‘I don’t expect Pumas to have another bad day’

ARGENTINA may have had a bad day at the office when they suffered a record defeat to Scotland last summer but Josh Strauss believes they will mean business at Murrayfield tomorrow.

Gregor Townsend’s side clocked up their biggest ever win over the Pumas back in June, running in six tries during a 44-15 thrashing in Resistencia.

Strauss was not part of the Dark Blues line-up that day but he expects to feel a backlash when the Scots host the South Americans in Edinburgh.

Since losing to Scotland, Argentina have beaten South Africa at home and toppled Australia on the Gold Coast and the Scotland number eight admits his side will not be facing the same pushovers this time.

The Sale forward said: “The last outing against them was a good one, and although I wasn’t involved we’ve been analysing that game. They’ve obviously improved a hell of a lot since that game.

“Everyone has a bad day from time to time, and I think Argentina just had a bad day during the summer.

“But if you look at their last few matches, they’ve been up early in most of the games.

“They are a good team who come out of the blocks quickly. Latin teams are normally very emotional, very up for it, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Tomorrow will see Strauss make his first start for Townsend’s side since he was part of a XV that slipped up against Fiji in Suva last year.

He spent 18 months in the international wilderness before being recalled as a late addition to the autumn Test squad and made his return off the bench for this month’s rematch with the Pacific Islanders. Now 32, he admits his body is starting to slow down.

Strauss said: “I’m older, so I’m a little bit slower and get fatigued more easily. But really I’m similar.

“It seems like only yesterday that I was one of the young guys and now I’m one of the grandfathers of the group.”