Rugby-Watson to make Scotland return in second Argentina test

Scotland will have flanker Hamish Watson available for the second test against Argentina after he missed Saturday’s 25-18 defeat in San Salvador de Jujuy, coach Gregor Townsend said. "We had some really good moments in defence," coach Gregor Townsend said.

Scotland will have flanker Hamish Watson available for the second test against Argentina after he missed Saturday’s 25-18 defeat in San Salvador de Jujuy, coach Gregor Townsend said. Watson, a British & Irish Lions tourist last year, had to miss the first test because of a chest/shoulder injury.

He was one of four high-profile players absent with captain Stuart Hogg, standoff Finn Russell and tough tackling centre Chris Harris left at home. "We had some really good moments in defence," coach Gregor Townsend said. "Our workrate, which we pride ourselves on, getting back from linebreaks, was outstanding at times. We went through a few defensive sets which were impressive.

"But there were errors and we will look at ourselves in that, but also the good play of Argentina. They moved the ball very quickly and defence is built on an ability to make your tackles and slow down the ball so you can get quicker. "On a couple of occasions, they produced quick ball and just managed to have more numbers than we had in defence," Townsend added.

Scotland fought back from 18-3 down at the break to 18-18, which pleased stand-in captain Grant Gilchrist. "We were below our best in that first half," he said. "We had a few good defensive sets and hung in there but we didn’t control territory and possession and we were under the cosh for most of the first half.

“We showed what we can do at the start of the second half. At 18-18 I felt the momentum was with us. It’s a game we should have won from that point." The second test in Salta is on Saturday with the third and last on July 16 at Santiago del Estero. 

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