Scotland produced a polished seven-try performance to defeat Argentina 47-38 in a high-scoring Nations Championship opener on Saturday.
The visitors ran in three tries before the break and four after to secure a convincing victory over an Argentina side, who had beaten Scotland 33-24 at Murrayfield just nine months ago, after coming from 21-0 down.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu, prop Pierre Schoeman and centre Rory Hutchinson had the Scots 19-10 up at half-time, with Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, debutant Gregor Hiddlestone and Kyle Rowe adding further scores after the interval. Fergus Burke and Tom Jordan contributed three conversions apiece.
Argentina, who opened the scoring through Joaquin Oviedo's seventh-minute try from a lineout maul, responded with five tries of their own from Rodrigo Isgro, Thomas Rapetti, Lucio Cinti and Agustin Moyano. Tomas Albornoz converted all five and added a penalty.
Scotland quickly found their rhythm, going through 14 phases before Tuipulotu crossed the line in the 17th minute. Schoeman's powerful surge over the line five minutes later was set up by Rowe's break, while Hutchinson's try came from a strong scrum platform and a cleverly timed pass from the captain.
Argentina reduced the deficit three minutes into the second half when Santiago Carreras's grubber kick allowed winger Isgro to score, but Scotland reasserted their lead as replacement Brown touched down from a maul in the 51st minute.
Cummings propelled Scotland further ahead four minutes later, and although Rapetti scored with 25 minutes remaining, the visitors responded almost immediately through Hiddlestone, followed by Rowe's try on the wing five minutes later to seal a comfortable advantage.
Argentina belatedly showed some fight in the final 14 minutes when Cinti scored their fourth try, securing a bonus point, and Moyano added another in the last minute, but the damage had already been done.
"We knew it was going to be pretty similar to what we faced in the autumn and we knew there was going be a point in the game where we had to wrestle back momentum," said Scotland Captain Tuipulotu.
Argentina Captain Julian Montoya was scathing in his assessment. "We weren't good enough, the intensity and urgency weren't there. We lost every contest in the air and the crumbs on the floor, and the maul wasn't good either," he said.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
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China and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen military ties and deepen cooperation in minerals, energy and technology as Jakarta balances relations with Beijing and Washington amid economic and geopolitical tensions.
An international conference in Baku on 21 August is putting Belgium’s colonial record in Africa under renewed scrutiny. Officials, United Nations experts, researchers and human rights advocates are gathering to discuss whether the country has done enough to address the legacy of its rule.
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