Argentina claim series win over Scotland with last second try

Argentina made history against Scotland on Saturday in Santiago del Estero. A last second try to Emiliano Boffelli gave Los Pumas a 34-31 victory and a series win by two games to one. With it Michael Cheika’s side now turn their attention to the Rugby Championship.

Played at the magnificent Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, the match lived up to the sight of the facilities. Both teams scored impressive tries as the series was decided with time up on the clock.

Early ball had Argentina close to scoring in the left corner. Matías Orlando put Matías Moroni into a gap. The inside center then burst through to pass out to Emiliano Boffelli. The pass was to high for the wing who juggled it over the sideline.

As it turned out Boffelli was the first scorer, albeit via a penalty. His 11th minute strike was from in front but from very far out. Rather than build upon it, Argentina were quickly behind as Scotland scored the game’s opening try. South African Duhan van der Merwe broke a Juan Cruz Mallía tackle to score in what was Scotland’s first visit into the Argentine 22. The try was converted by Blair Kinghorn; he was also the player who had offloaded to van der Merwe.

Scotland’s lead was in more areas than points scored. The Northern British test team secured three first quarter turnovers by pulling the ball from the hands of Argentine ball carriers.

The second quarter began with an impressive try to Santiago Carreras. In a move started by Bautista Delguy, a counter attack run resulted in quick phase ball with Mallía offloading to Boffelli. The winger found Carreras who had the pace to run in from far to score near the posts. Boffelli made it a 10-7 lead to the home side.

The lead did not last long; in their second visit into the Argentine 22 Scotland again came away with a try. Canadian born Ewan Ashman scored his first of two tries as he scored a maul try from an attacking 5 meter lineout.

Boffelli was off-target with a penalty attempt in response. A second change was taken as, this time, Moroni and Orlando won a double jackal penalty on Rufus McLean. Scotland then had an opportunity to gain the three points back only they kicked for the corner. Guido Petti stole the lineout to save his side. The half concluded with Kinghorn attempting a long-range penalty which hit the cross bar.

Scotland dominated the early second half. Ashman and van der Merwe both touched down for their second tries of the contest. Neither score required notably hard-work; a reality which implied that Scotland were on course for a comfortable victory.

The fighting spirit of Los Pumas did return. They fought back with a try to Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. The replacement loose head touched down for what was the second try in his test career. His first was against Chile in 2010. Boffelli added the conversion.

Scotland’s response was a penalty. Kinghorn’s kick ensured the Scots were two tries ahead on the scoreboard. It was, however, Scotland’s final score of the afternoon. Argentina went on to win the final quarter 14-3. Both tries came with Cheika making solid usage of his replacements.

As he did in Jujuy, Gonzalo Bertranou scored from the base of a ruck inches out from the try line. Bertranou touched down following good ball with width and pace. Phases involved both backs and forwards. Boffelli landed the difficult conversion to pull the score back to 31-27.

The Scottish-based professional player, Boffelli scored again. With under a minute to go, Los Pumas won an attacking scrum. They used the ball well to pass with Boffelli step-in through to score. The replacement bench and stadium were on their feet celebrating. Boffelli had won Argentina the match and the series. He converted from wide to finish with 19 points.

Argentina and Scotland will meet again in November. Scotland will play host to Los Pumas in a record fourth match of the year between the teams. Before then, Cheika’s Pumas have a home series against Australia, away series against New Zealand and a split series against South Africa. The 2022 Rugby Championship is unlike prior editions.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 34
Try – S Carreras (20′), N Tetaz Chaparro (51′), G Bertranou (67′), E Boffelli (80′)
Con – E Boffelli 4/4 (21′, 53′, 68′, 80′)
Pen – E Boffelli 2/3 (11′, 35′)

SCOTLAND 31
Try – D van der Merwe 2 (13′, 49′), E Ashman 2 (25′, 43′)
Con – B Kinghorn 4/4 (14′, 26′, 45′)
Pen – B Kinghorn 1/2 (64′)

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Santiago Grondona, 8 Facundo Isa, 9 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Juan Martín González, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Lucio Cinti

SCOTLAND
1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Rory Darge, 7 Hamish Watson (capt.), 8 Matt Fagerson, 9 Ali Price, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Mark Bennett, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Ollie Smith

Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Glen Young, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Sam Johnson

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (France); Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)