Scottish Rugby

We asked for your views on Gregor Townsend's decision to start mostly the same XV against Argentina, and how you think Scotland will get on.

Here's what some of you said:

Robert: On past performances against Los Pumas most games have been close, except their last visit to Murrayfield where the Pumas took a pounding. Their style of open rugby seems to suit Scotland's game. I think Scotland can match the Pumas. Probably a win for the Scots by two scores.

Alan: Only one selection I dispute and that is Blair Kinghorn. His defence is not up to standard and Tom Jordan would have been a far better last line of defence. Also Kinghorn has forgotten how to pass and is too much of a glory boy.

Iain: Would have left Kinghorn out, I thought he was poor against the All Blacks. Jordon at full back would have been the only change for me.

Ally: Scotland aren't yet at the top table of international rugby - that's where New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland sit - but they are part of the chasing five including Argentina who are no push-overs. We've had their number in recent times and if Scotland want to be seen as serious players on the rugby world stage then we must win at all costs.

Ian: Hard to argue with basically starting the same team from last week. Another tough game but hopefully a more clinical start to the game rather than chasing it.

Stuart: Good to see a settled team after a huge effort last weekend. Especially pleased to see Rory Hutchinson back at 13 again, well deserved. He's a class player and has been overlooked for so long.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Murrayfield

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Scotland winger Darcy Graham says he would happily still be playing rugby with his friends back home - but is relishing reaching 50 caps against Argentina.

The 28-year-old has 34 Test tries, the current record alongside team-mate Duhan van der Merwe.

Reflecting on his journey from playing with his hometown team Hawick to a half century of caps, Graham said he would never have expected to reach this landmark.

"I've got half of Hawick coming up so it should be an awesome atmosphere and special day," he said.

"They come up in numbers so it will be class having them there to share a special day.

"Playing for Hawick feels like yesterday and I'd love go back and play for them and play with my pals again.

"Fifty caps has come up quickly and I've had my injuries along the way. That's part of the game and it's the way I play, I put my body on the line"

Graham went close to making it 35 tries against New Zealand last week but could not ground the ball in the corner under pressure from Cameron Roigard.

It was one of a number of missed chances which Scotland rued as they lost by eight points and their chance to end New Zealand's unbeaten run against them slipped away.

"I'm going to have nightmares about that disallowed try for the rest of my life," Graham admitted. "It's going to haunt me for a while.

"It's next job now. Argentina are a bloody good team. They beat the Lions, the All Blacks, Australia. They lost by two points to South Africa.

"They're a really good team who have a lot of rugby under their belt and we'll have to go up a level from the All Blacks."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Murrayfield

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Scotland winger Darcy Graham, who is set to win his 50th cap, was speaking to the media before Sunday's Test with Argentina at Murrayfield.

Here are the main points:

• Graham says "half of Hawick" are coming to Murrayfield to watch him mark a half-century of appearances for Scotland and he expects an "awesome atmosphere and special day"

• Reflecting on his journey from the small Borders town to, currently, being the nation's top try-scorer Graham says those days "feel like yesterday" and he "never expected" to get 50 caps

• The winger says he will have "nightmares" for the rest of his life about dropping the ball close to the line against New Zealand last week, but says he has to move on to the next job

• Expects a tough test against a "really good" Argentina team who "have a lot of rugby under their belt" and Scotland will need to "step up a level" from the display against New Zealand.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland scrum-half Ben White has signed a two-year contract extension with French top-flight club Toulon.

The 27-year-old arrived from London Irish in 2023 and is now tied to the side who finished third in the Top 14 last season until 2028.

Announcing his new deal, Toulon praised White's "natural leadership and a fiercely competitive spirit" as well as his "game intelligence, discipline and international experience".

He will earn his 31st Scotland cap when he starts in Sunday's Autumn Nations Series meeting with Argentina at Murrayfield.

Toulon director of rugby Pierre Mignoni told his club website: "Ben has integrated perfectly into the club's project.

"He is an intelligent, demanding player and highly respected in the locker room. His contract extension is in line with our vision: to build a solid, ambitious group faithful to the values ​​of RCT."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his squad to face Argentina on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• Townsend says there was "a lot we could take" from the defeat to New Zealand and they have analysed the missed opportunities and where they need to be better.

• Argentina are "one of the in-form teams in world rugby" and victory would be a big scalp as the Pumas are a "top team" and "full of confidence".

• On Darcy Graham, Townsend says it will be a "special day" for the wing to win his 50th cap and says that milestone coupled with being "joint top try scorer in our history says something about his ability".

