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Preview: Scotland v Argentina

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade is wary of the influence of his opposite number, Vern Cotter, as he looks to build on the Pumas' maiden Rugby Championship victory when they take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The South Americans have arrived in Scotland's capital city on a high after finally breaking their Rugby Championship duck with a 21-17 success against Australia in Mendoza on October 4.

Hourcade, however, is cautious about the effect Kiwi coach Cotter might have on a youthful Scottish XV in his first home match, to such an extent that he has been studying Clermont Auvergne's style of play.

Cotter spent eight years as the guiding light with Clermont in the French Top 14 before joining Scotland immediately prior to the June tour in which they beat a shadow Argentina side, comprising entirely home-based players, 21-19 in Cordoba.

"We expect a different challenge from Scotland this time," said Hourcade.

"They are playing at home under a new coach who will really want to show his way of working. He's had longer to work with his players than he did in June.

"We have analysed mostly the style of the coach. We have looked at the way his team played at Clermont. I imagine that his style of rugby is not going to change much from that, although we know there are different players with different characteristics in the Scotland team.

"For us, it is very important that we reproduce what we did in the Rugby Championship. Getting a win has given us confidence. It has shown that we are on the way."

Hourcade has made five changes to the team that defeated Australia in a starting XV featuring just three survivors from the side beaten by Scotland five months ago.

Juan Cruz Guillemain of Stade Francais makes his debut in the second row, while Juan Martin Hernandez, waiting to join Toulon in January after leaving Racing Metro in July, returns at inside centre for his 50th cap.

Ten of Cotter's chosen XV have been drawn from the dynamic Glasgow Warriors side who claimed eye-catching victories at home to Bath and away to Montpellier in the opening two rounds of the European Champions Cup.

Gloucester scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw, the Scotland captain, is the only non-Glasgow player selected behind the pack, partnering Finn Russell, a veteran of just two caps, at halfback.

The emerging Mark Bennett makes his debut at outside centre, while in the pack Glasgow lock Jonny Gray plays his first ever game of rugby alongside his elder brother Richie, having made his Scotland debut as replacement for the Castres second row against South Africa last November.

Scotland have not beaten Argentina at home since 1990, a run of five defeats, and have not won at Murrayfield for 12 months, since opening their 2013 November campaign with a 42-17 victory against Japan.

Players to watch:

For Scotland: Blair Cowen will certainly prove to be a nuisance at the breakdown with his high work rate. Mark Bennett may be on debut but has a great burst of speed and is solid with ball-in-hand which has earned him a debut.

For Argentina: Los Pumas have made a name for themselves in the Rugby Championship with the power of their scrums, so expect more of the same this time around. Pivot Nicolás Sánchez was a stand-out player for the South Americans and will be looking to continue that form. The pace and finishing prowess of Manuel Montero is always an attacking threat.

Head to head: All eyes will be on the first scrum of the match to see how the Scots handle the might of the Argentinians. There will be  fireworks in midfield when up-and-coming Bennett comes up against the smooth and silky Marcelo Bosch.

Previous Results:

2014: Scotland won 21-19 in Córdoba

2011: Argentina won 13-12 in Wellington (World Cup)

2010: Scotland won 13-9 in Mar del Plata

2010: Scotland won 24-16 in Tucuman

2009: Argentina won 9-6 at Murrayfield

2008: Scotland won 24-16 in Buenos Aires

2008: Argentina won 21-15 in Rosario

2007: Argentina won 19-13 in Paris (World Cup)

2005: Argentina won 23-19 at Murrayfield

2001: Argentina won 25-16 at Murrayfield

Prediction: A tight and physical match is expected with the Argentinians heading in as the favourites. However, if Scotland can front-up to the strength of the Argentinian's setpiece, it could be closer than expected and the Scots might even sneak an unlikely win. However, the strength of the Argentinian scrum will prove too much for the home side which will see the South Americans walk away with a hard-fought seven point victory.

Teams:

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Sean Lamont.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Rodrigo Baez, 5 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Lucas Ponce, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Horacio Agulla.

Date: Saturday, November 8

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 17.30 (17.30 GMT; 14.30 Argentina time)

Expected weather: Cloudy with intermittent rain, high of 9, low of 5.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

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