Scotland take advantage of Argentine ill-discipline

EDINBURGH: Darcy Graham scored a hat-trick of tries as Scotland thrashed Argentina 52-29 in a bad-tempered clash at Murrayfield littered with illdiscipline from the visitors.

Argentina were undone by Marcos Kremer’s red card after just 21 minutes when 8-7 in front and three more yellow cards in the second half.

Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie was also sent to the sin bin after a second-half brawl between the two sets of players.

By that point Scotland led 3122 as Finn Russell’s creativity opened up the Argentine defence for Duhan van der Merwe to put the hosts in front before Graham crossed twice either side of halftime.

Argentina were reduced to 12 men for just short of 10 minutes due to quickfire yellow cards for Matias Alemanno and Tomas Lavanini. But remarkably it was Michael Cheika’s side who struck with a three-man disadvantage when Emiliano Boffelli ran in a breakaway try under the posts.

Scotland regained their composure for Sione Tuipulotu to score his second try before Cameron Redpath, Stuart Hogg and Graham with his third of the afternoon rubbed salt into Argentine wounds.

Scotland fell just short of a historic first ever victory over New Zealand last weekend on Russell’s return to the international fold after being controversially left out by Townsend for the start of the Autumn international series.

The Racing 92 fly-half was at his inspired best with the ball in hand to routinely slice Argentina open and pile the pressure on his coach to remain in the side come the Six Nations.

Boffelli opened the scoring with the only penalty of the match before Russell’s first burst teed up Tuipulotu for a fine finish. Kremer gave his side a mountain to climb and could have no complaints over a red card when he crashed into the head of Ritchie at a breakdown.

Scotland quickly took advantage through tries for Van der Merwe and Graham with Russell again the creator.

But the hosts were pegged back by the 14 men just before halftime when Alemanno barrelled over the line from close range.

Graham restored Scotland’s two-score lead before 10 minutes of madness.

— AFP photo Argentina’s lock Matías Alemanno scores a try during the Autumn Nations Series International rugby union match between Scotland and Argentina at the BT Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh.