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Scottish rugby has been given the biggest boost it has had in years, still in rugby nirvana after their shock win against the Wallabies. They will welcome an Argentina side in some transition, but one that will provide a stern test now having two matches under their belt.
The mantra that defence wins matches was born out to be true by Andy Robinson’s men, making twice as many tackles as the Wallabies. What was more impressive, was the fact that despite missing over 20 tackles, they still held the Australians to just the solitary score.
Still, while Scotland have given themselves a great platform to build off after notching one of their biggest wins in recent history, they are only just beginning what the Thistles will hope is a path towards tier one competitiveness.
Something not consistently been seen for a decade - when Scotland won the last Five Nations title.
But for all of the character and scrambling that Scotland showed in upsetting the Wallabies, they have a long way to go before they can, as centre Alex Grove boldly proclaimed, beat anybody.
Indeed, for all the euphoria surrounding Scottish rugby in the last week, the win was achieved without showing an aspect which goes a long way to ensuring competitiveness.
The ability to attack and the capacity to threaten an opposition defensively, or even better, score points. While there were glimpse of this in the first 20 minutes, it was more of a case of Scotland grimly hanging on to the Wallabies tail rather than purposefully imposing themselves on their opponents.
But at this stage, Scotland will take what they can get and put the one foot forward gingerly at a time.
Coming up against them is an Argentina side that appears to be well below the impressive side that shocked the world and beat France twice in succession to take third place in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
They are missing four of their front line backs - both key playmakers Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Hernandez, as well as wings Lucas Amorosino and Gonzalo Camacho.
Much of Argentina’s success at the World Cup and in recent years was built not only off the strong foundation of their pack, but through the tactical fortitude of their balanced if not pragmatic match strategy. Amorosino and Camacho for example, may not have been utilised as classical attacking wings, but were key in putting Contempomi’s and Hernandez’s kick receptions under pressure.
To say they have looked like a ship without a rudder of late is far too harsh, but they are missing the guidance and poise of their backline generals.
Up front, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, as well as Rodrigo Roncero, Martin Scelzo and Mario Ledesma, and aerial genius Patricio Albacete, are strong performers. Lobbe, their current captain, is certainly a contender for the best number eight in the world.
But outside of these key players are young and inexperienced Pumas.
Argentina has probably one of the most promising and burgeoning club networks in world rugby. In Buenos Aires, their local rugby stronghold, there are close to 100 top level clubs. While their numbers still lack when compared with other tier one nations, they are making ground.
Except for two crucial topics.
The game in South America is almost entirely amateur, and the Pumas themselves are playing far too few matches to remain competitive at the highest level.
This will be only Argentina’s fifth match this year (two of those were against what were effectively England B teams). That is half of what the home nations have played this year, and only a third of what their Southern Hemisphere cousins have undertaken.
And against England and Wales, this lack of game time and test exposure showed.
But they are still strong enough, especially up front, to burst Scotland’s bubble.
Still, Scotland have responded and brought in some real pace and attacking flair, bringing in Ben Cairns and Thom Evans to the wing. The duo they replace – Graeme Morrison and Simon Danielli – did not make any real impact against Australia, and Scotland will hope they can provide more attacking spark.
Confidence though can be the greatest asset on a rugby field, and Scotland will bring that in droves to Murrayfield against Los Pumas.
Furthermore, if Andy Robinson and his men do beat Argentina, they will be the first Scottish team since 2002 to win all of their autumn internationals.
The Pumas will be hoping to make more of an impact that they did against England and Wales. While they have been conditionally invited into the Tri Nations, it is not a done deal, with broadcasting and sponsorship chief amongst the discussions to be held.
A 0-3 ledger to three of the home nations is not the sort of resume a side wants to bring to the most important job interview of them all, where they could finally taste annual competition alongside the games three Southern superpowers.
A loss to Scotland here will drop Argentina to ninth in the world, a far cry from the halcyon days of 2007 when they were ranked in the top three.
Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Ben Cairns, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Cusiter (captain), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen. Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jason White, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Nick De Luca.
Argentina still to be named
Date: Saturday, November 28
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14.30 GMT
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
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