Discretion formed the better part of valour this morning, as much though I wanted to watch the Fiji-Samoa battle, I decided against the alarm call. The alarm then decided to not work, which meant that Ireland vs Russia fell by the wayside too, but the natural body clock stepped in, and I was ensconced in front of the TV in plenty of time for the anthems.
A lot was at stake for both sides, with Argentina knowing defeat would see them out, and Scotland that, were they to lose, the chances were they would need a convincing win against England at Eden Park next weekend to progress to the Quarter Finals.
The nerves meant much kicking, but Scotland eventually settled first, and secured ball on a few occasions. Patterson it was who had the first chance of points, but his kick, though seeming to be curling round nicely, just held up and faded right to leave the game scoreless.
Argentina were spurred into action, and looked particularly powerful up front as they had done all tournament. From under the sticks, Rodriguez decided to take a drop goal and ease their nerves, but the kick was as ugly as the game had been thus far, and screwed wide.
The scrum was also messy, and the stakes had seemingly affected every element of the game meaning no rhythm could be created. As Di Luca was penalised for a second time for not releasing, Contepomi had a go at goal which fell short. Argentina didn't let the Scots clear their line and a clever chip from Fernandez ensured good position, which was spoiled by Scottish offside, and Contepomi slotted the easiest of three points to break the deadlock.
Pumas big man Fernandez Lobbe then went down in midfield in a seemingly innocuous clash, which resulted in the skipper spending a long period on the ground. Ligament damage seemed to be the order of the day, a big blow to Argentina's hopes were he to go off, but he tried to continue, heavily strapped. At the next scrum, Cross was penalised and Rodriguez missed from distance, leaving the score at 3-0 after 24 minutes.
Scotland were following the French example from the day before, with a bright start ultimately fizzling out into nothing. They were fortunate that the Pumas themselves were struggling, and when Scotland finally started to produce through the dancing feet of Evans and the more direct style of Lamont, they were stopped ten metres out with an 8th turnover of a sloppy first half.
It struck me that were you to combine England's indiscipline with Scotland's chronic ability to give the ball away through turnovers, you would have a pretty poor side. Next week's game could be interesting....
Hamilton finally turned a ball over for the Scots, but pedestrian hands from Jackson and a bad option from Morrison saw things go wrong again. Argentina conceded a penalty at the breakdown though, only for Jackson to wastefully miss touch. Jackson was proving that Scotland have difficulties at 10.
Lobbe's brave attempt to continue ended on 30 minutes. My experience of knee injuries suggests his World Cup could be over. Gray stole the next line-out for Scotland, but again Argentina snuffed out the danger. Much of Scotland's good work was coming from Evans, who the Argentinians could not bring down.
Roncero was penalised in his own 22, much to the chagrin of Ledesma, but he clearly slipped his binding and came off slightly the worse for wear. Meanwhile, Patterson was preparing himself for a big kick, which he succeeded with, to bring things level.
Scotland were, on the whole, the better side but the breakdown area would concern them greatly. At least their problems could be worked on, as Argentina saw Roncero join Lobbe on the bench as Talisman after Talisman was lost. Argentinian discipline was also on the wain, and another break from Evans, backed up for once by Di Luca, resulted in a penalty for not releasing the tackled man, and Jackson smashed a long kick which cleared the bar by millimetres to give the Scots the lead. Half time: Argentina 3 Scotland 6
Hamilton came more and more into the game as it went on, using his huge frame to pose problems in the tight and the loose. Gray and Jacobsen were also making their presence felt.
Argentina started the second half with another drop goal attempt. When I say attempt, I am being generous. It was short, wide and ugly. Scotland cleared to touch easily, before wasting a turnover through another aimless Jackson kick. Scotland had improved though up front, where Argentina, weakened by those injuries, were not the force they had been against England and Romania.
Evans again burst, kicked ahead and gathered, but after Barclay recycled, Lawson isolated himself and the Argentinians turned over yet again and cleared to touch, though Scotland would have a great attacking line-out position. Typically, they lost the line-out, and with the rain continuing to pour, conditions began to suit the attritional style of game, and the repeated errors of Jackson must surely have tempted Robinson to bring on the metronomic Parks who would thrive in these conditions.
Argentina kept things tight and inched forward, refusing to kick, preferring to keep it in hand, but not really piercing the Scottish defence with any pace, and Hamilton, again, turned over an excellent ball, allowing Jackson, for once to put in a good kick and send the Pumas back where they had come from. From under the sticks, Patterson wasted another drop goal chance, and neither side seemed capable of taking their chances.
It was ebb and flow stuff, interesting if never really exhilarating, and after Jacobsen was caught offside, Contepomi tried to level things up, but missed left. Patterson knocked on in his own half, and from the scrum, Cross was penalised and Contepomi tied the scores at 6 points each after 63 minutes.
The game was crying out for Parks, and Jackson prodded Robinson again with a bad kick-off. Argentina couldn't make the most of it though and Scotland sensed a chance. Third phase ball saw it shipped back to Jackson, way back, and he sent the Scots 3 points clear with the first successful drop goal of an increasingly wet evening.
The Pumas nudged once more into Scottish territory, and referee Barnes penalised Hamilton for not releasing in the tackle. Contepomi hit the left hand upright and Scotland stayed in the lead. Parks eventually replaced Jackson with 11 minutes to go and after Hamilton stole yet another line-out, Argentina conceded a penalty on halfway. Parks' first touch saw a kick land inside the Argentinian 5 metre line. Scotland recycled and drew the Pumas offside, and from the 'free ball' Parks slotted a drop goal with his second touch. Realism in such conditions is way better than creativity, as Parks proved within 120 seconds of his arrival on the pitch. 12-6 and daylight at last.
Argentina were spurred into life though and Contepomi broke in midfield, before shipping to Amorosino who was missed by Patterson, amongst others, and went over for the first try of the night. Contepomi had struggled in the conditions, but he managed to squeeze the conversion over to give the Pumas the lead 13-12.
As time ticked by, Argentina seemed to have killed the game, but conceded a penalty. Comedy of errors time, as Parks went for broke and pushed it. Amorosino from hero to villain fumbled it into touch and Scotland won the lineout and rumbled to the line. Argentina's backs bolted very quickly and were well offside and Parks messed the drop goal attempt badly.
Ultimately, that was that. A missed tackle had ultimately cost Scotland a game they could and should have won. There will be calls that Contepomi was offside, which I think he was, but Scotland should never have been in that position as the missed tackle by Patterson shortly after they had taken a 6 point lead, killed the game.
Full Time Argentina 13 Scotland 12.
Scotland now need to beat England and in doing so and either match or better them in the bonus points stakes to qualify for the Quarter Finals, something they have always done. Argentina need to patch up their walking wounded in time for Georgia.
Apparently Jackson was voted Man of the Match. I must have been watching a different game to everyone else. Evans was superb, as was Hamilton, and Contepomi orchestrated everything Argentina did. Still, no accounting for taste I suppose, but Jackson did far too much aimless kicking for my liking.
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