Michael Cheika has made a winning start as Argentina coach as the Pumas defeated Scotland 26-18 in their first home rugby Test in 1057 days.
Former Wallabies coach Cheika stressed simplicity when his first squad gathered 10 days ago from all over the world, after the Super Rugby side the Jaguares were disbanded in the pandemic.
And the players responded by dominating to claim an 18-6 first-half lead before Scotland fought back to level the scores in the second half.
Argentina, however, scored from the restart with a try by halfback Gonzalo Bertranou. And Emiliano Boffelli, kicking at goal after Nicolas Sanchez was injured, sealed the result with a 70th-minute penalty.
Coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021 meant the Pumas had to leave home to play, and the pent-up desperation of their fans to see them at home for the first time since August 2019, a month before the last Rugby World Cup, drew a sell-out crowd of 23,000 in Jujuy.
“I am very happy to play again in Argentina after three years and win. But we have a lot of things to correct,” captain Julian Montoya said. “It’s a first step. Today we enjoy and tomorrow we analyse.”
The Pumas were better than expected in their first Test in eight months.
Sanchez kicked two early penalties before departing with a right leg injury. Sanchez was supposed to start with scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, with whom he shared 177 caps.
Michael Cheika, head coach of Argentina, catches the ball. (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
But Cubelli injured a calf in the warmup and halfway through the first half the Pumas were being directed by Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Carreras, who share 59 caps.
Argentina were still in good hands. Soon after Blair Kinghorn levelled for Scotland with his second penalty, Pumas prop Francisco Gomez Kodela’s brilliant pass launched the move which finished with Jeronimo de la Fuente scoring the opening try.
Five minutes later, Carreras dived across after a counterattack from deep by fullback Juan Cruz Mallia.
Scotland didn’t touch the Argentina 22 in the first half, but roared back after the interval with tries to centre Mark Bennett, making his first start in six years, and fullback Rory Hutchinson in his first start in two years.
At 18-18 after 54 minutes, Scotland had all the momentum.
But Boffelli caught the restart and the Pumas swiftly gave center Matias Orlando an overlap. He was stopped at the line and Bertranou scored from the ruck. Boffelli couldn’t convert but he nailed a penalty for an eight-point lead and scoreboard pressure that Scotland couldn’t break.
The Pumas completed a good day for the southern hemisphere powers, who swept their matches against the four British and Irish sides.
The second of three Tests between the Pumas and Scots is next Saturday in Salta.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
He’s a wing. What do you expect? Pears from an apple tree?
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Argentina has no tier 2 competition. It hs amateur club rugby and a starting Latin American pro. Which they didn’t win.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
For whatever reason, they decided to play for the first time in Jujuy. Check it on a map or Wikipedia. Not the best decision.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I haven’t watched it but surely that result was expected. Cheika always starts well then fades away . I hope that he has learnt and that Argentina can be the side they should be. About our level 5/6 .
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Great victory by Los Pumas, and hats off to Cheika the great motivator. I hope his style of coaching and vision for how they should play carries them far. Thrilled to see Creevy back in the fold! Between him and Montoya they have some great leadership. Definitely not sold on Carreras as a flyhalf though. Doesn't kick for goal, questionable to poor kicking in play, first instinct is to run and has little in the way of game management skills. The guy is fast and deadly as an outside back, so use him in the most effective way! Their best victories have come off the back of excellent game management and near perfect boot of Sanchez, and they're not filling those gaps at all, particularly with Cubelli also out. Make no mistake, Los Pumas forwards bullied the Scots into submission, but Scottish analysis will spot plenty of opportunities for the next match.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I wouldn’t use the results of a single test match to come to this conclusion. What has the consistent form of Argentina been like?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What a tool comment. 47k attended the wallabies test. 48k attended the All Blacks test. That was below the capacity of Eden Park. 50k attended the Springboks test. The Pumas test was played in a stadium with capacity of 23k. The Boks was the only test that sold out a large stadium and the wallabies test had double the attendance of the Pumas game. Seems like a real case of you just wanting to whinge.
Shooter McGavin
Guest
They'll do well until they have enough time with Cheika for him to instill his exciting vision. No more 3 points, kick for the corner even if you lost the last 5 lineouts, loosies hanging in the backline when you're getting smashed in the tight, miracle balls, speculators when you finally get some go forward. All that 'exciting brand' style footy...
Harry Jones
Expert
Take a look at their draw!
Rumen
Roar Rookie
The Pumas played well and this is good news for the new coaching team, main issue going forward in this series, with both F Half injured, seems to be to get an effective goal post kicker. Bofelli has the range but misses a lot for this type of international test.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
You’re smoking… Too early to tell.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Jujuy is far from a rugby city.
Harry Jones
Expert
Good win for Argentina. Just watched it. I wouldn’t dismiss Argentina in RWC as a SF smoky.
CPM
Roar Rookie
Argentina has a tier 2 club competition with all of their top players playing tier 1 club rugby in Europe or Japan and they gather to beat the plucky Scott’s. Who was saying that they need to play Super Rugby, specifically against kiwi sides in order to improve..
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
Congrats to Las Pumas and Cheiks. Argies have always shown good potential and a great style. Glad to see them do well. Wish the Wallabies could get a W over Scotland!
cinque
Roar Rookie
Actually, from the look of the highlights, the home crowd were strangely subdued
Frank from Geebung
Roar Rookie
Good for Cheika. Hope he does well over there.
Tez
Roar Rookie
A good result for the Pumas .... well done lads and your home crowd would have been ecstatic.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
This Cheika bloke looks like he gets results. Maybe we should consider him for the Wallabies...
Greysy
Roar Rookie
They still got a touch under 50,000 though. Hardly a bad crowd, looked packed other than the nosebleeds.