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11/16 12:41 CST Argentina stuns Scotland with epic comeback from 21-0 down at
Murrayfield
Argentina stuns Scotland with epic comeback from 21-0 down at Murrayfield
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) --- Argentina stunned Scotland 33-24 from 21-0 down at
Murrayfield in the greatest comeback win in Pumas history on Sunday.
The Pumas were trailing 21-0 as late as the 57th minute but scored five tries
in a remarkable 22-minute spell to snatch their first win at Murrayfield in 16
years.
The tide turned when Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi ran out of patience with
his team, whose mistakes were making it easier for Scotland. His breaking point
was just after halftime.
Flanker Santiago Grondona was hit head-high by opposite Rory Darge but the Scot
wasn't yellow-carded, only penalized. Pumas flyhalf Gernimo Prisciantelli
failed to find touch, Scotland countered and Ewan Ashman ran over Prisciantelli
to score his second try of the match. Finn Russell's extras made it 21-0.
Contepomi immediately sent on five replacements; new props, new scrumhalf, his
reliable goalkicker Carreras, and Pablo Matera, the most capped Puma.
They transformed the Pumas. The scrum became a rock, Carreras attacked the line
and Matera was a wrecking ball.
Former sevens star Rodrigo Isgr intercepted Russell and Scotland fullback
Blair Kinghorn was yellow-carded for cynically preventing a try. Pumas captain
Julian Montoya called for a scrum and moments later he scored under a heap of
bodies: 21-7.
Three minutes and eight phases later, Isgr dotted down: 21-12.
Russell, flawless off the tee, kicked a penalty for 24-12 in the 64th and
Scotland was still marginally favored.
But Scotland was soon reeling again from charging Pumas; lock Pedro Rubiolo
scored between the posts in the 70th, Matera's try tied the score in the 75th
and Carreras' conversion put them ahead for the first time. Replacement back
Justo Piccardo iced one of Argentina's greatest days in the 79th when he
stepped Darcy Graham and carried Kinghorn over the line in their fifth try.
Just to rub it in, Carreras converted from the touchline.
In their last match, Scotland won 52-29 in 2022 at Murrayfield.
"We fell asleep at the wheel," Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu told
broadcaster TNT Sports. "It's not good enough. They got a roll on and we
couldn't stop their momentum. They started getting offloads away and marching
forward and we lost our discipline."
It's the second straight heartbreaking result for Scotland. A week ago, New
Zealand rallied from 17-17 through its reserves to win 25-17 as Scotland chased
a historic first win over the All Blacks.
"A lot more disappointing this week than last week," Scotland coach Gregor
Townsend told the BBC.
"We didn't handle that momentum change when we went 21-0 up and had an
opportunity to go 28-0 up. It flipped on that moment and it ended up as a
penalty and a yellow card under our posts.
"Carreras off the bench made a big difference for them and we were on the back
foot. But it's still disappointing not to see it through as we were still ahead
after that yellow-card period."
Scotland started brilliantly. After Pumas fullback Juan Cruz Mallia was
yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, a Pumas lineout overthrow led to the
opening try; Russell set up No. 8 Jack Dempsey.
Then a Russell bomb caught by Graham finished with Ashman barging over for 14-0.
Argentina had the ball for the rest of the first half but kept blowing chances.
Mallia's two penalty kicks sailed well wide, two attacking lineouts were
wasted, and two 10-plus phase attacks came to nothing. Contepomi took his
frustration out on the wall behind him.
The coach finally sought answers from his bench in the 46th and just in time.
With two November wins for the first time since 2014, the Pumas play England
next weekend. They have never won three times in November.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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