Argentina 20-35 Wales - 橄欖球

Saturday, 19 June, 2004, 19:08 GMT 20:08 UK
Argentina 20-35 Wales

Argentina (0) 20
Tries: Aramburu, Hasan, Borges
Cons: Senillosa
Pens: Senillosa
Wales (25) 35
Tries: Williams (3), Robinson
Cons: Henson (3)
Pens: Henson (3)

A dazzling first half hat-trick from Shane Williams saw Wales level the
Test series with Argentina.

They led 25-0 at the break, but had to survive a furious second-half
comeback from the Pumas in Buenos Aires.

Captain Colin Charvis was sin binned for the second week, the home side
profiting with tries from Omar Hasan, Federico Aramburu and Lucas Borges.

But Wales replaced their front row and the renewed energy led to a sealing
try from new fly-half Nicky Robinson.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock's midweek chat with referee Donal Courtney about
Argentina infringements at the breakdown appeared to pay early dividends
as a string of penalties went against the home side, Gavin Henson landing
a shot at goal after seven minutes.

A strong charge from Charvis then presented good ball for Tom Shanklin to
break the line in midfield.

He was supported by Sonny Parker, whose floated pass sent Williams in at
the corner for his first score.

The Ospreys winger doubled his tally with a thrilling score five minutes
later, side-stepping through the Argentinian props in midfield before
turning full-back Senillosa inside and out to cross under the posts.

Argentina's powerful scrum helped them rally, but Wales' defence held
firm and after 29 minutes the Pumas were reduced to 14 men when lock
Ignacio Lobbe was sin binned for coming in at the side of a ruck.

With half-time approaching, good driving play from the back row set
Dwayne Peel on a run down the left.

He exchanged passes with Robinson before feeding Williams who completed
a memorable hat-trick.

To compound the Pumas' first-half misery, fly-half Felipe Contepomi was
stretchered off in injury time with a worrying neck injury.

Argentina exploded into the second half with renewed energy, their forwards -
led by replacement hooker Mario Ledesma - tearing into Wales' suspect defence.

Charvis was sin binned for killing the ball for the second successive week,
his departure increasing the Pumas' momentum as Senillosa kicked their
first points of the game.

More powerful driving from the Pumas then created spaces in midfield,
and replacement Aramburu cruised through the gap for a try under the posts.

Their next try came from a lost Welsh line-out deep in the Argentina half.

A flowing move from the Pumas backs down the right landed them on the
Welsh line and from the resultant ruck prop Omar Hasan burrowed over to
reduce the gap to 10 points.

To address their creaking set piece Wales replaced their entire front row,
and were rewarded with a much-needed Henson penalty after a period of
pressure.

That settled Wales' nerves, and centres Shanklin and Parker sparked an
attack from deep in their own half.

The ball came to Williams who delayed his pass to Robinson superbly, giving
the fly-half the chance to use his pace to cross in the corner.

Williams' day was somewhat spoilt in the closing moments when he was sin
binned for killing the ball as Argentina went for a consolation try.

Wales held out a series of close-range scrums, but winger Borges claimed
a disputed try in the corner with the last move of the game.

Ruddock's side now travel to South Africa for the final game of their
summer tour against the Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday, with Argentina
playing New Zealand away on the same day.

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Argentina: H Senillosa; J Piossek, J Orengo, M Contepomi, L Borges;
F Contepomi, N Miranda; R Roncero, F Mendez, O Hasan, I Lobbe, P Albacete,
M Durand, L Ostiglia, G Longo (capt).
Replacements: M Ledesma, E Guinazu, P Bouza, M Shusterman, M Albina,
J Miranda, F Aramburu.

Wales: G Henson; H Luscombe, S Parker, T Shanklin, S Williams; N Robinson,
D Peel; Duncan Jones, H Bennett, Adam Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, Dafydd
Jones, C Charvis (capt), M Owen.
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, D Morris, J Thomas, M Phillips, C Sweeney,
B Davies.

Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland).

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