Pumas turn focus to Scots

– Argentina have insisted they will be fully focused on the task at hand when they face Scotland at Murrayfield today despite the death of forward Marcos Kremer’s partner this week.

The Pumas will be without lock-cum-flanker Kremer, whose 23-year-old partner, Sofia Pozzi, died of leukaemia on Monday.

He had flown home after the Ireland Test a fortnight ago.

Argentina have all the incentive they need in wanting to end a four-match losing streak – and to make amends for the 44-15 hammering they suffered against a below-strength Scotland side in Resistencia in June.

Coach Mario Ledesma has made three changes to his run-on XV to face the Scots, Matias Moroni coming in at outside centre, Rodrigo Bruni starting at openside flanker and Guido Petti shifting from the back row to lock.

Scotland have won the last four encounters between the countries and coach Gregor Townsend has made eight changes of personnel and two positional alterations to the team beaten 26-20 by South Africa last week.

Most intriguing of all is Finn Russell’s shift to inside centre, with Adam Hastings coming into the side at outside half.

Hastings, the son of former captain Gavin Hastings, was outstanding in the pivotal No 10 role in Argentina and Townsend knows from personal experience about maverick fly-halves playing in the centres, having won 26 of his 82 caps there. –

Edinburgh