Luke McAlistar

Argentina (13) 19
Tries: Longo
Cons: F Contepomi
Pens: F Contepomi (3)
Drop-goal: Hernandez


Scotland (6) 13
Tries: Cusiter
Cons:Paterson
Pens: Parks, Paterson

Argentina powered their way into the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time after winning a war of attrition with Scotland in Paris.

The Scots went ahead with a monster penalty from Dan Parks, but Felipe Contepomi replied twice for the Pumas.

Gonzalo Longo then charged down a Parks kick and pounced on the loose ball to score and give Argentina control.

Chris Cusiter squirmed over in reply for Scotland after the break, but the Pumas held on for a nervous victory.

Argentina, who also reached the quarter-finals in 1999, will now face South Africa in the semi-final in Paris next Sunday.

And defeat for Scotland meant there will be no Six Nations treble following surprise wins for England and France on Saturday.

Both sides went into the game unchanged, but the Argentines had been more impressive in disposing of Ireland in their last match than the Scots were in a stuffy win over Italy.


Fly-half Hernandez (right) was instrumental for Argentina

And, while both sides traded high up and unders during a cagey opening, it was the Pumas who made the better catches and the greater ground when the passes started to flow.

However, fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez missed a drop-goal attempt, while Contepomi sliced wide a penalty.

And, from the restart, an Argentine infringement gave Parks an opportunity of his own.

The fly-half's kick from just inside the opposition half crept over the crossbar to put the Scots in front.

Scotland had to withstand a series of Argentine attacks and eventually conceded a penalty after a high tackle on Hernandez by Nathan Hines.

Contepomi made no mistake this time from straight in front of the posts to level the scores.

And the Pumas went ahead after 28 minutes when he kicked from a tighter angle after Rory Lamont was trapped after hesitating while calling for a mark that the referee failed to award.

It got worse for Scotland when Parks' kick was charged down by Longo and the number eight won the race for the ball that squirmed towards the try line.

Contepomi's conversion put Argentina in control, but Chris Paterson maintained his 100% record with the boot as Scotland replied by winning a penalty in front of the posts.

However, the Scots conceded another penalty within seconds of the restart for an infringement in the ruck and Contepomi slotted over a simple kick.

Replacement Andy Henderson won a penalty for Scotland, but Parks fluffed his long-range effort.

And Hernandez made it 19-6 after 54 minutes when his own superb kick for touch gave him room for a fine drop-goal.

Scotland surged back into the game when replacement scrum-half Cusiter finished off in the corner after a thrilling passing move.

The Scots piled forward in search of another score and looked likely to craft a patient forward try before Parks' ill-founded cross kick went straight into touch-in-goal with about a minute left.

They were given one final chance to score when the experienced Pichot tried to run down the last seconds in his 22, only to concede a late scrum.

But a Scotland knock-on heralded the final whistle to shatter their dreams and kick-start the Argentine party.



-Bitterly dissapointed we are out, the Pumas were poor but we were even worse. Only really started playing in the last 20 when we shifted it wide we looked dangerous but too many mistakes which if often the story with Scotland. Well done to Argentina though, they should do well against the Springboks. Thoughts on the game?

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McAlistars the man

Elisalex

Your description of the match is quite accurate and realistic, but we our Pumas did not play bad, in fact they did not play with the same level than previous matches with France and Ireland, but remember that Agustin Pichot stated after the end, that they were extremely tired, even before the match started. I hope that they will be in perfect shape for next Sunday and they must build up their strength again. I love the way that the Scots play, including this match, at the very end, sometimes is a matter of luck, great Patterson and almost all the players, you must take into account how much our Pumas had improved not only that Scotland lost a game, but still is a great rugby team, the best in the islands.

Luke McAlistar

It wasnt all mine mate, mainly from a BBC source.

The Argentineans (sorry is that mispelt) have been generous towards our performance on sunday but i would say it was poor far too many errors and gifted 10 points away. I definetely couldnt argue though that Argentina deserved to be in the semis instead of Scotland, they have been the team of the tournament comfortably. But it was a game when both sides were below par, but with such tension then it wasnt a surprise.

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McAlistars the man

Elisalex

You are accurate in the sense that during the game was quite obvious that they were many tensions amongst the players, and the referee as well. I believed that both teams were too tense and anxious; both teams knew quite well that they were playing all their chances to go further to the semi finals. But this does not mean that our Pumas played in a shoddy way, they made lots of mistakes, much more than in any other match before, but the Scots did the same as well. Our hopes are now that they can overcame their exhaustion and be well prepared and in the best shape as possible for the new and quite difficult challenge, the South African Springboks, one of the best team in the world. By the way, Paterson is unique, but his South African equal is much better they said, perhaps the best in the world. For women just to see Sean Lamont and his brother was quite a pleasure, regretfully this "God of Stadium" did not play properly at all, thanks for your comments, I learned a lot from them, all the best to you my Scottish friend, did you play rugby for how much time? I am an Argentine with Scottish, Irish, Austrian, French, and Basque (from almost all Europe) blood.

Luke McAlistar

No problem at all mate, its always interesting to views from different fans from different countries. I played until 3 years ago at standoff for my school and the local town u18s side. I sort of lost motivation to play though, but in the last year i have really got back into rugby although mainly in a watching sense. Shows how rugby really is a game of "bonded by blood".

Do you play?

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McAlistars the man

Elisalex

Not at all Luke, rugby is just for men, my brothers used to play for Saint Andrew’s Scots School and for Cardinal Newman (Christian Brothers, the same of Felipe and Manuel Contempomi). I love rugby, more or less like polo, which I play. I practice lots of sports, especially skiing and snowboard in winter time and sealing and windsurf during the summer. Every weekend I play golf and when I have time I just go to rugby or polo games just to watch them. I hope that this conversation will end with a visit to Argentina of many Scots, you will find lots of people with your same origin and roots, this is an invitation for you Luke as well, and bring Sean Lamont a rugby player and “stripper”, just a joke, I imagine that he made lots of money with “The Gods of stadium” in Paris. So I will continue reading your comments, waiting like many others for Sunday’s game between our Pumas and South Africa, quite anxious by the way.

Luke McAlistar

I wish i was still as anxious , i presume golf has grown alot in Argentina this year, with Angel Cabrera winning the US open and Andres Romero almost winning the Open. I play golf as well, its the main sport i play these days im off a 5 handicap at Rosemount (my local club). We dont even have a polo team in Scotland i dont think, unfortunately only football is properly funded by the government here in Scotland it means our rugby teams, tennis players lose out on making the next level in their respective sports. Although currenty Scottish sport is in the crest of a wave, with our national football side beating France twice and leading an extremely tough group as well as both Rangers and Celtic beating the champions of europe and Lyon who have won the French championship for the last 5 season and Andy Murrays emergence on the world stage in tennis. What does the press make of the Pumas efforts in the world cup? is it front page news?

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McAlistars the man

Elisalex