Matchwinner Dan Parks believes that Scotland can make more history

SCOTLAND hero Dan Parks believes that the touring side can make rugby history this Saturday with a second win over Argentina, clinching a first ever series victory in the southern hemisphere.

• Parks landed all of Scotland's 24 points with his boot. Pic PA

Saturday's remarkable 24-16 win in the first Test has already made the record books as Argentina's first defeat in Tucuman, with all of Scotland's points coming from the boot of Parks. This week, the stand-off believes the Scots can score tries into the bargain.

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If the outside backs had the occasional opportunity to make things happen on Saturday night – Max Evans, Sean Lamont and Nick De Luca all found space in the wide channels from time to time – they rarely looked like scoring.

But Parks said: "I think we got ourselves in space. Credit to Argentina's defence which was very good. I think we created opportunities but it was just a shame that we couldn't go to the try line. We'll look at that and, with a little luck, we'll score some tries."

Parks may have been booed at Murrayfield but he revealed that being jeered by fans only makes him more determined. Admittedly he was talking about the home supporters packed into Tucuman's stadium who raised a cacophony of noise every time the Scotland fly-half lined up a pot at goal.

Parks loves nothing more than silencing a hostile crowd and Tucuman's infamous fans were stunned by the scoreboard, but not before they had vented their full frustration at the man responsible for it. In terms of noise, Parks insisted that Tucuman's stadium was comparable to kicking in Toulouse when Glasgow had the audacity to win a Heineken Cup encounter in the south of France.

"I don't shut it out (the noise]," he said. "I actually enjoy it. I take it in. In Wales and in Ireland we felt that too. It's something I really enjoy because that's what a test match is about, it's that ferocity, it's the crowd's involvement and, once you kick it, it's the silence. I love that!

"There was a kick I did in the second half, a line kick, that went into touch with one bounce, and it was incredibly quiet. There was complete silence except for the noise from the guys on the field. It's almost like you've made a mistake."

Parks mirrored just about every Scot in Saturday's match by starting poorly and finishing strongly although he may be over-stating his love of barracking. He missed three kicks in all and while one of them was a speculative 60 metre, time-waster late in the day, he would normally expect to nail the two first half penalties that he fluffed.

But the Cardiff-bound No 10 displays the mental resilience of a chess Grand Master and there is something about this complex character that thrives under the spotlight. His very ability to stay centre-stage after being repeatedly written off is illuminating in itself.

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Scotland ran the ball far more than is usual with Parks in harness, presumably to avoid offering the Pumas the opportunity to counter-attack. Parks has never been comfortable playing amongst the heavy traffic on or around the gain line but he stood much flatter than usual on Saturday and sent long passes fizzing across the midfield which invited the big men to attack the heart of the Argentinian midfield.

When someone sees as much action as Parks does inevitably they will make some mistakes and the fly-half had a few on Saturday. One pass to Hugo Southwell was well behind the full back and ruined a promising attack. Another cross-field kick was never going to reach Max Evans and, had his opposite number Horacio Agulla been more decisive, the Pumas could have snatched their third try of the afternoon.

But overall the Australian's revival continues apace. He has now made himself central to Andy Robinson's plans and it is difficult to imagine Scotland thriving without him. It's worth remembering that, as recently as last November, Parks was not even in the national squad, Robinson preferring Phil Godman in the autumn tests. The Edinburgh playmaker was bench-bound for 80 minutes on Saturday and he looks set to stay there while Parks continues to thrive where he is happiest, in the limelight.

Meanwhile, a decision on Chris Cusiter's participation on the tour will be made today. The Scotland captain travelled with the tour party in the hope of being fit for the second Test. But with Rory Lawson playing well behind a winning pack, and Mike Blair coming off the bench for the last quarter on Saturday, there is little point in risking Cusiter this week.

The Scots returned to Beuenos Aires yesterday to begin their build-up to Saturday's second Test at Mar del Plata.

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