Scots score four to set up decider in Santiago

HAMISH Watson crowned his 50th appearance with another powerful, impressive back row display to help set up a winner takes all final Test against the Pumas in Santiago on Saturday.

The Lions flanker crossed for a crucial first-half try as Scotland overcame a difficult opening 40 minutes to level the series in Salta and complete the Home Nations’ domination over the Southern Hemisphere.

The Scots bounced back from the 26-18 opening Test loss with four fine tries to spoil Argentina’s planned National Independence Day party at the Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.

A scrappy, scruffy opening half saw Blair Kinghorn and Emiliano Boffelli exchange early penalty blows with try scoring chances few and far between.

Ben White’s high tackle on Rodrigo Bruni gave Boffelli the chance to kick the hosts into the lead before Kinghorn’s decision to kick for territory and pressure rather than the points paid dividends before the break.

After several forward drives at the line, Watson finally crossed it.

London Irish wing Kyle Rowe came on to earn his first cap as a replacement for the injured Rory Hutchinson and his first action was to exact a vital turnover to ensure the Scots held an 8-6 lead at the break.

Gregor Townsend’s half-time team talk certainly roused his men, as that lead grew within a minute of the restart. Scrum-half White fed Martin Bennett who charged through weak tackling to go under the posts. Kinghorn converted while Pumas’ Guido Petti had a try ruled out for a forward try in the build up. Unfortunately for new boy Rowe, he limped out of the action and was replaced by Ross Thompson.

Heavy Scotland forward pressure led to Boffelli being sent to the sin bin for deliberate offside as the tourists battered away at the line.

Eventually they broke through and No.8 Matt Fagerson took the plaudits for diving over near the posts for Thompson to add the easy extras.

Rory Darge produced a try scoring tackle on Santiago Carreras causing the scrum-half to drop the ball crossing the Scotland line before Sam Johnson burst onto a short pass and over the line to put the game beyond the hosts.