Rugby: Andy Robinson backs his Edinburgh contingent to bounce back

• Andy Robinson is backing his Edinburgh players to make their mark on tour

Edinburgh finished with four straight defeats to miss out on the Magners League play-offs but the message from Robinson is that form may be temporary but class is permanent.

He named Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen, Alan MacDonald, Mike Blair, Nick De Luca, Phil Godman and the uncapped Jim Thompson in his 27-strong squad for fixtures against the Pumas on 12 and 19 June.

For MacDonald, the trip will set the seal on a season in which he made his international debut against Argentina at Murrayfield and added to that with three appearances in the Six Nations.

Robinson said: "I know a lot of people were surprised when I gave Alan a first cap and didn't pick (John) Barclay but part of it was the growth of the squad.

"That gave Alan confidence going into the Six Nations and he deserved it.

"John Barclay is the number one open side flanker but Alan has done very well."

On the other side of the coin, it has been a difficult campaign for Mike Blair coming off the back of a Lions tour and he finished the season on Edinburgh's bench providing back-up to Greig Laidlaw.

But Robinson appeared well aware of the demands placed on a man used to captaincy responsibilities and who picked up separate injuries in 2009 and 2010 before finishing with a flourish at international level.

"Mike did really well when he came off the bench against Ireland and is a quality player," said Robinson.

"At times, injuries and selections don't always go your way but Mike will go well on the tour."

With three scrum halves in the squad and Robinson looking to create opportunities for as many individuals as possible over just two matches, chances are that, with Chris Cusiter captaining the party, Blair may have to share the stand-by duties with Rory Lawson.

Whoever is called upon will find the environment challenging, especially with the first Test scheduled for the up-country Tucuman province unlike Scotland's 2008 visit which was based on cities Rosario and Buenos Aires.

Tucuman is an area where the crowds are known to be particularly passionate and Robinson experienced this as an England substitute in 1990.

"I was on the bench covering hooker (he was usually a flanker). The crowd are lively and are usually caged in. They'll be bouncing up and down and occasional articles, fruit perhaps, will be thrown on the pitch."

That is something Scotland will have to take in their stride and Robinson admits the victory in Dublin last time out has boosted their confidence.

He said: "Any win is important for Scotland but one of the things I enjoyed was the fact it backed up the work we were doing throughout the Six Nations.

"We didn't look back and say 'if only' about the games where were not able to get across the try line."