Headlines

The NewsFuror

Monday, October 8, 2007

Argentina v Scotland

Kick-off: 2000 BST

2149: "The Pumas fans are going crazy. The Argentine players have a huddle in the middle of the pitch before joining their countrymen in the stands. The party is about to begin. What a story this is."
BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac at the Stade de France

2146: "Congratulations Pumas! Scotland have given a good account of themselves. Obviously disappointed to lose, but at least we got to the quarters and didn't disgrace ourselves.

"Good luck to Argentina for the rest of the tournament."
RR on 606

2143: "Scotland may have lost, but they have nothing to be ashamed of. Another close, entertaining game!

"I'm not entirely sure that the Boks will have seen much there to worry them though..."
OFR on 606

80 mins: Agustin Pichot gets his timing a bit wrong, hoping for the final whistle as he dilly-dallies in his own 22. Scotland get a scrum with their final attack of the match but a knock-on brings the match to a close and Argentina are through to the last four.

Scotland will be left rueing their failure to make their chances stick - this was a game they could have won, but the opportunity is gone.

78 mins: Scotland's forwards go through drive after drive before giving out to the backs, and the pack may well wish they hadn't.

Dan Parks puts a chip kick up for Sena Lamont to chase but there are two covering defenders and the kick was out beyond the touchline. Will they get another chance?

76 mins: Scotland win another kickable penalty when Patricio Albacete dives on top of Sean Lamont on the floor.

With time running out, Dan Parks is told to kick to the corner and he obliges with a brilliant kick to within 5m of the line. We're in for a grandstand finish.

73 mins: Scotland win a penalty as Argentina go in at the side. Dan Parks kicks it to within 7m of the Argentina try-line.

But the line-out goes all wrong as the ball goes over Scott MacLeod's head and Argentina gobble it up.

71 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez is a lucky fella as he sends out a suicidal flick out of the back of his hand to a slipping Felipe Contepomi. Fortunately for the Pumas, Contepomi gets fingertips to it and controls it with his neck (it's difficult to describe) before regaining full control and setting the ball up.

In an alternative universe, that crazy pass went a few inches higher and behind Contepomi and Scotland went through to score under the posts.

70 mins: Another knock-on from Agustin Pichot at the base of the ruck gives Scotland another reprieve.

67 mins: Scotland bring on Hugo Southwell and Scott Lawson, so they have no more substitutions left to make. It's all or nothing.

Meanwhile, Argentina knock on at the base of a ruck as they try to improve the angle for a drop-goal attempt with a series of drives. Scotland need to make the most of that let-off.

65 mins: A horrible error from Scotland full-back Rory Lamont as he lets a kick close to the touchline slide through his fingers and out into touch. Neither of the Lamont brothers has had much to laugh about so far, but there's still time for all that to change.

63 mins: Almost straight from the kick-off, Juan Martin Henandez gets the chance to have a pot at a drop-goal but the kick goes just wide.

62 mins: TRY Argentina 19-13 Scotland
Scotland show that they can play a bit of rugby when the mood takes them.

Craig Smith makes the initial dent but knocks-on. Argentina's Ignacio Corleto chips ahead with the loose ball but Chris Paterson cleans up and launches another wave of attack.

The ball is passed in and out of contact with Fijian-like abandon before Kelly Brown gives the scoring pass to replacement Chris Cusiter in the corner.

Paterson curls in a crucial conversion from the touchline, with the ball coming off the post.

59 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez is doing pretty much whatever he wants with his kicks at the moment, with his latest effort leaving Sean Lamont helpless to do anything other than watch the ball sail just out of his reach.

58 mins: "I feel the Scots are static, not a lot of running with the ball, same as the All Blacks. There's not much initiative and the Pumas dictate the game they want to play. 19-6 and it looks easy going, doesn't it?" Walgert on 606

56 mins: Scotland coach Frank Hadden makes four changes at once, with Chris Cusiter, Craig Smith, Scott MacLeod and Kelly Brown all joining the fray.

They need to make an impact quickly if Scotland are to get back into this game.

53 mins: DROP-GOAL Argentina 19-6 Scotland
This is starting to turn into the Juan Martin Hernandez Show as he follows up an absolutely exquisite touch finder with a drop-goal.

It's a slightly scruffy effort, but it just about makes it through the posts.

The touch finder is worth a par of its own though. The fly-half goes back in the pocket and fires a perfect spiral kick over the head of Sean Lamont which rolls into touch two feet from the corner flag. Brilliant.

51 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez shows there is more to his game than just kicking the ball up in the air.

He sends out an extravagent looping pass to put Felipe Contepomi into space and the centre takes it up before giving the pass to Ignacio Corleto. The pass is just a little too hard though and the ball goes forward, but it's a definite warning sign for Scotland.

