Scotland beat Pumas to end historic weekend for northern hemisphere

Scotland’s emphatic 29-6 win over Argentina in Salta capped a historic day for the Northern Hemisphere side.

Already flying high after the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia lost home tests on the same day for the first time in history, Scotland made a 4-0 win over the Rugby Championship side with away wins of their own.

This leaves the series NZ-Ireland, South Africa-Wales, Australia-England and Argentina-Scotland all tied at 1-1 heading into what will be a very big weekend of draw decider next week.

France, newly minted as the top-ranked team in the world, beat Japan 20-15 to close their series with a test to play, but have been disappointing in the last two weeks against Jamie Joseph’s far better side.

As for the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia, it was also the third time in their history they had all lost on the same day at home or away.

Scotland beat Argentina after the break to win their second test on Sunday (NZT) and send their series to the decider.

Scotland was heavily criticized for another poor attempt in a 26-18 first test loss at Jujuy. But, at Salta, after a sloppy first half they finished 8-6 up, their handling suddenly clicked and matched their defensive quality and intensity as they scored three tries to seal the win with almost a quarter remaining at the Estadio Padre Martearena.

Pumas, playing on their Independence Day, did everything except score in the second half. They had two tries ruled out in the review, and two more were prevented on the line by a terrific defense.

Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Scotland’s Hamish Watson, below, is tackled by Argentina’s Matías Alemanno during their friendly rugby match in Salta,

Looking for their first home series win in 15 years, Pumas have one more chance next weekend further south along the Andean foothills in Santiago del Estero.

Scotland were inspired by the sun-drenched Salta of betting just before halftime, while trailing 6-3, to strike a penalty at the post to touch, instead.

Maul’s lineout broke but the ball was caught. Repeated pick-and-gos ended with winger Hamish Watson diving on his 50th Scotland cap occasion.

Those efforts were followed in the new half with scores from center Mark Bennett in the 42nd minute, No. 8 Matt Fagerson in the 53rd and midfielder Sam Johnson in the 64th.

Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland, left, is tackled by Argentina’s Jerónimo de la Fuente during their rugby friendly match in Salta,

Meanwhile, Scotland kept their opponents tryless for the first time in 15 tests, with a win at Twickenham in February 2021.

There was no sign by Scotland in a messy first half of the impending sizzle. They struggled to hold on to the attack in an outbreak of falling passes and catches, and a squandered lineout in Argentina 22.

However, they deserved to take the lead in the first half as Pumas’ threat regularly exploded in the damage where Scottish wingers Watson and Rory Darge were the pests.

The second half is a different story.

Ben White’s half scrum often left teammates in the gaps and, just two minutes later, Bennett blew to score with Blair Kinghorn’s conversion.

Argentina seemed to hit back with a Guido Petti attempt, but was ruled out by a pass forward in preparation.

After a mediocre display, Kinghorn was substituted at half-time by the one-hated Ross Thompson, but was brought back at full-back after substitute Kyle Rowe was substituted with an injury on his debut.

While Pumas fullback Emiliano Boffelli was in sin, an energetic White broke from an attacking scrum onto the line and Fagerson crossed at the left post for 22-6.

Santiago Carreras’ Pumas flyhalf looked like a goal until Darge dropped the ball out of his grasp, and the Scottish scrum eased the pressure with a scrum penalty, his second of three.

Scotland showed off their superb running line again when Johnson gaped off scrum half substitute Ali Price to make it 29-6.

The visitors’ defense then reigned supreme. Puma was repulsed, and Agustin Creevy was arrested. A third Pumas scrum conceded a penalty, and Boffelli was stripped on the line by Bennett.

AP & Item

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