Scotland vs Argentina: Can the Scots avoid heartbreak and beat the Pumas?

With Tonga only waiting for this month, the result against Argentina will determine the course of this autumn heading into the Six Nations.

Are Scotland a team finally on the cusp of competing? Or has this group of players under Gregor Townsend reached their limit?

Evidence for either argument exists.

Scotland lost all 18 Tests of the Townsend era to the top three in the world – South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. Scotland teams don’t expect to win.

That last year they won three of their eight Tests against top-tier opposition. Victories over Italy, Wales and Australia at Murrayfield were offset by losses to the Springboks, All Blacks, France, England and Ireland.

On the other hand, they have successfully beaten England, France and Wales and established themselves as one of the best attacking teams in the world.

For some, last week’s narrow loss was further evidence that Scotland are stuck in a rugby purgatory between the best and the middle class in the game.

For others, it showed that Scotland are on the verge of something special, if they can overcome the final hurdle in their minds.

It’s a perpetual anxiety that has plagued Scottish rugby for most of the last few years.

A win over Argentina will not necessarily change opinions, perhaps unfairly, because despite their significant recent achievements many fans are likely to underestimate them.

But defeat, even to a team ranked higher than them in the world, would sap momentum and confidence from Scotland ahead of 2026 and set tongues wagging.

Argentina will be looking to beat Scotland after their record win over Wales last week, as they bid for a first ever clean sweep of their national team in November.

They have the players, experience and strength to win in Edinburgh for the first time since 2009. This will be a fierce test of Scotland’s ability and mentality.

When Graham leads Scotland out, it will be a jubilant moment for the rafters at Murrayfield as one of the stadium’s favorite sons takes a well-deserved bow for hitting a half-century – while scoring a joint-record 34 tries.

After that, Scotland must put all its baggage aside and take care of business.