Pumas squeeze past Scotland

Argentina kept their lengthy unbeaten run against Scotland intact with a 21-15 win in Rosario on Saturday.

Fly-half Federico Todeschini kicked the winning points with a penalty five minutes from the end in a typically robust and tight encounter in Argentina's north, and Gonzalo Tiesi's late try made the game safe for the hosts.

Chris Paterson, starting at full-back, scored all Scotland's points at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium in Rosario to go four clear of Gavin Hastings as his country's all-time record holder.

By playing, he also equalled Scott Murray's record of 87 caps -- but his efforts were not enough to subdue a Pumas side playing their first international since finishing third at the World Cup.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries:  Tejada, Tiesi
Con:  Todeschini
Pens:  Todeschini 3

For Scotland:
Pens:  Paterson 5

Argentina:  15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 José María Núñez Piossek, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Tomás De Vedia, 10 Federico Todeschini, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Juan Fernández Lobbe, 6 Martín Durand, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, 3 Santiago González Bonorino, 2 Álvaro Tejeda, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements:  16 Pablo Gambarini, 17 Juan Gómez, 18 James Stuart, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Santiago Fernández, 22 Hernán Senillosa.

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair (c),

8 Allister Hogg, 7 Johnnie Beattie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements:  16 Dougie Hall, 17 Allister Dickinson, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Simon Webster.

Referee:  Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges:  Alain Rolland (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO:  Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)