scotland Rugby Final Test
Date: Saturday, July 16
Venue: Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago Del Estero
Kick-off: 16:10 local (20:10 BST, 19:10 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Scotland, however, are the ones with their tails up and in the box seat after their recent exploits in Salta where they dominated a poor Pumas side.
Pumas vs Scotland Rugby
Momentum and building on that victory will be crucial for Gregor Townsend’s charges and one can’t help but feel the team news also favours the Scots. Indeed Townsend has largely stuck with the same line-up of one week ago with only a handful of tinkering seeing the coach name a strong selection.
Contrastingly, Argentina‘s starting team features 11 changes as injuries and most probably also form played a role in Michael Cheika’s final calls.
The Pumas, no doubt reeling following that dismal performance in the second Test, have it all to do if they are reclaim some confidence in their game. Unfortunately for them, however, Scotland appear to have turned a corner as they found weaknesses in their hosts they will look to exploit once again.
Arg v Scot Rugby Previous results
2022: Scotland won 29-6 in Salta
2022: Argentina won 26-18 in Jujuy
2018: Scotland won 14-9 in Edinburgh
2018: Scotland won 44-15 in Resistencia
2016: Scotland won 19-16 in Edinburgh
2014: Scotland won 41-31 in Edinburgh
2014: Scotland won 21-19 in Cordoba
2011: Argentina won 13-12 in Wellington
2010: Scotland won 13-9 in Mar del Plata
2010: Scotland won 24-16 in Tucuman
Argentina vs Scotland Rugby teams
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Lucio Cinti
Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Rufus McLean, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson (c), 6 Rory Darge, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Glen Young, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Sam Johnson
Scotland beat Argentina 29-6 to level test series
Scotland completed a Saturday of success for the northern hemisphere’s rugby powers over southern opposition as they beat Argentina 29-6 in Salta to level their three-test series at 1-1.
Scotland outscored their hosts by four tries to nil in a resounding victory as they followed the example set earlier in the day by Ireland, England and Wales in their tour matches south of the Equator.
Hamish Watson, Mark Bennett, Matt Fagerson and Sam Johnson all scored tries for Scotland, who lost last weekend’s first test in San Salvador de Jujuy 26-18.
Blair Kinghorn kicked over a penalty and conversion while substitute Ross Thompson added two penalties as Scotland scored 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Argentina’s points came from two Emiliano Boffelli penalties in the first half at the Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
It was a spirited showing from Scotland, whose success in attack was matched by dogged defence as they kept Argentina from crossing their line.
The home side were 6-3 ahead minutes before the break when Watson, on his 50th appearance for Scotland and back after missing the first test through injury, scored the first try, going over at the end of a lineout maul.
The tourists’ 8-6 lead was extended two minutes into the second half as quick ball from scrumhalf Ben White stretched the home defence, and after several phases his short pass saw Bennett crash over under the poles.