Argentina 9-13 Scotland: Bring on the All Blacks, says Scotland skipper Al Kellock

ALASTAIR KELLOCK is adamant Scotland have every chance of seeing off New Zealand this autumn after recording their first ever Test series win on foreign soil against Argentina.

Scotland had already made history last weekend after sending Argentina to their first-ever defeat in Tucuman – courtesy of a Dan Parks-inspired 24-16 win.

And Scotland and Parks were back at it again in Mar del Plata battling to a 13-9 victory to pick up their first series win away from home for 50 years.

Jim Hamilton's maiden international try after just three minutes got the ball rolling while eight points from the steady boot of Parks was enough for the win.

Scotland were made to work hard and two penalties from Felipe Contepomi and one from Martin Rodriguez, combined with pouring rain, ensured victory was far from a formality.

Head coach Andy Robinson will now turn his attentions to repeating the trick when New Zealand – who hammered Wales 42-9 on Saturday in Carisbrook – visit Murrayfield in November.

Scotland last faced New Zealand at Murrayfield in 2008, losing 32-6, but captain Kellock believes their maiden win on foreign soil can be a catapult to bigger and better things.

"If you had asked someone if we could challenge New Zealand before the tour of Argentina they would have said no," said Kellock.

"But we will be looking to continually improve and be looking to play as well as we can in every game and if we do that we can win any game.

"In saying that there is world-class opposition out there and they are only going to get stronger and stronger.

"But it doesn't get any better than this at the moment. This is a real high point in my international career – the highest ever.

"We came over to Argentina and worked very well and all the effort we have put in has been made worth it now because of the win.

"To beat Argentina twice in a row is a fantastic achievement and a massive credit has to go out to not just the players but everyone else involved as well.

"It has been a huge effort and we have all had a really enjoyable time. When it started raining that would have suited Argentina because they have a very good pack of forwards.

"But I thought we played the conditions exceptionally well, we played the territory really well, we took our chances and we pinned them back really well.

"The only time they got their tails up was when they were in our half and we prevented them in there. It was very tight at the end but we managed to control them and get the win."

Scotland failed to score a try in the 24-16 win over a week ago but crossed the whitewash after three minutes thanks to Hamilton.

Johnnie Beattie collected the ball at a line-out in the right corner before laying off to Moray Low who battled forward before finding Hamilton who powered over.

Parks converted for his first two points of the match however a lack of discipline was soon to cost Scotland as Argentina edged their way back into the game.

The hosts were awarded a flurry of penalties with captain Contepomi reducing the deficit to just one point with two well-taken efforts.

Argentina nearly followed that up with a try of their own but Hugo Southwell was resolute and denied prop Rodrigo Roncero near the line.

Parks took the score to 10-6 with his first penalty of the match but then proceeded to send two efforts wide as Scotland looked to get a grip of the match before half-time. They received a boost minutes before the break when Roncero was sent to the sin bin for an offence at the line out – however Scotland failed to make the most of it.

John Barclay went close only to see his charge pulled back for a forward pass and with Argentina back to full strength they looked to make the most of their home advantage in Mar del Plata.

The home side began dominating but only had a penalty from Martin Rodriguez – kicking for the injured Contepomi – to show for it.

Scotland looked nervous but dug deep and were given a passage to victory after muscling their way into Argentina's half and winning a penalty in the 73rd minute.

Parks slotted it over comfortably and Scotland held on to also record three successive away wins for the first time in 26 years.

And Robinson – who replaced Frank Hadden as Scotland's head coach this time last year – insists Scotland deserved every bit of their success in South America.

"Some days you win ugly and some days you go and win through courage," said Robinson.

"I think we won with courage. We controlled the first half well but we didn't control the scoreboard. I was a bit concerned that we went in at half-time only four points ahead.

"We've got to learn when are as dominant as we were that we are 15 points clear in the future. But I am delighted for everyone involved in Scottish rugby.

"It is hard work and the guys put in a lot of effort to achieve something very special. I am delighted for the players because they put in a lot of effort.

"It didn't go as we had planned and I felt we could have scored a few points in the first half and the second half was all about courage."

And Robinson also echoed skipper Kellock's comments with the visit of New Zealand six months away, adding: "When you achieve what we have just done it gives everybody belief in what we are trying to do.

"Winning gives you that and everybody was desperate to win the game and the replacements came on the field and gave us some energy."

Scorers:

Argentina: Penalties: Contepomi (2), Rodriguez. Scotland: Try: Hamilton; Conversion: Parks; Penalties: Parks (2).

Argentina: Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Tiesi, Fernandez, Agulla, Contepomi (Carballo 65), Figuerola, Roncero, Ledesma (Creevy 65), Scelzo, Carizza, Albacete, Fessia, Leguizamon (Campos 47), Fernadez-Lobbe.

Scotland: Southwell, S Lamont, M Evans (De Luca 72), Morrison, Danielli, Parks, R Lawson (M Blair 71), Jacobsen (Dickinson 65), Ford (S Lawson 70), Low, Hamilton, Kellock (MacLeod 60), Brown, Barclay, Beattie (Strokosch 65).