Plenty of work to do for Scots

As the rain continued to drizzle down on the Murrayfield pitch, Scotland were staring down the barrel of a third loss in four autumn tests.

As Jeronimo De La Fuente made a dash for the line with just seven minutes left on the clock and a score that would have put the Pumas ahead, there were about 67,000 Scottish hearts in mouths.

Thankfully substitute Sam Skinner dropped the flying centre and spared Scotland’s blushes on what turned out to be a damp squib of a finale.

What was hyped to be two of the world’s most attacking sides going head to head turned out to be a match bereft of any quality with ball in hand.

The ambitious pairing of Adam Hastings and Finn Russell at 10 and 12 failed to deliver any benefit, with Russell spending less time on the ball and Hastings looking too timid to try anything too clever with the ball wetter than an otter’s pocket.

The Scottish try shone like a beacon of quality on the otherwise grey afternoon, Stuart Hogg’s impressive scan of the line and reversal of direction allowing the blistering Sean Maitland to cruise down the wing and secure the killer blow.

But it could have all been so different, particularly had the visitors had a kicker of Greig Laidlaw’s quality. The missed points would have been enough to see Argentina win and consign Scotland to a pretty average one win from four this month.

It has to be said that Scotland’s ability to grind out the win should be applauded, particularly against a stubborn defence and in tricky conditions.

They will likely face these two challenges again, in the Six Nations and the 2019World Cup in Japan, and need to work out a way of winning ugly as well as running in wonder tries every test.

The fact that youngsters Hastings and Blair Kinghorn were given starts shows coach Gregor Townsend’s commitment to blood youngsters. Scotland should reap the rewards of this when the pair come on in vital games next year.

The main problem Scotland face is that, while they managed to back up an awesome Six Nations campaign with a solid enough showing, the rest of the Northern Hemisphere have come on leaps and bounds.

Imperious Ireland managed four wins from four, including that sensational win over the All Blacks.

Wales made it an incredible nine wins in a row this autumn, beating Scotland in the opener before narrowly overcoming heavyweights Australia and South Africa in Cardiff. England also appear to be back on track, with three wins (over South Africa, Australia and hosts Japan) and that controversial one-point loss against the All Blacks.

So while Scotland continue to progress, time will tell if they have kept up with their opposition in the Six Nations in just two months time.

Scotland take on Italy in the first match at Murrayfield, while also facing Wales and Ireland at home.

If they can get their attacking game flowing against the Italians, and the rain stays off, there’s no reason their momentum can’t carry them to a Six Nations triumph next year.