• Finn Russell is suffering no ill effects from the knee and ankle knocks he took last weekend and Townsend has "no worries" over the fly-half's fitness.

• Townsend decided early in the week not to risk Zander Fagerson even though he trained fully and "is back to his competitive aggressive self". The Glasgow forward will be available to face Tonga next weekend.

• With only one change to the XV, the players earned the "right to go again" and Townsend feels there's a "benefit of going with the settled team".

Rory Darge replaces back-rower Matt Fagerson in the only Scotland change for Sunday's Autumn Test against Argentina at Murrayfield.

Winger Darcy Graham wins his 50th cap while talisman Finn Russell has shaken off injuries sustained in the defeat by New Zealand to keep his place at stand-off.

Zander Fagerson again misses out as he works his way back to fitness.

Is Gregor Townsend right to go with largely the same XV? And what are your predictions for Scotland's meeting the with dangerous Pumas?

Let us know here.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi says his team are prepared for a "massive challenge" against Scotland as they look for a first victory at Murrayfield since 2009.

The Pumas are on a high after dismantling Wales in Cardiff last weekend, while the Scots have to pick themselves up from the agonising defeat to New Zealand.

After picking up victories against the All Blacks and Australia in the recent Rugby Championship, and running world champions South Africa very close, there is a sense Argentina are a team on the up.

Contepomi believes his side and Scotland are evenly matched and expects a tight game on Sunday.

"Scotland is a very solid team," he said. "They are very mature, they've been with Gregor [Townsend] for a long time, so they know exactly what they want and they have quality players.

"For us it's a very tough game. Probably people say it's even because we are in a certain way very similar, the way we approach the rugby, the we want to play.

"It will be a massive challenge, defensive challenge. And when we have the ball, we like to impose our strategy.

"They're a very solid team that have been having good results and good performances. Last weekend they were very close to beating a very good All Blacks team and any other day they could have beaten them.

"For this group particularly, it will mean a lot [to win] because we haven't won in Murrayfield for the last I don't know how many years.

"It's a great opportunity and we'll embrace that opportunity because it doesn't come every year or very often."

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The late Doddie Weir's delivery of the match ball before Scotland v New Zealand in 2017 has been voted as the greatest moment in Murrayfield's 100-year history.

Thousands of supporters took part in a nationwide poll and former Scotland lock Weir's walk on to the pitch with sons Angus, Ben and Hamish garnered the most backing (42.8%). A crowd of 67,000 watched as Scotland lost narrowly to New Zealand in 2017.

British and Irish Lions cap Weir passed away in 2022, five years after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.

Fans could vote for two other options - Scotland's 1990 Five Nations Grand Slam triumph and the record 130,000 crowd that watched the Scots defeat Wales in 1975. The shortlist was compiled from supporter suggestions by Sir Ian McGeechan, Chris Paterson, Mike Blair and Dee Bradley.

"Doddie had the honour of wearing the thistle at Murrayfield and winning 35 of his 61 caps there for the national team," said Weir's wife, Kathy. "He also played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens there in 1993, so Murrayfield will always be a truly special place for us.

"That was underlined, too, when Doddie had retired as a player. He loved mixing with people and leapt at the chance to meet folk and have a right laugh as he hosted hospitality at the stadium for many years.

"To hear that supporters have described the match ball presentation he did with Hamish, Angus, and Ben before the game against New Zealand in 2017 as their favourite memory in the stadium's 100th year is incredibly humbling."

John Barclay captained Scotland that day and commented: "You could sense the energy, the emotion, the connection between Doddie and everyone in that stadium. It's my favourite memory of Murrayfield."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your questions as Scotland recover from the loss to the All Blacks and get ready to face Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Rod asked: I know it would be expensive as he has a contract to the next World Cup. But with a record against the big three of played 18, lost 18, surely it is time for a new coach? We have an awesome group of players but they are ageing - time is running out.

Tom answered: I think it's unfair just to judge Gregor Townsend on the current top three in the world, albeit the record is dismal. Wouldn't it be fairer to judge him on his record against all the nations ahead of Scotland in the rankings?

So, that brings in France and he's won five out of 12 against them. And England - he's won five out of eight against them. And Argentina - he's won four out of six against them. And Australia - he's won four out of six against them.

If people want him sacked - and I get the point but don't agree with it - then I think it's only fair to look a bit deeper than just his record against three teams that are better than Scotland.

Shaun asked: What would your 23 be for Argentina on Sunday? Would you make any changes?

Tom answered: Jordan; Graham, Hutchinson, Tuipulotu, Steyn; Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Rae (Zander Fagerson unlikely to be fit), Cummings, Gilchrist, Brown, Onyeama-Christie, Dempsey.

