November Internationals 2022 – Scotland vs Argentina – ARN Guide

A long year of international activity will conclude for Scotland and Argentina on Sunday. 9th in the world host 6th in the world in what is to be a battle between two teams who have the means to be competitive at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

Scotland will compete in Pool B and Argentina in Pool D. Scotland are to take on Ireland, Romania, South Africa and Tonga while Los Pumas will be up against England, Chile, Japan, and Samoa. Coaches, players and supporters from all these countries should tune in to see Scotland vs Argentina on Saturday.

The match is to be the fourth test match between Scotland and Argentina in 2022. Never before have the teams played each other so many times in a single year. Scotland toured Argentina in July. Argentina won the first test match 26-18 in Jujuy. Scotland gained revenge to win game two 29-6 in Salta to set-up a series decider. Argentina won the third test match 34-31 in Santiago del Estero.

The match is Scotland’s fourth this month. Scotland fell to an agonizing 16-15 against Australia, defeated Fiji 28-12 and challenged New Zealand before falling 31-23. The loss took its toll as Rory Sutherland and Hamish Watson were both injured.

Scotland are now captained by flanker Jamie Ritchie. Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey join him in the back-row. Dempsey will play his third test match against Argentina. His first and second were in Canberra and Mendoza for the Wallabies. He made the change this month.

Dempsey is not alone in being born and raised in Australia; Sione Tuipulotu starts at inside center. Players from South African include loose head Pierre Schoeman and winger Duhan van der Merwe. Ali Price and Chris Harris are from England. Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe became Scottish-qualified as adults after moving for the purpose of playing professional rugby in Scotland.

Scotland’s level of play has benefited from the inclusion of such players. Scotland has reason to believe that the team can realize the dream of a first Rugby World Cup Semi Final since 1991. The draw is such that if Scotland and Argentina play eachother at the tournament it will be late.

Julián Montoya returns to captain Michael Cheika’s Pumas. Montoya was named to start against Wales but was forced out injured and replaced by veteran Agustín Creevy. The soon to be European-based Ignacio Ruiz will be Montoya’s understudy.

Francisco Gómez Kodela returned to Lyon following the match in Cardiff. Eduardo Bello replaces him at tight head prop while Santiago Medrano will cover him from the bench. Medrano will earn his first cap under Cheika. He was a regular under Mario Ledesma; he played 30 test matches from 2018-2021.

There are also two alterations in the backs. Matías Orlando replaces Matías Moroni at outside center while Bautista Delguy replaces Mateo Carreras on the right wing. Orlando was a replacement against England and Wales. Delguy will earn his first cap since the Rugby Championship and his first start since Argentina’s last match against Scotland.

Nicolás Sánchez started the year wearing the 10 shirt for Argentina. He returns for his second cap of the year as Argentina’s replacement fly half. He will earn his 95th cap covering Santiago Carreras with Tomás Albornoz out of the 23. Lautaro Bazán Vélez is also back for Argentina. He replaced Eliseo Morales as the reserve scrum-half.

There are milestones for Argentina’s wingers. Delguy will earn his 25th cap while Emiliano Boffelli will lead out Los Pumas as he earns his 50th cap. It comes with Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff having both missed out on game-time in November.

Ending the year on a high will require winning the contact area. Argentina outplayed England in the battle to secure the ball but were second best against Wales. A heavy workload awaits the South Americans in Edinburgh.

 

TEAMS

SCOTLAND
1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Fraser Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Jamie Ritchie (capt.), 8 Jack Dempsey, 9 Ali Price, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Darcy Graham, 15 Stuart Hogg

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Glen Young, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ben White, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Cameron Redpath

 

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Matías Moroni

Date: Saturday, November 19
Kick-Off: 3:15pm (UK); 12:15pm (AR)
Venue: Murrayfield (Edinburgh, UK)
Referee: Karl Dickson (UK)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (UK); Ian Tempest (IE)
TMO: Brett Cronan (AU)

HISTORICAL RESULTS
Jul 16, 2022 – Argentina 34-31 Scotland (Santiago del Estero, AR)
Jul 09, 2022 – Argentina 06-29 Scotland (Salta, AR)
Jul 02, 2022 – Argentina 26-18 Scotland (Jujuy, AR)
Nov 24, 2018 – Scotland 14-09 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Jun 23, 2018 – Argentina 15-44 Scotland (Resistencia, AR)
Nov 19, 2016 – Scotland 19-16 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Nov 08, 2014 – Scotland 41-31 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Jun 21, 2014 – Argentina 19-21 Scotland (Córdoba, AR)
Sep 25, 2011 – Argentina 13-12 (Wellington, NZ)
Jun 19, 2010 – Argentina 09-13 Scotland (Mar del Plata, AR)
Jun 12, 2010 – Argentina 16-24 Scotland (Tucumán, AR)
Nov 28, 2009 – Scotland 06-09 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Jun 14, 2008 – Argentina 14-26 Scotland (Buenos Aires, AR)
Jun 07, 2008 – Argentina 21-15 Scotland (Rosario, AR)
Oct 07, 2007 – Argentina 19-13 Scotland (Paris, FR)
Nov 12, 2005 – Scotland 19-23 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Nov 18, 2001 – Scotland 16-25 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Aug 21, 1999 – Scotland 22-31 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)
Jun 11, 1994 – Argentina 19-17 Scotland (Buenos Aires, AR)
Jun 04, 1994 – Argentina 16-15 Scotland (Buenos Aires, AR)
Nov 10, 1990 – Scotland 49-03 Argentina (Edinburgh, UK)