Gregor Townsend urges Scotland to take chances against 'world-class' Argentina

Gregor Townsend has urged his Scotland players to make the most of any chances they get when they come up against one of the in-form sides in world rugby.

The head coach has made just one change from the team who were defeated by New Zealand last weekend for their game against Argentina.

Gregor Townsend’s side hosts Los Pumas at Murrayfield this Sunday for their latest test match.

The game comes just a week after the 25-17 defeat to the All Blacks at the same stadium last Saturday afternoon.

Townsend doesn’t believe Scotland fans went home unhappy at the performance against New Zealand, as he explained minimal changes for the game against an Argentina side he describes as a “top team”.

Vice-captain Rory Darge, who came off the bench against New Zealand, starts at openside flanker in place of Matt Fagerson, who drops to the bench.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Townsend said: “There was a lot to take away from the game (against New Zealand), it was a high-level test match and an open game, so we had a thorough review of our defence and attack, we didn’t take a lot of chances that we created, but we want to take the positives from the game.

“Our contact work was outstanding, then in the context of the game, our comeback and togetherness, but to be a better team this week, we have to make sure we make the most of the chances we are creating.

Argentina are a top team, they have beaten New Zealand this year, they have played ten or eleven test matches since the summer and have shown their quality throughout that period.

“They pushed South Africa close, they had a record win against Wales, so they are full of confidence and very cohesive, and they play a brand of rugby that is enjoyable to watch.

“They certainly seem like one of the form teams in world rugby just now.”

Talismanic stand-off Finn Russell has been passed fit to keep his place after being substituted with knee and ankle issues in the closing stages last Saturday.

There is still no place in the squad for influential prop Zander Fagerson, who has been working his way back to full fitness after being sidelined since early April by a combination of calf and knee problems.

Joint-record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe is named on the bench after being dropped from the squad entirely last weekend, with Townsend reverting to a 5-3 split after going 6-2 against the All Blacks. Lock Marshall Sykes drops out.

In the only other change to the bench, Nathan McBeth replaces fellow Glasgow prop Rory Sutherland, who misses out due to a concussion.

Townsend continued: “I thought the players played really well, to have that as your first game of the season with everyone available, was a pleasant surprise.

“So now we have the benefit of going with a settled team, and after another week of training, we will be a better team.

“The one change is just Rory Darge, who is fit again, coming back in. He’s had a couple of weeks of training and minutes off the bench last week, so we feel it was right to bring him back in.”

Scotland team to play Argentina

B Kinghorn (Toulouse), D Graham (Edinburgh), R Hutchinson (Northampton), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow), K Steyn (Glasgow), F Russell (Bath), B White (Toulon); P Schoeman (Edinburgh), E Ashman (Edinburgh), D Rae (Edinburgh), S Cummings (Glasgow), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), G Brown (Glasgow), R Darge (Glasgow), J Dempsey (Glasgow).

Replacements: G Turner (Harlequins), N McBeth (Glasgow), E Millar Mills (Northampton), M Fagerson (Glasgow), J Bayliss (Bath), J Dobie (Glasgow), T Jordan (Bristol), D Van der Merwe (Edinburgh).