Hadden: Future bright for Scots

A late rally failed to save the Scots as they slipped to a 19-13 defeat at the Stade de France.

"I'm very confident our young side will learn from this," he said. "Some of these youngsters have matured in a very short space of time. I believe that in the next two or three Six Nations, we'll be a serious threat and a side to be reckoned with."

Scotland were lacklustre in an error-strewn opening half, and could only manage a penalty apiece from Dan Parks and Chris Paterson as they went into the break 13-6 down.

It was only when Argentina had forged further ahead, thanks to another Contepomi penalty and a drop-goal by Juan Martin Hernandez, that Scotland showed an attacking edge.

They dispensed with their kicking game and it yielded a try by Chris Cusiter, which was converted by Paterson. However, they were unable to force their way through again as the Pumas held out.

Hadden defended Scotland's kicking gameplan even though the late change in tactics almost paid dividends, adding: "In the quarter-finals there hasn't been a massive amount of rugby played.

"That's because referees are allowing a much bigger contest for the ball at the breakdown and defences are coming up so fast in attack and applying enormous pressure.

"That makes it difficult to play a fluid game. Most of the games have been tight and tense affairs and nobody has been able to establish any rhythm.

"That was the tale of the match. Argentina's territorial advantage was the crucial factor."