Autumn Internationals 2014: Scotland vs Argentina Prediction

These two last met in the summer with Scotland pipping the South Americans at the post 21-19 – Duncan Weir nailed a penalty with just seconds left on the clock. Many people are using the excuse of Argentina not having their European players available as to why Scotland won, but the thing is, Scotland didn’t have their full strength side out either.

In theory, both teams should be at roughly the same stage on the international scene; both have had famous periods in their past, both have the players to compete at the highest level and both are due a resurgence sometime soon. So who’ll be victorious on Saturday?

Scotland

The first thing people look at in a fixture involving Argentina is the front rows. Are they good enough? The truth is, no. Scotland’s front three have been at the weaker end of the spectrum for a while now, and even though Alasdair Dickinson is extremely underrated and Euan Murray is showing better form since moving to Glasgow, they are still in for a tough ol’ time at the weekend.

We finally get to see the exciting Gray brothers pack down for the first time ever on the international scene and while many won’t see Scotland’s backrow as being that strong – Kelly Brown and John Barclay aren’t involved so of course it isn’t – Rob Harley is another underrated player and if Blair Cowan can play to his club form, they might be in with a chance. A lot rests on the shoulders of young Adam Ashe though.

Greig Laidlaw is the sole player in a backline full of Warriors, which is good news for Scotland fans. Laidlaw has looked a different player since moving to Gloucester and the Glasgow backs are ripping up the PRO12 at the moment. Not least Mark Bennett in the centre, who is making his international debut.

Argentina

The majority of Argentine players should be well known to most rugby fans, with the possible exception of the locks and backrow. 22-year-old Juan Cruz Guillemain makes his debut in the engine room and he packs down next to the even younger Tomas Lavanini.

A backrow of Rodrigo Baez and Javier Ortega Desio will be unfamiliar to most but not Leonardo Senatore at number eight, and the front three of Marcos Ayerza, Augustin Creevy and Ramiro Herrera will get many an old school front-rower giddy.

Elsewhere the backline is full of star names that will be itching to get ball in hand; Nicolas Sanchez is one of the best 10s in the world, despite not many knowing who he is, and he has the fortune of counting Juan Martin Hernandez and Marcelo Bosch outside him, and big boys Juan Imhoff and Manuel Montero on the wings.

All eyes on

David Blair cheated here, so I will too. Mark Bennett is making his debut at 21 years old and many are saying it is years too late, such is the talent of the man. His lines of running and footwork are genuinely superb and he has a beautiful turn of pace.

It is hard not to keep an eye on the brothers in the engine room though, Richie and Jonny Gray, who lock together for the first time. Richie might do more of the eye-catching stuff but he is still a great tackler, while Jonny will do more of the behind-the-scenes action and hasn’t missed a tackle since 2011 (roughly).

For Argentina, it is hard not to watch the best prop in the world, Marcos Ayerza. The things he does in a scrum will make many a player of his fellow position shriek in glee, and he isn’t half-bad in the loose either.

Prediction

This is a genuinely, genuinely tough one to call and it will be a close game. Argentina will definitely have the edge at the set piece but Scotland might have the edge in the forwards overall. In the backs, it is a case of Argentina’s grunt and skill, against Scotland’s tested, superb-attacking Glasgow Warriors.

I’m not predicting a world-class game at all but you should hopefully see a high-scoring test match. Argentina will have the edge, though, if Scotland’s discipline is poor and there are a lot of scrums. Argentina by 6.

By Calum Gillon (@C_Gillon)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images