Argentina 21-15 Scotland: Paterson frustrated by trying time for Scots

ANOTHER Test match with Argentina and another frustrating defeat that could have been victory. The picture for Scotland is not yet showing signs of altering from the recent run of disappointments.

Three new caps were thrust into the fray for Scotland in Rosario on Saturday and Matt Mustchin, Thom Evans and Ben Cairns all acquitted themselves well without being stand-outs. But then, for all the effort and terrific endeavour, in a first half of promise with no try finish and a second spent increasingly under the cosh in defence, there were few real stars in this Scottish performance other than Chris Paterson and Mike Blair, the skipper.

Paterson scored all of Scotland's points once again, equalled Scott Murray's cap record in making his 87th Test appearance and, despite ending his run of consecutive goal-kicks on 36 when his fourth effort just shaded the top of a post, went on to surpass Gavin Hastings' all-time points record of 668. That is no mean feat considering he only took over as Scotland's main kicker five years ago and has hardly enjoyed a glut of free-scoring games in his time in Test rugby.

But Paterson's own words afterwards underlined the real nub of Scotland's current problem – their over-reliance on his kicks. He said: "It has been my ambition to break and hold a Scottish record, and I'm proud to have achieved that today, but it's almost embarrassing in the circumstances.

"I'm massively disappointed that we didn't score a try. I've said it time and time again that we have to score tries. We haven't found that formula yet, but the guys are definitely trying."

Hadden hoped that Paterson might be the man to uncover that threat back in the No15 jersey, but it was not until the closing stages of the game that the Borderer was most dangerous, as he desperately tried to find gaps to salvage at least an opportunity for a final match-winning penalty or drop-goal. It was all too late and from too deep, however.

Paterson admitted afterwards that the team may have been guilty of sitting back a little after turning a 10-3 deficit into a 15-10 lead, held until the 76th minute.

"I thought we started well," he said. "We then fell behind, but got back to 15-10 after half-time and I thought we could push on from that. But Argentina are very good at keeping hold of the ball and they just wore us down, and then kicked the penalty to go 16-15 up after being in our half for what seemed like 20 minutes; we just couldn't get out of there.

"It's a difficult one. Do you keep it tight, or do you try and go for the jugular? Against a team like Argentina we could have done to get more than five points ahead, yet we did well to get there and if we'd won we'd have thought we'd done the right thing. You always want to get more points, but maybe we could have played more rugby."

There had been promising signs early on. Paterson's 11th-minute penalty was created by a fine break started by Scott MacLeod, who turned in a good performance as part of a solid set-piece display by the front five, and Blair, and taken on by Allister Hogg, the openside flanker.

But Scotland were opened up down their right flank after 20 minutes, initially by Federico Todeschini's kick-and-chase, and then by neat interplay between forwards and backs as Tomas De Vidia and Felipe Contepomi swept play into the Scots' 22 and Esteban Lozada, the lock, took it on for debutant hooker Alvaro Tejeda to burst over the line under a melee of bodies. Todeschini converted, but though a setback it was not disaster for Scotland as two Paterson penalties had them back within a point inside ten minutes, the second from a promising dart by Dan Parks.

Paterson missed for the first time in 37 consecutive kicks at goal, from just under 40 metres wide left – though he felt that had the short posts been more like usual Test height it would have been given – but Todeschini missed at the other end before a terrific 48-metre drop-goal effort by Parks just shaved the post.

Great rush defence by Hogg, Alasdair Strokosch and Graeme Morrison provided Paterson with another chance, which he grasped, just two minutes into the second half. Paterson claimed Hastings' record and when he quickly added a fifth penalty, as the Scottish scrum caused the Pumas problems, things were looking up for Scotland.

But, crucially, as Argentina's spirit and sense of defiance rose in front of a passionate home crowd Scotland's game drifted; they lacked the same aggression across the team as the hosts, and the wit to turn the Pumas, retain possession and play the game in the hosts' half.

Bernardo Stortoni, the livewire Glasgow full-back, was denied a try only by a terrific last-gasp Paterson tackle, the television match official spotting a leg in touch. Then Parks sent a 50-metre penalty effort just wide – it was a tough kick, but, crucially, would have created a two-score advantage.

