Scotland's World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance after a crushing defeat to Argentina at Murrayfield. The once-formidable team, who had been touted as being on the cusp of something special under coach Gregor Townsend, have shown that they can be thoroughly exposed when their opponents seize the initiative.
The 21-0 lead which Scotland built up against a Pumas side in obvious distress was a stunning demonstration of just how far off the mark this team is. The great teams, those that consistently produce results on the biggest stages, manage to take control of games early and never look back. Scotland, however, were unable to capitalise on their advantage and instead allowed Argentina to mount an epic comeback.
The turning point came when a long looping pass from Finn Russell was picked off by the Pumas, allowing them to break free downfield. This was followed by Blair Kinghorn's send-off for illegally halting an attack, which handed the game back to Argentina on a silver platter. Julian Montoya's subsequent try was just the beginning of a 18-minute spell in which Scotland completely capitulated.
It is this inability to handle the momentum swing at crucial moments that has become the hallmark of this team under Townsend. The problems that have cropped up again and again, from creating opportunities but not converting them, to running big teams close but ultimately falling short, are ones that it seems as though they will never quite shake off.
Townsend's comments that his side lacks the mentality required to win the biggest games rings hollow when you consider their abysmal record in such situations. The two World Cup pool games against Ireland in 2019 and 2023 remain fresh in the mind, a stark reminder of just how far they have to go if they are to truly compete at the highest level.
For now, the team's progress is stuck in limbo. The question on everyone's lips is whether this team will ever take that next step and deliver on their potential. For those fans who have been loudly booing them from the Murrayfield pitch, it may be tempting to wonder if someone else might do a better job.
The 21-0 lead which Scotland built up against a Pumas side in obvious distress was a stunning demonstration of just how far off the mark this team is. The great teams, those that consistently produce results on the biggest stages, manage to take control of games early and never look back. Scotland, however, were unable to capitalise on their advantage and instead allowed Argentina to mount an epic comeback.
The turning point came when a long looping pass from Finn Russell was picked off by the Pumas, allowing them to break free downfield. This was followed by Blair Kinghorn's send-off for illegally halting an attack, which handed the game back to Argentina on a silver platter. Julian Montoya's subsequent try was just the beginning of a 18-minute spell in which Scotland completely capitulated.
It is this inability to handle the momentum swing at crucial moments that has become the hallmark of this team under Townsend. The problems that have cropped up again and again, from creating opportunities but not converting them, to running big teams close but ultimately falling short, are ones that it seems as though they will never quite shake off.
Townsend's comments that his side lacks the mentality required to win the biggest games rings hollow when you consider their abysmal record in such situations. The two World Cup pool games against Ireland in 2019 and 2023 remain fresh in the mind, a stark reminder of just how far they have to go if they are to truly compete at the highest level.
For now, the team's progress is stuck in limbo. The question on everyone's lips is whether this team will ever take that next step and deliver on their potential. For those fans who have been loudly booing them from the Murrayfield pitch, it may be tempting to wonder if someone else might do a better job.
so this Scotland rugby team is literally getting destroyed in the World Cup 
they had a 21-0 lead and then completely blew it 
how do you even come back from that? 
their coach Gregor Townsend says they need to develop the mentality to win big games, but it's hard to believe when they get hammered like this 
what's going on with these guys? are they just not good enough or is something else at play? 
is it just about wantin' to win, or is there somethin' more at play? and what's goin' on with these momentum swings... can't seem to get 'em under control. it's like they're stuck in this loop, always reactin' instead of anticipatin'. 
! I mean, who doesn't love watching your team get slammed 21-0 and still manage to lose? 
It's like they're trying out for the title of "worst comebacks in World Cup history"! The thing is, it's clear that this team needs a serious shake-up if they wanna make it to the finals. Coach Townsend's got some 'splainin' to do, and it's time for some new faces (and maybe even a change in strategy) if Scotland wants to get their hopes back up 
I'm so disappointed in Scotland 
... they were on fire at first, but just couldn't keep it up 
. You can tell they're not used to being under pressure 
. Coach Townsend needs to come up with a new game plan or something... this one ain't working! 
right now. 21-0 is just crazy talk! 
. It's like they're not even trying to win big games anymore 
. Gregor Townsend has to step up his game and tell them how to win the big ones 
...
. They had such promise under coach Townsend but just can't seem to deliver when it matters most 
. Until then, it's just gonna be tough for Scotland fans to see their team underperform 
. I mean, 21-0 down to Argentina? That's just embarrassing 
.
. I'm not giving up on them yet, but I do think they need some serious soul-searching 
.
i mean 21-0 is a huge deficit to overcome and they just got exposed by the pumas 
i think what really gets me is how many times scotland has come so close but just fallen short 
We need those big game wins under our belt ASAP