Argentina 13-12 Scotland, Rugby World Cup, September 25, 2011
Lawson laments last-ditch lapse
ESPNscrum Staff
September 25, 2011
Argentina's Lucas Amorosino steps inside Chris Paterson, Argentina v Scotland, Rugby World Cup, Wellington, New Zealand, September 25, 2011
Lucas Amorosino dances inside Chris Paterson to score the vital try for Scotland © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino | Rory Lawson
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Teams: Argentina | Scotland

Scotland captain Rory Lawson was left to lament Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino's "exceptional" winning try which gave Argentina a 13-12 win and left his own side facing an early World Cup exit.

Scotland must now beat England to have any hope of progressing to the knockout stages after this agonising Pool B defeat in Wellington. Drop goals from Ruaridh Jackson and Dan Parks had put Scotland 12-6 ahead with eight minutes remaining but Amorosino's converted try seven minutes from time handed the Pumas a victory which maintains their hopes of qualification for the knockout stages.

Scotland claimed a losing bonus point and are now level on 10 points with Argentina, who play Georgia next Sunday. Lawson said on ITV1: "Ultimately it was going to be small margins that dictated the winner tonight and fair play, Amorosino took his try exceptionally well.

"On a night like tonight it was always going to be about controlling territory, controlling possession and building pressure and they maybe just won that contest."

Looking ahead to a huge ask against England next week, the scrum-half added: "We've got a six-day turnaround now so we'll go away and look at the game. Ultimately we've got to go to Auckland, put on a big performance, finish strongly and give ourselves a chance of progressing."

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: "We had complete control of the game but one slip of concentration cost us. First, to lose the restart, then secondly a poor defensive lapse. We played well second half but you've got to finish sides off. One slip-up and it is seven points (to Argentina).

"Credit to them, they were under a lot of pressure but they have fighting spirit. You saw what it meant to them to win this. The (Scotland) dressing room is absolutely devastated. One lapse, 30 seconds of concentration, has cost them a Test match."

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