Wales hold their nerve
Wales went some way to erasing the memories of their record defeat to England by seeing off the brave challenge of Argentina.
By Tony Curtis
Last Updated: 18/08/07 5:42pm
Wales went some way to erasing the memories of their record defeat to England by seeing off the brave challenge of Argentina 27-20 at the Millennium Stadium.
Fielding his strongest side - with the possible exception of the absent Stephen Jones - Wales scored tries through Gareth Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones and Mark Jones, while James Hook added 12 points from the boot.
The Pumas, however, proved once again they are a side to underestimate at your peril - scoring twice through Ignacio Corleto and remaining a threat until the final whistle.
In fact, Argentina should have drawn the game - only for Martin Durand to drop the ball over the line in the final play.
The visitors had opened the scoring after just four minutes, with the classy Corleto intercepting Thomas' wayward pass and sprinting clear. Ferderico Todeschini converted.
However, Wales moved through the gears to score 24 unanswered points before the break.
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Thomas got the ball rolling as he atoned for his earlier error on seven minutes - the Wales captain on hand to finish off Hook's break.
Hook converted and was on target on 22 minutes after Wyn Jones had powered over three Argentinean defenders to score.
The home fans were on their feet just three minutes later when Mark Jones dabbed the ball down after a mistake from Federico Serra had seen Tom Shanklin hack the ball ahead three times.
Hook again converted and then, with the Pumas down to 14 men after Lucas Borgas had been sin-binned, he added a penalty.
Todeschini slotted over a penalty immediately after the break, only for Hook to reply three minutes later.
Perfection
The visitors refused to give up and they were rewarded for their efforts with Corleto's second - the winger timing his run to perfection to finish off a break by Borges.
Todeschini added the conversion and then a penalty to cut the deficit to seven points.
The Pumas steamed forward in a bid to secure a draw - however desperate defending kept them at bay.
However with Matthew Reed sinbinned, Argentina almost scored - with only for Durand to spill the ball as he dived over.
