Pumas next up for Scotland as test series goes on
Scotland’s national rugby team are unbeaten at home to Argentina since 2009 and that’s a winning streak they’ll be hoping to keep up come Sunday’s autumn test hosting the Pumas.
The Scots last lost at home to Argentina 16 years ago, going down 9-6 with Andy Robinson as head coach, that being their visitors’ fourth win on the bounce at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium.
Since then, though, they’ve won all four of their games hosting the Argentinians – by 52-29 in 2022, 14-9 in 2018, 19-16 in 2016 and 41-31 in 2014 – and that’s a run current head coach Gregor Townsend wants to keep up this weekend.
Having lost two of their last four meetings, by 34-31 in Santiago del Estero and 26-18 in Jujuy in July 2022, the former Gala stalwart, 52, knows that will be easier said than done, however, saying: “They’re a really good side.
“They’ve been a top-eight side for a while and we’ve been about there as well.
“There are a lot of teams that can beat each other now in the top eight or nine, so we’ll have to play very well to win.
“They're respected by every country. I think they’re very well coached and Felipe Contepomi has done a very good job.
“They’ve got some of the best players in the world playing for teams throughout Europe and maybe that’s helped them now they're playing at top clubs, so we know the threat.
“I think the way the game has changed as well, with more contested kicks, suits their strengths.”
Argentina are currently ranked sixth in the world and Scotland eighth.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 3.10pm and Townsend is due to name his match-day squad for it this Friday.
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