Bench: Turner, Bhatti, Millar-Mills, Williamson, M Fagerson, Dobie, Van der Merwe, Kinghorn.

Darwin asked: Grant Gilchrist has been a great servant to Scottish rugby. However, due to his age, don't you think Scott Cummings should now be the No.1 lock partnered by any of the good young locks we have now? Townsend can't possibly be thinking Gilchrist can do another World Cup.

Tom answered: That's the way I was thinking before the New Zealand game, but Grant Gilchrist was absolutely outstanding. He was powerful and influential and deserves his place.

The younger ones are going to have to rip the jersey off his back to get it and that's the way it should be.

You have to judge this with the evidence of your own eyes - and on his All Blacks form himself and Cummings are the best two locks, but with a lot of other contenders pushing hard.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland scrum coach Pieter de Villiers is optimistic both Zander Fagerson and Finn Russell will be fit to face Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Fagerson has not played this season as he recuperates from the calf injury that cost him his place on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in the summer.

The Scotland management had been hopeful the Glasgow prop would be fit to face New Zealand last weekend, but he missed that defeat after another setback.

"Zander has been training fully, which is fantastic news," De Villiers said.

"Tomorrow is obviously our biggest training day. We'll see how he holds up and then make a decision from there.

"We're positive that he will make an appearance for us in this tournament at some stage, whether it be this match or the next match [against Tonga]."

Russell went down twice requiring treatment against the All Blacks after suffering knee and ankle injuries, eventually being replaced late in the second half.

"Finn has been training fully as well, so we're optimistic for him to be available," said De Villiers.

"We'll obviously see how things progress. There are still a few days left, but he has trained fully today, so that's great news."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your questions as Scotland recover from the loss to the All Blacks and get ready to face Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Rory asked: How long can both Gregor Townsend and this team peddle the party line of "We'll learn from this"? At what point is it simply "that wasn't good enough"? Feels like a mentality block at times.

Tom answered: Let's be honest, everybody connected with the Scotland team was devastated by the defeat.

There was no hiding from the disappointment, no softening of the dejection with chat about making progress. They were completely floored by the loss.

As regards a mentality block, yes, I think that's got something to do with it. They made poor decisions at key times and part of that comes from desperation, I think.

Once they've won one of these monster games I think they'll win a few more in quick order. The first one is always the toughest.

Scott asked: Is this as good as it gets? Even with Ireland off the boil I don't see us beating them, at best third in the Six nations is our ceiling?

Tom answered: Possibly, yes. Second at a push. First, if every star in the sky aligns. Look, the reality here is France are better than Scotland more often than not.

Ireland have been better for years (but they're not in a good place right now). England have been inferior to Scotland for years but that's going to change soon.

England have a seriously strong squad and should - should - go close to winning the Six Nations next year. Scotland are very good, but they're in with some outstanding teams in the Six Nations - world numbers three, four and five.

Third is not success but I'm not sure it's failure in that company, presuming they're really competitive in the games they lose. We all want more for them - and it might come - but there's a lot they need to fix, most of it psychological.

Alasdair asked: Could this latest Scotland loss to the All Blacks herald a positive turning point in the style of Ireland, who, after losing to the ABs in similar heartbreaking fashion in 2013, went on to find success in the Six Nations before defeating NZ for the first time in 2016?

Tom answered: One thing is for sure in my mind - Scotland need to play New Zealand and South Africa a lot more than they have been playing them.

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks five times in the past 10 years because they play them so often - by the end of the autumn they'll have faced the All Blacks 11 times in a decade while Scotland have played them three times.

The new Nations Cup is going to give Scotland regular access to the top nations from the southern hemisphere and that's only a good thing.

More of your questions will be answered on this page on Thursday morning. And for further analysis, listen to the latest episode of the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ewan Ashman says Scotland must win their remaining two matches of the Autumn Nations Series after being denied the big scalp they craved against New Zealand.

Hooker Ashman's try shortly after half-time sparked a Scotland comeback from 17-0 down to level against the All Blacks, but they ultimately fell short as the visitors finished strongly to win 25-17.

Now Gregor Townsend's side take on Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday before rounding off their campaign against Tonga next week.

"It's massive," Ashman said of this weekend's meeting with the Pumas.

"The next job is that we need to win the rest of our games. The next two games have to be wins, so we'll take the learnings and go out and perform."

Ashman says Scotland will only beat top sides such as New Zealand if they learn to be more ruthless when chances present themselves.

"I think it probably comes down to just not finishing those big opportunities," said the 25-year-old.

"I got held up two or three times, and then when we get into that five yards we have to just be brutal, be clinical.

