Taylor's trip to sin bin lets Pumas steal victory

Scotland 19 Argentina 23

A late penalty try capped Argentina's comeback in a 23-19 win over Scotland in a rugby test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Argentina trailed for most of the match and was 16-6 behind soon into the second half, but the Pumas' fortunes turned when Scotland No. 8 Simon Taylor was sinbinned late in the last quarter.

The Pumas set five successive scrums in the left corner when Scotland replacement hooker Scott Lawson was caught kicking the ball out of a rolling scrum, and New Zealand referee Kelvin Deaker signaled a penalty try in the 70th minute. Federico Todeschini converted and Argentina had the lead for the first time since an opening penalty.

Taylor then returned and Scotland had a chance to beat Argentina for the first time since 1990. The Scots bashed the Pumas' scrum and drove a lineout over the line, but Deaker ruled the ball was held up.

"Scrummaging is obviously the Argentineans' strength," Scotland captain Jason White said. "We were a man down so they were obviously going to squeeze us. We tried really hard and it is always a fine line for the ref when you are giving away penalties - but it is his call."

With coach Frank Hadden making his home debut, Scotland led 13-6 at halftime thanks to a try by flyhalf Dan Parks, who regathered his chip over the defense.

After Chris Paterson extended Scotland's lead to 10 points, Argentina hit back through winger Francisco Leonelli, who beat one defender to reach his left corner.

Todeschini and Paterson traded goalkicks to leave Scotland ahead by only 19-16, and the Pumas with renewed hope after losing to South Africa 34-23 in Buenos Aires last weekend.

Argentina play Italy next weekend.

Scotland: Try Parks; Conversion Paterson; Penalties Paterson 3; Drop goal Parks. Argentina: Tries Leonelli, Penalty; Conversions Todeschini 2; Penalties Todeschini 3.

Scotland: C Paterson (Edinburgh); R Lamont (Glasgow), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh), A Henderson (Glasgow), S Lamont (Northampton); D Parks (Glasgow), M Blair (Edinburgh); G Kerr (Leeds), D Hall (Edinburgh), B Douglas (Borders), C Hamilton (Glasgow), S Murray (Edinburgh), J White (Sale, capt), A Hogg, S Taylor (both Edinburgh). Replacements: H Southwell (Edinburgh) for R Lamont, 75; C Cusiter (Borders) for Blair, 61; A Jacobsen (Edinburgh) for Kerr, 60; S Lawson (Glasgow) for Hall, 64; C Smith (Edinburgh) for Douglas, 60; A Kellock (Edinburgh) for Hamilton, 64.

Argentina: J Hernandez (Stade Français); F Aramburu (Biarritz ), M Contepomi (Bristol), F Contepomi (Leinster), F Leonelli (Edinburgh); F Todeschini (Beziers), A Pichot (capt); R Roncero (both Stade Français), M Ledesma (Montferrand), O Hasan (Toulouse), I Fernandez Lobbe (Sale), P Bouza (Harlequins), M Durand (Montpellier), J Fernandez Lobbe (Liceo Naval), M Schusterman (Plymouth). Replacements: L Borges (Stade Francais) for M Contepomi, 13; M Scelzo (Montferrand) for Hasan, 75; M Carizza (Biarritz) for Bouza, 58; J Leguizamon (London Irish) for Durand, 58.

Referee: K Deaker (New Zealand).