Edinburgh (AFP) - Darcy Graham scored a hat-trick of tries as Scotland thrashed Argentina 52-29 in a bad-tempered clash at Murrayfield littered with ill-discipline from the visitors.
Argentina were undone by Marcos Kremer's red card after just 21 minutes when 8-7 in front and three more yellow cards in the second half.
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie was also sent to the sin bin after a second-half brawl between the two sets of players.
By that point Scotland led 31-22 as Finn Russell's creativity opened up the Argentine defence for Duhan van der Merwe to put the hosts in front before Graham crossed twice either side of half-time.
Argentina were reduced to 12 men for just short of 10 minutes due to quickfire yellow cards for Matias Alemanno and Tomas Lavanini.
But remarkably it was Michael Cheika's side who struck with a three-man disadvantage when Emiliano Boffelli ran in a breakaway try under the posts.
Scotland regained their composure for Sione Tuipulotu to score his second try before Cameron Redpath, Stuart Hogg and Graham with his third of the afternoon rubbed salt into Argentine wounds.
Russell pulls the strings
Scotland fell just short of a historic first ever victory over New Zealand last weekend on Russell's return to the international fold after being controversially left out by Townsend for the start of the Autumn international series.
The Racing 92 fly-half was at his inspired best with the ball in hand to routinely slice Argentina open and pile the pressure on his coach to remain in the side come the Six Nations.
Boffelli opened the scoring with the only penalty of the match before Russell's first burst teed up Tuipulotu for a fine finish.
Kremer gave his side a mountain to climb and could have no complaints over a red card when he crashed into the head of Ritchie at a breakdown.
Scotland quickly took advantage through tries for Van der Merwe and Graham with Russell again the creator.
But the hosts were pegged back by the 14 men just before half-time when Alemanno barrelled over the line from close range.
Graham restored Scotland's two-score lead before 10 minutes of madness.
Alemanno was spared another red card for entering with less force than Kremer with a similar challenge before he was followed to the bin by Lavanini.
Scotland were too careless as they tried to use the open space and were picked off as Julian Montayo picked up a loose pass and freed Boffelli to score under the posts.
The 12 men were finally undone when Hogg found Tuipulotu in the corner.
Both sides could then have suffered more than a yellow card each in a scuffle involving almost every player still left on the field as Ritchie and Thomas Gallo were sent to the sin bin.
But Scotland were more clinical at 14 against 13 as Russell again created the openings for Redpath and Hogg to go over before Graham completed his hat-trick.
To their credit, Argentina fought for seven minutes after the 80 were up for a consolation try as Ignacio Ruiz went over after Tuipulotu was shown the fifth card of the game.
