Scotland wing Sean Lamont admitted his side had wasted the chance to beat Argentina after surrendering a 6-0 half-time lead at Murrayfield.
Buoyed by their win over South Africa the home side had taken the early advantage at Murrayfield with two Phil Godman penalties.
But two penalties and a late drop goal by Martin Rodriguez consigned Andy Robinson's men to a narrow defeat.
Lamont told BBC Radio Scotland: "We just didn't come out firing in the second half.
"All the hard work was done and we just needed to close it out in the second half.
"They came out all guns blazing and we just didn't respond to that. We had a good opportunity but unfortunately we didn't finish that off today."
Andy Robinson admitted Scotland got what they deserved
Robinson said: "In the first half I thought we played with good shape, good width, we asked a number of questions of them.
"But, at the key times, ie last pass, our accuracy wasn't there.
"You've got to be able to concentrate throughout because they are good at contesting every ball.
"They're scrappers and they scrap very hard for that ball.
"Second half, I thought the defining moment was the Nathan Hines sin bin.
"We kicked the ball away in a three on one where Thom Evans was outside and all three players were saying 'kick', as opposed to 'move the ball'.
"They're the key defining moments in games," he added.
"As soon as it went to 6-3, it became a scrappy affair.
"Argentina are very good in scrappy affairs and they get out and win the game.
"I was pleased with the ambition we tried to play with but you've got to control the scoreboard.
"And we didn't control the scoreboard and, therefore, we deserve what we get."
Robinson added: "It's a good learning experience for us.
"As always I'm bitterly disappointed for losing and the players are as well.
"But I thought the commitment that the players put in and the passion that they showed and the effort they showed was what we expected."
Robinson cast doubt on the validity of Hines' sin-binning, which came for a spear tackle on Gonzalo Tiesi early in the second half.
He said: "That's a hard one. I thought it was a good tackle; he got across and made the tackle but, because he lifted his arms up, that's why he gave the sin bin."
Moments before Hines was yellow-carded, Scotland lost full-back Rory Lamont to an injury which saw him carried off on a stretcher.
"He's back in the dressing room, so he's walking," Robinson said.Reflecting on his first three games in charge, which brought a win against Fiji and a historic victory against Australia prior to today's defeat, Robinson said: "We need to keep our feet on the ground.
"We have the ability to win any game; and, as you've seen today, we have the ability to lose any game.
"That's where we'll always be and it's how we control the scoreboard and how ruthless we can be."
He added: "It's how we now go away and work at improving our game and improving our skills under pressure over the next two months.
"If we don't do that then, yes, we'll lose the momentum.
"But if the players are prepared to go away and really work hard at our skills under pressure and our decision-making under pressure, we can move forward and go with the momentum."
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