Preview: Argentina v Scotland 1st Test

Scotland come into the game off the back of Scotland A’s 45-5 win over Chile in Santiago on Saturday.

The squad started the week based in Buenos Aries and have since moved to Jujuy.

What they said:

Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, said: “We believe it’s the strongest squad we have available for what will be a very challenging test away from home.

“We’ve got an eye on what will be a very tough test series but also the development of this team in general, where they can go over the next year or two.

“(On Argentina) We believe it’s one of the strongest teams out there, the equivalent of playing a Six Nations team.

“You’re playing away from home against some of the best individuals in club rugby just now in Europe.

“Argentina have always had some brilliant players in back lines, some very tough forwards, and they seem to have a great crop just now.

Captain Grant Gilchrist said: “What an exciting challenge, playing at one of the top teams, all their best players available, they’re at home in a hostile environment.

“This is going to be a great test of me personally and of the team and I know all the boys involved here are buzzing with excitement for Saturday.

“I’ve played against them a few times, it’s always a physical battle.

“The individuals across the pitch they’ve got, the style of rugby they want to play, it’s a bit crazy at times but it always leads to the entertaining games you see.

“For me personally, I’ve had some great results against Argentina, but we’re under no illusions that that just happens because it has in history.

“This Argentina team, when you look at the squad they’ve got, and the way their players have been playing whether it been in the Southern hemisphere or in Europe, they’re leading performers across a lot of the top teams in Europe and in the Southern hemisphere, so that’s the challenge and that’s what we’re excited by.”

? Hear the thoughts of the skipper ahead of our first test against Argentina this Saturday.#AsOne pic.twitter.com/ANpnVLIzIJ

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 30, 2022

The Team

Match Stats

• Scotland have won their last five matches against Argentina, a run which stretches back to 2014.
• This begins Scotland first ever away three-test series.
• Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland for the first time since the 2018 summer tour fixture against Canada.
• Mark Bennett starts for Scotland for the first time since 2016 against Georgia.
• This will be Argentina’s first game in their home country since a 2019 Rugby Championship match against South Africa.

Where to Watch

Join us in the Scottish Rugby Match Centre on Saturday for exclusive insight, match stats and live commentary from Jujuy.

As always we’ll bring you the big moments as they happen, along with the latest from inside the Scotland camp.

Argentina v Scotland kicks off at 8.10pm BST and you can watch the game live on Sky Sports.