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No complaints from Robinson

SeanLamontPA3
Andy Robinson admitted Scotland got what they deserved after watching them let slip a 6-0 half-time lead against Argentina to hand him his first defeat in charge.

Andy Robinson admitted Scotland got what they deserved after watching them let slip a 6-0 half-time lead against Argentina to hand him his first defeat in charge.

The home side were on course for their first clean sweep of autumn international victories for seven years thanks to two Phil Godman penalties.

But the Pumas turned the game on its head after the break, taking full advantage of Nathan Hines’ needless sin-binning to win 9-6 thanks to two penalties and a late drop goal from Martin Rodriguez.

The result was their fourth win in a row at Murrayfield, where Argentina have not been beaten since 1990.

Robinson said: “In the first half I thought we played with good shape, good width; we asked a number of questions of them. But at the key times – ie. last pass – our accuracy wasn’t there.

“You’ve got to be able to concentrate throughout because they are good at contesting every ball. They’re scrappers and they scrap very hard for that ball.

“Second half, I thought the defining moment was the Nathan Hines sin bin. We kicked the ball away in a three on one where Thom Evans was outside and all three players were saying ‘kick’, as opposed to ‘move the ball’. They’re the key defining moments in games.

“As soon as it went to 6-3, it became a scrappy affair. Argentina are very good in scrappy affairs and they get out and win the game.

“I was pleased with the ambition we tried to play with but you’ve got to control the scoreboard. And we didn’t control the scoreboard and, therefore, we deserve what we get.”

Robinson added: “It’s a good learning experience for us. As always, I’m bitterly disappointed for losing and the players are as well.

“But I thought the commitment that the players put in and the passion that they showed and the effort they showed was what we expected.”

Moments before Hines was yellow-carded, Scotland lost full-back Rory Lamont to an injury which saw him carried off on a stretcher.

“He’s back in the dressing room, so he’s walking,” Robinson said.