Instead, Todeschini closed the gap to two points and set up a fiery final quarter. In truth, while Scotland's attack then appeared to disintegrate, this Argentine side was not slick enough either to turn its growing dominance of possession and territory into a stream of points, their good work being undermined by ruck infringements, knock-ons and Scots defence, and so the game went to the wire.

With four minutes to go, Todeschini edged the hosts in front with another penalty, awarded for offside at a ruck, and though Paterson, Blair and Parks strived to inspire an attacking fightback the Pumas comfortably penned them inside their own half. Those frantic efforts contributed to the big gap gleefully exploded into by Gonzalo Tiesi, a tricky runner, after a turnover in injury-time, and his try finally shredded Scotland's faltering hopes of a first Test win in Argentina.

Todeschini's failed conversion attempt was the last act of the game and, once again, Los Pumas rejoiced and Scottish heads dropped.

Scorers

Argentina: Tries: Tejeda, Tiesi. Pens: Todeschini 4. Con: Todeschini.

Scotland: Pens: Paterson 5.

Scotland: C Paterson; S Danielli, B Cairns, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, E Murray, M Mustchin, S MacLeod, A Strokosch, J Beattie, A Hogg. Subs: K Brown for Beattie 56mins, A Kellock for MacLeod, A Dickinson for Jacobsen, both 65, MacLeod for Mustchin 70, R Lawson for Blair 73, S Webster for Evans 72.

Argentina: B Stortoni; J-M Nunez Piossek, G Tiesi, F Contepomi, T De Vidia; F Todeschini, N Vergallo; M Ayerza, A Tejeda, S Gonzalez Bonorino, I Fernandez Lobbe, E Lozada, M Durand, J-M Leguizamon, J Fernandez Lobbe. Subs: P Gambarini for Tejeda, J Gomez for Bonorino, both 65mins, A Campos for Durand 72.

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).

HOW THEY RATED

Chris Paterson 7/10

Goal-kicking of record-breaker gave Scotland hope of a victory, and defence was top-notch -– notably try-saving tackle on Stortoni – but struggled to spark running game due to Scots' staccato attack.

Simon Danielli 5

Hardly saw the ball all game, bar one late looping run which ended enmeshed in Pumas, but defended stoutly.

Ben Cairns 5

More visible in second half defensive effort, sadly, than attack due to rare opportunities, but tackled and off-loaded well, and ran hard in solid debut.

Graeme Morrison 5

Always hungry, looking for ball and took game to Argentina, but got no change from Pumas midfield and rued knock-ons.

Thom Evans 5

Clearly keen to make mark on Test debut, Evans got over an early knock-on to provide a lively presence and hit hard in the tackle, but too few chances to impress. Might have been different had a chip to Pumas' 22 stayed infield.

Dan Parks 5

An efficient display from the fly-half, who kicked, defended and cleared lines well, but without offering much of an attacking lead.

Mike Blair 8

Typical display from the captain – he was everywhere. Produced crucial cover tackles, turned over ball, asked questions of Pumas with kicks and served Parks well, but will be unhappy at lack of protection as scragged several times by Argentine forwards.

Allan Jacobsen 6

Endured intense battle with formidable Pumas tighthead Bonorino, but coped well. Good in defence, but rarely seen in loose.

Ross Ford 6

Good lineout performance, solid in scrum and a physical presence around the pitch, without starring.

Euan Murray 6

A good, solid shift in the scrum against Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza, where he gave no ground; little success in loose.

Matt Mustchin 6

Tireless effort from debutant; solid in scrum and good presence in lineout; tackled well and strived to provide lead in attack.

Scott McLeod 6

Good, bruising performance from restored lock; led lineout well, regular presence in defence and made good yards with ball in hand.

Alasdair Strokosch 6

Hard blindside flanker was a thorny presence in Scots defence and won good lineout ball; carried well on few moments in attack.

Johnnie Beattie 5

Good in defence and attack early on, but outshone by experienced opposite number and never grasped opportunity to show selectors what they'd missed.

Allister Hogg 6

Gutsy presence at heart of most of Scotland's attacking work, and highly visible in defensive chores, but struggled on the ground against Pumas' back row.

SUBSTITUTES

Kelly Brown 6

On for Beattie 56mins

Alastair Kellock 5

On for MacLeod 65

Alasdair Dickinson 5

On for Jacobsen 65

Simon Webster 4

On for Evans 72

Rory Lawson 4

On for Blair 73