49 mins: Excellent quick hands down the blind-side sees Rory Lamont power down the flank but the opportunity goes in a second after Patricio Albacete bursts through the middle of the ruck to snaffle possession.

47 mins: Andrew Henderson takes the ball at pace and gets over the gainline, winning a penalty after Argentina's tacklers refuse to roll away.

It's a long-range kick from just inside the Argentina half, so Dan Parks is given the kicking duties. But his kick is short and wide, and his 100% kicking record goes out the window.

45 mins: A bad misjudgement from Sean Lamont gives Argentina a promising attacking position. Agustin Pichot kicks up the touchline and Lamont sticks out a flailing hand and succeeds only in knocking it into touch and giving Argentina the throw.

43 mins: PEN Argentina 16-6 Scotland
Argentina put the penalty out for a line-out and from the resulting maul, Scotland's pack drags down the rolling maul.

Felipe Contepomi slots the kick and Argentina, without having needed to do anything special, are comfortably in front.

41 mins: Dan Parks kicks off for Scotland, who have Andrew Henderson on in the centre in place of Rob Dewey.

A terrible kick up in the air from Mike Blair goes slightly backwards and leads to a penalty for offside against his team.

2049: "I reckon Scotland have got away with it on the scoreboard. Obviously it's a shame about the needless try, but they have been at least seven points better than us.

"One charge-down went their way, the one at the other end bounced for them too. Third time lucky?!"
Hawick on 606

40 mins: The half-time whistle is sounded with Argentina prop Rodrigo Roncero rather agitated about something or other. The referee gets himself in between Roncero and the Scottish pack and Pumas captain Agustin Pichot quickly calms the situation down.

If truth be told, it's been a fairly tedious 40 minutes so far, although perhaps we've been spoiled by the dramatic matches we've been treated to already this weekend.

38 mins: A great scrum from Scotland inside their 22 as they take one against the head and then win a penalty as Argentina's back row disengages before the ball is out.

36 mins: PEN Argentina 13-6 Scotland
Argentina are penalised at the breakdown and it gives Chris Paterson the chance to kick his first points of the game and maintain his 100% record in the tournament.

34 mins: Sean Lamont takes the ball into contact and just has it ripped from his grasp by opposite man Horacio Agulla. Scotland need to keep hold of the ball better than that.

32 mins: TRY & CONVERSION Argentina 13-3 Scotland
Disaster for Scotland as they hand Argentina seven points on a plate.

Dan Parks takes too long as he tries to clear inside his own 22 and has his kick charged down by Argentina number eight Gonzalo Longo who then regathers the loose ball from under the nose of Sean Lamont and scores.

Felipe Contepomi nails the conversion and Argentina stretch the lead.

29 mins: "It's percentage rugby from both teams, and Argentina are just that bit better at it than Scotland. They are getting the physical nudge on all the time.

"We need to break up the game, tap penalties and the like."
hawick on 606

26 mins: PEN Argentina 6-3 Scotland
Juan Martin Hernandez misses badly with a drop-goal attempt which is fielded 15m to the right of the posts by Rory Lamont.

There should be no danger, but he seems to hesitate and is quickly caught in possession and then penalised for a "squeeze-ball" where he tries to feed the possession back to his team-mates.

Felipe Contepomi slots the resulting penalty to put Argentina ahead, but Lamont clearly feels aggrieved. Did he call a mark which went unheard by the referee?

24 mins: Argentina have a kick charged down inside their own 22 but are relieved to see the loose ball bounce into the hands of their full-back Ignacio Corleto.

21 mins: PEN Argentina 3-3 Scotland
Juan Martin Hernandez, who seems to be at the centre of everything so far, takes the ball into contact and is caught by a clumsy high tackle from Nathan Hines.

The resulting penalty is struck with assurance by Felipe Contepomi and sails between the posts to level the score.

19 mins: Argentina drive 15m with a rolling maul off a line-out on halfway but Scotland reorganise well to stop the Pumas' progress.

16 mins: PEN Argentina 0-3 Scotland
Scotland take the lead as they get points on the board with their first chance of the match.

Mike Blair claims a brave take under the high ball and Argentina's hands in the ruck give Dan Parks the chance to strike from just inside the halfway line.

14 mins: Scotland infringe at the line-out, to give Felipe Contepomi his first shot at goal but his effort from the 15m line goes wide of the posts.

12 mins: Another scrum goes down and this time it's a penalty against Scotland, with Euan Murray singled out bythe referee for a talking to.

Juan Martin Hernandez fires a penalty to within a couple of inches of the corner flag for a superb touch, giving Argentina a line-out 5m out.

10 mins: Sean Lamont busts a couple of tackles and releases the ball to Simon Webster who runs crossfield before a fairly aimless kick upfield. Scotland will need to do a bit more with decent attacking ball than that.

