Eight-try Scotland declare chaotic victory over Argentina

Scotland (19) 52
Attempting: Tuipulotu 2, Van der Merwe, Graham 3, Redpath, Hogg Idiot: Russell 6
Argentina (15) 29
Attempting: De la Fuente, Alemanno, Boffelli, Ruiz Disadvantages: Boffelli 3 Pen: Boffelli

Scotland wrapped up the autumn collection with victory over ill-disciplined Argentina, who added three second-half yellow playing cards to a first-half purple in a stormy contest at Murrayfield.

Darcy Graham scored three, Tuipulotu acquired two, with Duhan van der Merwe, Cameron Redpath and Stuart Hogg additionally crossing the whitewash.

Van der Merwe and Graham scored straight after a reckless purple card for Marcos Kremer however Scotland led simply 19-15 on the midway level.

Two swift Argentina yellow playing cards on Matias Alemanno and Tomas Lavanini adopted Graham’s second rating, with Tuipulotu, who crossed for the primary Scotland attempt, including the fifth towards 12 males.

Extremely, Emiliano Boffelli had raced away to crash below the posts in the identical chaotic spell, whereas Jeronimo de la Fuente and Alemanno struck for the guests earlier than the break and Ignacio Ruiz had the ultimate say seven minutes into the deficit.

It was a day of six playing cards, a dozen tries and a much-needed – and finally spectacular – victory for Scotland, who now finish their tough 2022 on a optimistic word and with some momentum to kick into 2023 with.

They will thank Russell for that. As good as Graham was – and he was brilliantly world class – it was Russell who tied all of it collectively.

He was immense, a continuing supply of sophistication and creativity, a participant who embellished the Check with one flourish after one other and one game-winning second after one other. A number of weeks in the past he was, laughably, fourth alternative 10 for Scotland. Fortunately, the choice weirdness has handed and Russell is again the place he belongs.

Boffelli, the Edinburgh man enjoying his twelfth Check in 5 months, put the Pumas forward with an early penalty however Russell took over quickly after. His aid to Tuipolotu was lavish. The middle stepped Juan Cruz Mallia after which drifted off to attain whereas dragging half of Argentina with him.

Russell’s conversion made it 7-3, however the half was within the thick of issues once more inside minutes when he performed ball making an attempt to clear from his personal 22. The Pumas grabbed it, noticed a slim protection in entrance of them and acquired De la Fuente over within the nook. For a change, Boffelli missed the conversion.

The defining second got here after 23 minutes, when Kremer caught Ritchie on the pinnacle with a forearm at a ruck and referee Karl Dickson accurately booked him. Scotland solely took a minute to rub salt within the wound.

Once more it was Russell on the coronary heart of it, stepping right into a half-gap close to the Argentina line earlier than slotting it to Van der Merwe, who muscled his approach ahead to mark it below stress. The conversion made it 14-8.

When Graham scored simply earlier than the half-hour mark, a cakewalk seemed on the playing cards. The architect was Russell, who went by way of a spot to place the Pumas on the again foot. Grant Gilchrist was in assist and when Scotland went huge they scored.

They made a little bit of a meal out of it. Chris Harris went on the road with males operating free outdoors him however he was stopped. Within the subsequent wave, Graham saved him. The little winger has had a incredible autumn.

It made it 19-8 however the half ended surprisingly. Firmly in management, Scotland instantly changed into a penalty machine and allowed the Pumas to hit again, the large Alemanno scoring and Boffelli closing the hole to 4.

Scotland have made an artwork type of blowing good-looking leads in video games this season so Murrayfield have been nonetheless respiration closely.

It was like that for some time. One other scrumptious Russell break and free by way of the aspect door set Hogg off, and he in flip dispatched Graham for his second attempt of the day. Scotland led by 9.

After that, some craziness came to visit Murrayfield. Alemanno was despatched off for a header on Jonny Grey on 50 minutes and his second-row companion, Tomas Lavanani went for cynical play on 51 minutes.

Argentina have been all the way down to 12, then broke away from their very own 22 when Jack Dempsey fumbled a scrum and scored. Matias Orlando scooped up the unfastened ball and galloped off, linking up with Boffelli in assist. The wing went below the sticks after which added the additional materials. The 12 males have been two factors behind. Firecracker.

Scotland’s blushes eased a bit when Hogg put Tuipolotu over within the nook for his second attempt of the Check. Russell made it 31-22 with the boot. That interval when 15 performed 12 ended 7-7.

Earlier than we knew it, the playing cards have been out once more. A touchline melee involving each man on the sphere bore future UN peacekeeper Pierre Schoeman ended with Ritchie changing into Scotland’s first man within the bin and Thomas Gallo Pumas’ third. It was 14 to 13 now.

The entire thing was a multitude. Cut up and fractured, a stop-start affair which Scotland dominated however struggled to capitalize on till Russell – who else – pounced only for Redpath to run on and rating his first worldwide attempt. He added the conversion and the lead prolonged to 16 factors.

Scotland drove on from there. Hogg scored six minutes from the tip and the great Graham accomplished his hat-trick.

Further time made it 52-22, the Pumas added one other attempt on the finish by way of Ruiz. Scotland have been all the way down to 14 on the time, Tuipolotu the final man to see yellow on a day of yellow and purple, however above all a day the place Russell and Graham shone brightly.

Lineups

Scotland: Hog; Graham, Harris, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, Worth; Schoeman, Brown, Z Fagerson, Grey, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Ritchie (capt), Dempsey.

Reimbursements: Turner, Bhatti, Walker, Younger, Christie, White, Kinghorn, Redpath.

Argentina: Mallia; Delguy, Orlando, De la Fuente, Boffelli; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (captain), Bello, Alemanno, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Matera.

Reimbursements: Ruiz, Tetaz Champarro, Medrano, Paulos, Isa, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.