A MUCH-IMPROVED Scotland side, featuring the returning Rory Darge, picked up victory in Argentina.

Scotland had lost the opening match of the three-game series 26-18 but bounced back to win 29-6 on Saturday evening.

Darge, of Glasgow Warriors, stepped off the bench in the opening game as he returned from injury.

However, he was back in the starting XV for the match at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.

A close-to-capacity attendance of 20,000 and a temperature of 29C made for a pulsating atmosphere as Hamish Watson picked up his 50th cap.

Scotland led 8-6 at the break but soon extended their advantage, with Darge, of Aberlady, involved.

He powered forward and the ball was eventually worked to Mark Bennett, who scored to put daylight between the two countries.

Darge was also in impressive form at the other end as he stopped the Pumas from getting back into the game.

He told Scottish Rugby: “A word we talk about a lot as a squad is ‘hustle’.

“I have a feeling if we look back at that game we will see a lot of it.

“We had so many efforts on that goal line and we just did not let them get that try, so we are delighted with that aspect of the game.

“We know there is a lot more still to come from us and next week is massive now.

“We want to win the next game, we want to win the series, so we will enjoy tonight and then all focus on next week.”

The two countries finish their three-game series tomorrow (Saturday).

Scotland were much improved from the first showing and will be hoping to wrap up the series with victory. The final game kicks off at the Estadio Unico Madre De Ciudades at 8.10pm.

The 22-year-old said: “Very hard work. The first half was a tight game, I can’t even remember I think there was a two-point swing in it going into half-time.

“We came out in the second half really well.

“There were a lot of questions after last week and it was a good response.”