"The best teams like the All Blacks, they don't have that [problem]. We did all the work, maybe just tried to score a phase early, we have to learn from that and be able to go a few phases in that zone.

"Maintain that focus and get those scores instead of probably trying to score too early and getting held up.

"We need to finish a few more of those chances if we're going to beat great teams like that."

Got any burning questions on Scottish rugby after last weekend's defeat by the All Blacks and before Sunday's match against Argentina?

Our chief sports writer Tom English and reporter Andy Burke are ready to answer them.

Send them in via this link and a selection of answers will be published on this page later in the week.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland lacking 'clutch' in the big moments

Scott Robertson praised Damien McKenzie's "clutch" plays that proved decisive as the All Blacks struck late to break Scottish hearts once again.

It's something that's missing from Scotland's armoury when they come up against the very best sides in the world.

The Scots can mix it with anyone in the Test arena, they have shown that time and again.

However, invariably when it comes to the absolutely critical moments, when a Six Nations campaign or an historic victory against the All Blacks is on the line, they lack the killer instinct.

Scotland's glass ceiling

Gregor Townsend's record against South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland now reads: played 18, lost 18.

On the one hand, you could ask why Scotland, with their meagre resources, should expect to compete with the true Test heavyweights.

But when you consider Argentina, a team of similar quality to Scotland, have managed home and away victories over New Zealand in recent times, we're entitled to expect the occasional win over the big guns.

Belligerent Brown is a Test match animal

Gregor Brown delivered a towering performance to underline he is a coming force in the international arena.

He carried with a ferocity that set the tone for the forwards around him, with Jack Dempsey and Grant Gilchrist coming to the fore in that regard too.

A hybrid of lock and flanker - or 'flock' - his versatility is a huge asset, and on the evidence of Saturday's showing against the All Blacks, Brown will take some shifting from this Scotland team.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scotland second row Grant Gilchrist says the team are not satisifed with "plucky defeats" and need to learn from key moments in the defeat by New Zealand.

After battling back from 17-0 down to level the score after the break, Scotland could not prevent the All Blacks from stretching clear in the final 10 minutes.

Damian McKenzie's 50-22 kick, try, and penalty proved decisive, as did missed opportunitites from Scotland to score more points.

"We have been in situations before where we know it's going to come down to one moment," Gilchrist said.

"They grabbed it and we didn't have the answers to it and that's disappointing.

"The fact we can go 17-0 down and not panic, stick to the gameplan and go and grab the game like we did in the second half - that's the bit that shows you're a very good team.

"But when it gets to those moments, it's small things.

"One lost lineout and a brilliant piece of play by Damian McKenzie which gives them the territory.

"We've got to the look at the whole game. The missed opportunities in the first half, we shouldn't be 17-0 down.

"The tries they scored, they pick through the middle of the ruck which we spoke about all week, and the try before half time seemed soft to me.

"But even if we had conceded 17 points, we should have had at least 17 of our own. Two held up over the line.

"Those are the moments we've got to reflect back on and be better."

Scotland fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's narrow defeat to New Zealand.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Fraser: A game of two halves and missed chances. Scotland, at times, were sublime. In the second half they roared on to drive and fight but, as with all our national teams, they take us to the edge of the promised cliff of hope and throw us off. Hope needs to be turned into expectation and expectation into delivery.

Graeme: Scoring only seven points in the 30 minutes the All Blacks were down to 14, and having no points on the board at half time, was where this game was won and lost. A typical Scotland performance under Gregor Townsend and I'm sorry to say achieving more won't happen until he's replaced.

Mark: we need to play at that level of consistency game in game out and not just in glamour games. To go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks means you can do that against every other team and then close defeats turn into victories

Adam: Phenomenal game and atmosphere in the stadium, we have not had that for a while! New Zealand were more awesome in defence and had slicker passing and moved the ball around the pitch. Blair Kinghorn sadly should have made that tackle. Whilst Darcy Graham and Pierre Schoeman's attempts to ground the ball at the line were ruthlessly denied. Our set pitch seemed to hold up well.

Stuart: Poor start to go 17 points down, especially the seven points near half-time. The belief was there but the finishing was not for the Scots. All Blacks were hugely relieved at full-time. Great fight back after the break but but you always thought the All Blacks would find a winner.

David: Scotland were simply not clinical enough when the opportunities arose and paid the price for lack of concentration at key moments. Scotland showed that they can compete with the best and did brilliantly to get back to 17-17 but losing one poor lineout in New Zealand's half resulted in losing a try minutes later. No real pleasure in glorious defeat as it should have been a win!