Hooker with eye for a try against Argentina insists Scotland have learned key lesson

The hooker bagged a double in the third Test in Santiago del Estero in 2022 and he repeated the feat in the match at Murrayfield last November.

But here's the rub. On both occasions Scotland were leading with Ashman on the field and it was only after he was replaced in the second half that Argentina came back to win.

So did the decision to substitute the Edinburgh man cost Scotland?

“I don't know anything about that, I don't think so,” said Ashman who acknowledged that the team struggled to cope last autumn as the game swung Argentina’s way. Scotland had led 21-0 but a try by Ashman’s opposite number Julian Montoya in the 56th minute sparked a remarkable comeback by the visitors who went on to win 33-24.

Dealing with the momentum shifts

Changing the hooker is commonplace in pro rugby, of course, and there is nothing to suggest Ashman's exit caused the collapse. He was replaced by George Turner in the 70th minute when Scotland were clinging to a 24-19 lead but two more converted tries by the Pumas took the game from their grasp.

“I think it's something that we have to learn from and we obviously don't want to repeat that so it's a massive learning,” said Ashman. “Those momentum shifts are a big part of the game and you see it, like even watching the European stuff and those club games recently, you can see huge momentum shifts and it's just the nature of rugby sometimes.

“But after that game we had some really good conversations internally, between the team and the leadership group and the coaches, and talked about how better to handle that. So, hopefully we've taken our learnings and we can do better this time."

Scotland certainly handled it better at Murrayfield during the Six Nations and the wins over England and France were right up there with some of the best performances they have produced under Gregor Townsend. Ashman attributes those two victories partly to the tough lessons meted out by the Pumas.

“We took a lot of positives out of that in terms of how to deal with that sort of situation,” he said. “And I think that showed in a couple of our Six Nations performances - dealing with the momentum swings - when you look at the France game and the England game. So, I think that ended up being a really good thing for us to learn from and it's made us a better team. It's something we're still working on, but it's definitely improved us as a group.”

Ashman made his first start for Scotland in the third Test decider on the 2022 summer tour of Argentina and is relishing his return to South America. He expects the atmosphere to be boisterous in Cordoba on Saturday, just as it was in Santiago del Estero four years ago. That turned out to be another close affair, with a last-gasp try by former Edinburgh winger Emiliano Boffelli clinching a 34-31 victory for the hosts.

Passion for rugby - and football

Just like last year, Ashman’s two tries were in vain but it was a formative experience for the player who has gone on to win 35 caps and will be Scotland’s frontline hooker in the forthcoming Nations Championship games which will see Townsend’s side head to South Africa from Argentina to take on the Springboks next weekend before returning to Murrayfield play Fiji in their final summer fixture.

“I love playing here,” said Ashman. “In that 2022 game, I remember in particular the final Test, the Third test, it was absolutely bouncing and there was almost like a football atmosphere. They're extremely passionate players, but the fans are as well. You can see where rugby's going in this country and you see that and feel it in the atmosphere. It's loud and it's a really enjoyable place to come.

“It’s a challenge for us and I'm excited to kind of walk into that, face that crowd as a team, tackle it head on.”

Argentina is currently immersed in World Cup fever and, as things stand, Lionel Messi and co are making a good fist of defending the trophy they won in Qatar four years ago. Some of the Scotland touring party watched their win over Jordan and Ashman thinks they will be hard to stop.

“Yeah, I've watched a little bit of the World Cup. I wouldn't say I'm a football man necessarily, but I've been keeping my eyes on the Scotland stuff.

“I could see Argentina doing it. Messi's still looking all right, so, yeah, I wouldn't count him out ever, and I wouldn't mind Argentina doing it. I think France might be up there as well. They'd probably be my bets.

“In Buenos Aires, it's everywhere, it's just relentless. Football plastered on everything. It's crazy to see how big it is. It's just like another level. So that was cool to just even experience that for those few hours that we were there, it's just massive all over the city, definitely a vibe there.”

The focus moves firmly back to rugby this weekend for the Scotland squad as they look to make a winning start in the inaugural Nations Championship. Ashman finished the campaign strongly with Edinburgh, picking up three consecutive player of the match awards as the capital club won three of their final four games. It was too late to make the play-offs and the hooker - signed a new three-year contract with Edinburgh - is motivated to ensure the team performs better next season.

But the next three weeks are now all about the national team and taking on three of the most physical teams in world rugby.

“I love playing for Scotland,” he said. “It's the most important thing in the world to me. I just hope I get the opportunity to do that again, and every time I get that chance I'll try to do my best.”