The history of the rivalry: Scotland v Argentina

12/11/05 AUTUMN TEST SERIES SCOTLAND V ARGENTINA (19-23) MURRAYFIELD - EDINBURGH Sean Lamont in action for Scotland.

The first official Test match between Scotland and Argentina took place during the Pumas’ tour of the British Isles in November 1990. The tour proved difficult for the visitors, who managed only a single victory against the Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park. Following successive defeats against Ireland and England, Argentina travelled to Edinburgh to close their tour against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The first test

Early in the first half, Argentina conceded a scrum penalty on the halfway line. Taken quickly by the Scottish backline, the ball shifted through the hands to exploit a scrambling Argentine defence before the late, great Scott Hastings provided the final assisting pass to winger Tony Stanger to open the scoring.

The opening score established the pattern for the afternoon. Scotland maintained a relentless attacking pressure, securing additional tries with Gary Armstrong, Gavin Hastings, and Kenny Milne amongst the scorers. Scotland finished with a comprehensive 49-3 victory, with Argentina’s solitary points coming from the boot of centre Santiago Meson. Watch the highlights of this match below.

The momentum swings

Following Scotland’s dominant victory in 1990, the balance of power shifted decisively toward Los Pumas. Argentina went on to win the next seven consecutive encounters, a streak that included knocking Scotland out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Scotland broke the losing streak in 2008 with a 26-14 victory at the José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires. That result signalled a return swing in momentum. Over the subsequent ten fixtures, Scotland claimed eight victories, including a winning streak that spanned five matches between 2014 and 2018.

In total, the sides have met 23 times in official Test rugby, with Argentina holding a narrow historical edge of 12 victories to Scotland’s 11.

The next chapter

A new era in this international rivalry begins on Saturday 4 July as the inaugural Nations Championship kicks off. Scotland’s travel to Córdoba marks the start of a global tournament structure that directly pits the premier teams of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres against each other. Replacing traditional summer and autumn tours, every fixture now carries structural significance, with competition points determining final standings ahead of November’s Finals Weekend in London.

• Date: Saturday 4 July 2026

• Competition: Nations Championship (Southern Series – Round 1)

• Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba, Argentina

• Kick-off time: 8:10pm BST

Where to watch

In the UK, ITV and STV will be the exclusive home of the Nations Championship, covering every single fixture in July, November and the Finals Weekend.