8 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez puts up yet another up-and-under - that's at least four so far, and it looks as though Scotland's back three will be seeing plenty of the ball... coming down from 500 feet in the air accompanied by several Argentine tacklers.

5 mins: Simon Webster comes in on the angle to take the ball off Dan Parks, but the move is all wrong with the pass behind the centre and he knocks on.

4 mins: The first scrum of the game goes down twice, and referee Joel Jutge gives Argentina the free-kick. A quick tap and Juan Martin Hernandez fires up an up-and-under which Rory Lamont cannot quite claim.

There is a Argentina knock-on though, and Scotland clear their lines through Dan Parks.

3 mins: Another mistake from Juan Martin Hernandez as he overcooks his penalty to touch by 5m or so. The ball dribbles out of play beyond the corner flag and Scotland get a scrum in midfield back in Argentina's half.

1 min: Juan Martin Hernandez kicks off for Argentina and Scotland are unable to collect the ball. Agustin Pichot fires a loose pass out to hs fly-half and with 17 seconds on the clock, Hernandez has a shot at a drop-goal but it goes just right of the posts.

El Mago is human after all.

1959: Right then, the anthems are out of the way and we're just about to get under way.

1953: The Stade de France is a sight to behold, lighting up the Parisian night sky.

Add to that the noise of the crowd as the two teams march out onto the field before launching into a jog and you have the makings of another great occasion at this tournament.

Argentina go into a brief huddle before joining Scotland in linking arms and lining up for the pre-match anthems.

1948: The players have done all the warming-up they need to do and are back in the dressing room psyching up for this massive game. We're just 10 minutes away from finding out the final team to reach the last four.

1946: "I am watching ITV and Kenny Logan just won a dance-off. It must be an omen! Good luck Scotland!"
Eckstatic on 606

1944: Let's just remind ourselves about the players on show at the Stade de France:

Scotland: Rory Lamont; Sean Lamont, Simon Webster, Rob Dewey, Chris Paterson; Dan Parks Mike Blair; Gavin Kerr, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White (captain), Allister Hogg, Simon Taylor.
Replacements: Scott Lawson, Craig Smith, Scott MacLeod, Kelly Brown, Chris Cusiter, Andrew Henderson, Hugo Southwell.

Argentina: Ignacio Corleto, Lucas Borges, Manuel Contepomi, Felipe Contepomi, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Agustin Pichot (captain), Gonzalo Longo, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Lucas Ostiglia, Patricio Albacete, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Martin Scelzo, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Omar Hasan, Rimas Alvarez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Federico Todeschini, Hernan Senillosa.

1935: "Just had a walk outside the stadium and St Denis is jumping. Cheesy Euro-pop tunes are blasting outside. Not to everyone's taste I grant you, but it does add to the atmosphere.

"In the bowels of the Stade de France I have just bumped into a certain Jonah Lomu. He may have been a superstar in his prime but I reckon I could have taken him down. Actually thinking about it, maybe not.

"The fans that are slowly filling the ground are being treated to replays of yesterday's France v New Zealand epic on the big screens. Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end."
BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac at the Stade de France

1933: "Argentina are never gonna runaway with a game.

"They are grinders, so I suspect it will be a slow strangle. If Argentina lose their discipline though, they could get themselves into trouble because Chris Paterson is without peer as a kicker."
SP on 606

1923: All of a sudden, rugby union is a very big deal in Argentina.

The success of the Pumas in this tournament has seen the "Superclasico" - River Plate v Boca Juniors, one of the biggest matches in football anywhere - shift its kick-off time to make sure no-one has to miss Argentina's meeting with Scotland.

No pressure then, boys.

1915: "It's a glorious early autumn evening here in Paris. The sun is just setting and there is not a cloud in the sky - it will be a perfect night for rugby. Maybe Scotland will be able to throw off the shackles and give it a lash.

"The kilts are out in Paris. Both the Scots and the French are showing off their legs, and it is some sight I can tell you. The locals are definitely rooting for the Scottish underdogs.

"The bars around the Stade de France are rammed and the sound of drums and brass bands fills the air. The Argentine fans are in full voice, they know their side is just 80 minutes away from booking a place in their first ever World Cup semi-finals.

"The Scotland fans I have talked to are a wee bit concerned about the outcome but if we have learnt anything from this incredible weekend, it is that we cannot take any result for granted. I'm going for a Scotland win, who's with me?"
BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac at the Stade de France

1910: Evening all, we're building up to the final quarter-final of an incredible weekend of international rugby.

The match has got plenty to live up to, coming in the wake of epic victories for France and England, while South Africa were pushed all the way by a valiant Fiji side this afternoon.

But Scotland and Argentina will not care if it is 3-0 as long as it their side with the three points to their name.

No comments: