Scotland not afraid to go on the run

Scotland v ArgentinaIn the 17 Tests Scotland have played since the 2003 World Cup they have mustered only four wins. Those rare victories came against Italy, Japan, Romania and Samoa so this evening's fixture against Argentina is being viewed with a mixture of high hopes combined with modest expectations.

The Pumas are placed eighth, one notch above Scotland, in the IRB's world rankings but their battling 23-34 defeat by the Springboks in Buenos Aires last weekend suggests they should be higher. Their record against Scotland is four wins in five attempts with the only loss coming back in 1990 to the grand slam side.

This match marks a Murrayfield debut for the coach Frank Hadden after being given the post on a full-time basis following a successful summer. Hadden has abandoned Matt Williams' policy of "Fortress Scotland" by selecting as captain Jason White, who plays for Sale in the English Premiership.

White is pack leader at the table-topping Cheshire club and plays alongside Argentina's lock forward Ignacio "Nacho" Fernandez Lobbe week by week so the Scottish captain has first-hand experience of what to expect at the 5.30pm kick-off this evening. "I know from Nacho, from the way he plays and trains, and watching the videos of their games, they are very combative and they have a great ability to stay on their feet. It's going to be very hard in the forwards.

"You obviously need to front up in the physical challenges but we don't want to have the Scotland eight taking on the Argentinian eight for 80 minutes. As much as I'd back the other Scotland forwards to the hilt, that's (the Pumas') strength and it wouldn't be the wisest thing to take them on at that for the whole game."

Under Hadden, Edinburgh adopted a wide Barbarians style of play that Scotland are expected to adopt but which will be all but impossible if today's weather forecast of wet and wild conditions are accurate. White's side may rely upon Dan Parks' boot to kick them into position since the Glasgow outhalf has been given a chance to redeem himself after being dropped in the middle of a miserable Six Nations championship last season.

White conceded the last couple of years had been difficult for Scotland but he pointed out he was not the only Scottish player to taste success at club level this year. "The results over the last two years have not been good," he admitted, "but I think that we have progressed as a squad in that time and we've gained more experience at international level and more experience of winning with the pro teams in Scotland. Now it's time to start beating teams."

Hadden has chosen White as the captain as his very physical presence serves notice on the opposition.

White said: "I think performance is very important but everyone in this room knows that results are key."

Getting one against Argentina will be no cakewalk.