Should Scotland consider keeping their star player Finn Russell on the substitutes' bench for the upcoming trip to South Africa?

That is the view put forward by former international Peter Wright after Gregor Townsend's team secured a dramatic Nations Championship victory on the road against Argentina in the absence of their influential number ten.

Russell was sidelined with a calf issue, allowing Tom Jordan to start at fly-half in Cordoba where he delivered a strong showing, matched by the impact made by his substitute Fergus Burke.

Each player landed three conversions during the 47-38 success and both orchestrated play well in a mostly composed performance that was affected by a pair of late replies from the home side.

"Tom Jordan performed with real composure," former Scotland captain Lisa Martin told BBC Radio Scotland. "It proved a very assured display.

"Then Fergus Burke enters and identifies openings while using his speed to exploit the flanks.

"It proved encouraging to witness an alternative approach available.

"There appeared greater organisation and fewer moments of Finn-style improvisation. It helps that reliance on a single individual in that pivotal role can be reduced."

Naturally the 33-year-old Russell continues as a vital creator for Scotland after amassing 505 points across 94 caps and regularly confounding rivals through spontaneous brilliance.

"If available he will feature," former prop Wright remarked regarding Russell ahead of the stern test posed by the Springboks on their home ground.

"I would select Jordan initially and introduce him around the half-hour mark once opponents tire. That could prove an unexpected twist.

"During the World Cup South Africa targeted Finn and prevented him from influencing proceedings and we lacked an alternative solution."

In the 2023 meeting in Marseille Scotland led 6-3 at the interval thanks to a Russell penalty yet two swift tries swung the contest away from Townsend's men who faced intense pressure and failed to add further points.

Russell accounted for all of Scotland's points in the 32-15 defeat to South Africa at Murrayfield last November as the visitors pulled clear during the closing stages.

The world champions produced a dominant display by scoring seven tries against England on Saturday yet Scotland can draw encouragement from matching that total in Argentina.

Seven different players registered tries including Sione Tuipulotu, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Hutchinson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, debutant Gregor Hiddleston and Kyle Rowe.

After a positive Six Nations campaign that included wins over England and France Townsend praised his squad for showing development since the November reverse to the Pumas in Edinburgh when a 21-0 advantage slipped away.

"Reflecting on events we appreciate that setback," Townsend noted.

"In the following week it felt we developed into a stronger unit we held frank discussions and then throughout the Six Nations we handled momentum changes more effectively.

"Occasionally the greatest progress stems from difficulty and I have observed that within the group. This outing represented further advancement by travelling to Argentina who were producing strong rugby and securing away wins yet I recognise there remains considerable scope for improvement.

"I felt immense pride in several individual contributions as well as the collective effort.

"Argentina controlled possession during the opening ten minutes. Later in the second half they mounted a strong response. We managed to reverse both situations and assert our style effectively to secure the points."

Wright who collected 21 caps from 1992 to 1996 concurred stating: "For thirty minutes of each half they executed the correct actions at the appropriate moments. They understood how to regain momentum.

"They made sound choices while maintaining an attacking style that forms part of this team's identity.

"When devising a defensive plan against Scotland it proves challenging since they can score in numerous ways through multiple phases pick-and-goes or mauls."

Martin echoed this point noting: "Although lapses occurred in both halves they did not escalate. Scotland could regroup and reapply pressure on Argentina.

"This marks a valuable lesson from earlier matches. Gregor Townsend ought to feel satisfied.

"That factor will prove crucial versus South Africa since we anticipate periods when events deviate from the script."