Scotland: Yet to give fans a performance worth cheering about
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Sunday's crunch World Cup clash between Argentina and Scotland is a must-win for both sides if they hope to advance out of Pool B and into the quarter-finals.
Argentina lost their tournament opener against England, before powering past the Romanians to get their campaign back on track.
However, of the two sides, it's Scotland who are sitting pretty between them in the group with nine points from their two wins (the Pumas are on five points), with a final Pool game against England to come after this weekend's Argentine hurdle.
A loss for Argentina would almost certainly end their World Cup, while in case of defeat, Scotland would always have a chance to make amends against England in Auckland on Saturday week.
Whilst the Scots have notched up two wins from two games played - beating Romania (34-24) and Georgia (15-6) - they haven't fired on all cylinders and would have to be at the top of their playing mettle to overcome a dangerous Pumas outfit.
It was the South Americans who ended Scotland's World Cup campaign at the quarter-final stage four years ago in France - the only previous time the two have met in the competition.
A well-balanced side with a strong pack and an exciting backline, the Pumas enter this match in Wellington as favourites but have lost two of their previous three games played against Scotland over the last two years.
It was in Argentina that Scotland achieved their first southern hemisphere series win, and that will give Andy Robinson and his men renewed hope that they can turn the tables and maintain their record of always reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
However, they would now have to up the ante after a relatively easy introduction to pool play and retaining possession against Argentina would be imperative in order to obtain parity at the set-piece and in territory.
Scotland will know better than anyone that a win is non-negotiable for their chances of survival as Argentina's final Pool game is against the lowly Georgians.
If the Scots lose to the Pumas this weekend and again to England on October 1, Scotland could be going home before the knock-out stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
However, the 10-day turnaround Scotland are currently enjoying since the win over Georgia could prove to be helpful if they can hit top form in their bid to set up a decider against England for the right to top Pool B.
"We'll take it one game at a time. It's pointless worrying about permutations or what will happen. We're in control of how our pool goes in regard to us winning games," said Scotland hooker Ross Ford.
"We've got to turn up on the pitch in the right mindset to front up again."
It is a match which promises to be close, competitive, and in all probability compelling.
Ones to watch:
For Argentina: The return of skipper Felipe Contepomi is a major boost for the Pumas. He's a class act and Argentina's dangerman. Scotland will have to keep him quiet as best they can otherwise he will run the show at the Cake Tin.
For Scotland: Scotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson will be facing the Pumas for the first time and certainly has a lot to live up to after being handed the key fly-half position ahead of Dan Parks.
Head to head: It is sure to be a physical confrontation between two well acquainted teams and supremacy up front will once again be key to victory. Whoever's come out on top up front between these two sides has gone on to win, and there's no doubt it will be the same on Sunday night.
Previous results:
2010: Scotland won 13-9 in Mar del Plata
2010: Scotland won 24-16 in Tucuman
2009: Argentina won 9-6 at Murrayfield
2008: Scotland won 24-16 in Buenos Aires
2008: Argentina won 21-15 in Rosario
2007: Argentina won 19-13 in Paris (RWC)
2005: Argentina won 23-19 at Murrayfield
2001: Argentina won 25-16 at Murrayfield
1999: Argentina won 31-22 at Murrayfield
1994: Argentina won 19-17 at Ferrocaril Oeste
1994: Argentina won 16-15 at Ferrocaril Oeste
1990: Scotland won 49-3 at Murrayfield
Prediction: A win for Scotland will be a sixth in a row for Andy Robinson's men - a feat not achieved since the 1989-90 Grand Slam-winning season. However, the Pumas have won four of their last five Rugby World Cup encounters with Six Nations opposition. It's going to be close... a draw? Editor says no. Argentina by five!
The teams:
Argentina: 15 Martín Rodríguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Santiago Fernández, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma Arocena, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Martín Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Genaro Fessia, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff.
Scotland: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Max Evans, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Rory Lawson (c), 8 Kelly Brown, 7 John Barclay, 6 Al Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Simon Danielli.
Date: Sunday, September 25
Kick-off: 20:30 (08:30 GMT)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Comments
coronach says...
Weather and wind at the Caketin could pose problems for the kickers, but the cool temps shouldn't affect either side.
Rugby fans are being advised to wrap up warm for tonight's game, with the possibility of hail; a cold southerly blast would strengthen this evening with a 60 per cent chance of showers; the expected temperature was seven degrees.
Scotland!
Posted 07:34 25th September 2011
jp07 says...
We are underdogs but we are well capable of beating ARG. I think Parks needed to be picked to keep them pegged back. I know everyone wants running rugby but Jackson just isnt that good and if the game opens up Argentina have what it takes to cut us to ribbons. If we do beat Arg then next week is a playoff because neither England or Scotland will beat the kiwis in a month of Sundays and we both need to get France.
I really dont understand De Luca over Ansbro
Posted 12:48 24th September 2011
jaysonspeer says...
Argies will be tto strong for the Scots
Posted 11:01 24th September 2011
Ramage says...
It will be interesting to see how well this referee clears those players away from the ball in the rucks and mauls. Will he be strict and make the player tackling the man with the ball release him and will he make sure players do not get in the way when on the ground. This will be an important part of the game for both teams lets hope the referee is strict and fair in his application of the laws
Posted 08:51 24th September 2011
martin_dp says...
Pumas by 11.
Very tough match. Will be decided in the last 20'. Not sure this will be an ugly game. Scotland line up suggest offensive intentions. And Pumas back are pretty good in fast-breaks. Do not expect Contepomi playing the entire game, We'll see if he's ready, just 1 training session since Eng. match.
Posted 22:25 23rd September 2011
scot_rsa says...
Oooh, Wayne Barnes. Don't want to see this decided by the odd iffy penalty and a load of set-piece tussles. jp07 is right, Scotland need to cross the whitewash, that's a mobile and combative back row we have. Hopefully there'll be a lot of phases and we'll find gaps at the fringes. Whatever some say, de Luca has looked in good touch and Evans/Paterson/Lamont can finish. Haven't seen Richie Gray feature yet either. Brave selection, and the right one I think.
Posted 20:15 23rd September 2011
cmarshment says...
Is the young fullback who carved up for Argentina the other day playing? Hope so. He's an excitement machine. A little bit of Christian Cullen in him me thinks.
Posted 20:10 23rd September 2011
Lucasrg says...
Argentina by 10.
They will slow and maintain possesion in the first 20 minutes and slowely temper the Scots. I'm afraid the Scots will kick a lot the ball downfield. and Jackson will be absorbed by Contepomi.
May the best team win.
Posted 19:56 23rd September 2011
jp07 says...
This will be an ugly game, not one for the neutrals but tight yes.Scotland need to cross the line
Posted 19:23 23rd September 2011
melkdave says...
Got to agree one of the games of the pool stages going to be one hell of a battle i hope Scotland can win lol but its really to close to call imo
Posted 18:57 23rd September 2011
stumpy says...
Can't wait! surely one of the biggest games of the group stages. Argentina have acheived very little rugby wise since 2007, this would be a great upset for them!
Posted 16:38 23rd September 2011