Argentina 38-47 Scotland: Hutchinson leads the Scottish hit squad

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE

Scotland registered a record victory in Argentina with a seven-try demolition powered by the impressive Rory Hutchinson.

Hutchinson played a pivotal role in Northampton‘s Prem triumph this season, and the centre continued his impressive form last night with an all-court showing.

Scotland, without Finn Russell due to a minor calf injury, inflicted revenge for Argentina’s dramatic comeback win in the autumn, which saw Gregor Townsend‘s side booed off at Murrayfield.

Since then, Scotland have won four of their last six outings, capped by an impressive scalp to kick off their Nations Championship.

Match action

The hosts enjoyed one of the longest spells of possession from a kick off you’ll ever see, sustaining 24 phases and over four minutes of play before an eventual knock on, in a breathless opening. Los Pumas’ dominance was eventually rewarded with Joaquin Oviedo touching down the game’s first try from a driving maul.

However, the visitors hit back through captain Sione Tuipulotu who was fed by a sumptuous ball by Hutchinson.

Scotland were then ahead when Pierre Schoeman, on his 50th cap, profited from a fine line break by Kyle Rowe.

Argentina hit back with a Tomas Albornoz penalty but Scotland soon went further in front as Tuipulotu crashed through the defence to set up Hutchinson powering over from close range.

Rodrigo Isgro gathered a Santi Carreras kick in behind but there was plenty for the Harlequins flyer to do in order to score, yet he had the power to fend off three Scottish defenders to bring his side within two.

Scotland rumbled forward and a clever offload from Ewan Ashman laid the platform for Gregor Brown to score his first international try. Scott Cummings joined Schoeman in scoring on his 50th cap as scintillating hands from Ben White, Hutchinson and Rowe put the second row in to score Scotland’s fifth.

This fixture looked set for another dramatic comeback story as Tomas Rapetti powered over and Jamie Dobie was sent to the sin bin but those hopes were quashed, though, as debutant, Gregor Hiddleston, and Rowe put them out of sight, while Joaquin Moro joined Dobie on the naughty step for the same offence.

There was still time for a late Argentine flurry as Lucio Cinti and Agustin Moyano rescued their side a bonus point.