By Country / Argentina

Argentina (12) 12
Pens: Hernandez 2, Bosch 2

Italy (3) 13
Try: Ghiraldini Con: Marcato Pens: Marcato 2

Leonardo Ghiraldini's last gasp converted try scored the Italians a dramatic 13-12 victory over Argentina.

The hooker powered over after several patient surges from the barbaric Azzurri pack, from which Andrea Marcato duly stepped up to seal the sundries and spark emotional celebrations for a gallant Italy outfit.

Bad news for Juan Martin Hernandez after the fly-half broke his wrist that rules him out for a month, but this is the latest setback for the Pumas under new coach Santiago Phelan, who must be gazing earnestly onto the horizon for when the rocky road with life after Loffreda will smooth out.

What a difference a decade makes. Ten years ago, these two sides would've been meat and drink for the big boys. Skills levels resembling a half-decent club side at best, structure and discipline not even registering on the minds of the players, and today's stars not even on our radar.

Saturday's clash in Cordoba showcases the two most improved sides in the world. Organised, passionate and no longer the whipping boys. If Italy have their way, the game will be bossed around an efficient set-piece and pivoting around the exceptional talents of captain Sergio Parisse.

Everyone wants him but we're the only one's that can have him - that's what Nick Mallett thinks of the influential Italian skipper Parisse, who bolsters the Italian pack after returning from a disappointing end to his club commitments.

Stade Francais' semi-final anguish means Parisse alongside both Bergamasco brothers, Mauro and Mirco join up with their international teammates as the Azzurri aim to improve on last weekend's comfortable defeat in Cape Town.

There will be a trio of Top 14 based boys wearing the blue & white hoops with Juan Martin Hernandez, Rodrigo Roncero and Marcelo Bosch joining their Italian club colleagues on the flight to Cordoba.

Felipe Contepomi's omission is a shock, especially considering his end of season form for Magners League champions, Leinster while the Guinness Premiership trio of Marcos Ayerza and the Fernandez Lobbe brothers, Juan and Ignacio drop out of the squad entirely.

If Hernandez displays all of his magic and the forwards give him a sufficient platform to work from then the nightmares haunting the Pumas following a gutting defeat to Scotland will be exonerated.

Italy meanwhile need to stick to what they're good at. Working tight around the fringes, keeping their shape whilst making the short yards and hoping Luke McLean orchestrates them into fruitful territory. First they must shake off the jet-lag.

Argentina: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Miguel Avramovic, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Álvaro Galindo, 6 Martín Durand, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Gómez, 2 Álvaro Tejeda, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Pablo Gambarini, 17 Pedro Ledesma, 18 James Stuart, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Federico Martín Aramburu, 22 Hernán Senillosa.

Italy: 15 Andrea Marcato, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Luke McLean, 9 Simon Picone, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Santiago Dellape, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Ignacio Rouyet.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Alex Moreno, 18 Tommaso Reato, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Enrico Patrizio, 22 Riccardo Pavan/Jaco Erasmus.

Congratulations Chris Paterson. The kicking machine will become Scotland's leading cap when he walks out for his 88th appearance against Argentina.

We'd love to know his win-loss ratio as greats usually need to lift a few trophies rather than merely occupy a shirt for over a decade.

Phil Godman, Simon Webster, John Barclay and Hugo Southwell have all joined the starting line-up while Horacio Agulla and Lucas Borges start for the Pumas.

Argentina proved last week that the World Cup was no fluke and there are reinforcements on their way. Most of the stars are caught up in France, but one area where they haven't been depleted is their defence.

Scotland's attacking proficiency is similar to a crane trying to fly given they've only scored four tries in seven matches, so another kicking duel looks the best bet.

What price on Frank Hadden losing his job after this weekend? Pretty good with Andy Robinson sharking around the SRU waters.

Argentina: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Federico Todeschini, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Martin Durand, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino, 2 Alvaro Tejeda, 1 Marcos Ayerza,

Replacements: 16 Pablo Gambarini, 17 Juan Gomez, 18 James Stuart, 19 Alvaro Galindo, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Federico Aramburu, 22 Federico Serra.

Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Chris Paterson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Simon Webster, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (captain), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 John Barclay, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Nick De Luca.