Paterson: Argentina playing similar style to Leinster

Scotland will play Australia, New Zealand and Argentina at BT Murrayfield this autumn, with Fiji completing the line-up of matches, with the All Blacks clash already sold out.

The two sides faced each other in last weekend’s Rugby Championship clash, with Thomas Gallo scoring two of Argentina’s seven tries in a sparkling display.

Speaking on this week’s Official Scottish Rugby Podcast, Chris Paterson and Rachel Malcolm discussed the game and Paterson believes he can see similarities to URC side Leinster in the way Argentina play.

Chris Paterson, said: “I can see a real Michael Cheika, Felipe Contepomi, Leinster edge [in Argentina].

“Cheika was obviously at Leinster before Leo Cullen and he was quite heavily involved in them staying alive, staying in the game and getting the offloading and Contepomi has recently moved from Leinster.

“He played at Leinster and has recently moved from their coaching staff and I can see that in how they’re trying to play.

“When they [Argentina] played against us [Scotland] in the third Summer test, it was good and bad, they weren’t accurate enough, but they’re now picking up that accuracy and its exciting to watch. It’ll be a challenge for Scotland at BT Murrayfield to counter that style of play.”

Rachel Malcolm, added: “Considering they [Argentina] are a team who hadn’t played a huge amount prior to this and they are a team which is building, they showed what they can do in that game.”

The Argentina team, which featured Edinburgh back Emiliano Boffelli, had picked themselves up from a 41-26 defeat at the hands of the Wallabies seven days earlier.

Chris Paterson, said: “It was a big win for Argentina in the end, with Boff [Emiliano Boffelli] running the show again from an Edinburgh perspective.

“It was quite similar to the game the week before, when Australia won comfortably, but you didn’t feel it was a 40, almost 50-point game that.

“Argentina and Australia are both opponents Scotland are going to play in the Autumn, but Argentina looked really good this week again. Some of their attack and some of their execution was excellent.”

Rachel Malcolm added: “Absolutely, but the one thing Scotland have got is their defence in the last few seasons under Steve Tandy has gone from strength to strength.

“It’ll be a perfect challenge for them in terms of seeing where they are. Argentina’s attack is really improving and it shows from the game at the weekend that it’s very hard to defend.”

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