Saturday, 16 November 2013

Wales 40 Argentina 6 - international rugby union match report


By

Andrew Baldock, Press Association




PUBLISHED:


16:45, 16 November 2013




|

UPDATED:


17:59, 16 November 2013



Wales romped to a record victory over Argentina as they claimed their first autumn Test victory against any opponent since beating the Pumas in Cardiff four years ago.


Quality tries during the opening 25 minutes by scrum-half Mike Phillips and wing George North confirmed Wales’ attacking ambition and intent that underpinned their performance.


Number eight Toby Faletau added a touchdown midway through the second period before substitute hooker Ken Owens’ score completed a miserable afternoon for an outclassed Pumas team as they crashed to a 40-6 loss.


Man mountain: Wales winger George North leaves the Argentinians in his wake for the second first half try


Man mountain: Wales winger George North leaves the Argentinians in his wake for the second first half try


On target: Leigh Halfpenny was on song yet again with the boot kicking eight of his nine shots at goal


On target: Leigh Halfpenny was on song yet again with the boot kicking eight of his nine shots at goal


Full-back Leigh Halfpenny followed up his 100 per cent goalkicking performance against South Africa last start with another impressive return – he booted 20 points from all four conversions and four penalties – as Wales comfortably passed their previous biggest scoreline against Argentina of 33-16.


The Pumas could only muster two Nicolas Sanchez penalties in reply, and they looked a tired, often disorganised outfit on route to an eighth successive defeat this year.


Wales now move on to tackle Tonga next Friday night before hosting Australia eight days after that, with victory over the Wallabies now the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions’ primary November target.


Quick start: Wales crossed for two tries in the first 25 minutes, starting with Mike Phillips


Quick start: Wales crossed for two tries in the first 25 minutes, starting with Mike Phillips


Wales coach Warren Gatland handed a debut to Cardiff Blues 20-year-old Cory Allen, but the centre would rather forget his debut after suffering what Gatland said was a suspected dislocated shoulder.


Allen was was one of four changes following last weekend’s loss to South Africa, with fly-half Dan Biggar, prop Rhodri Jones and flanker Justin Tipuric also called up.


Argentina, defeated 31-12 by England seven days ago, also showed four switches, while wing Horacio Agulla won his 50th cap as they looked to avoid an eighth successive loss this year.


Prop Gethin Jenkins led Wales out to a rapturous reception on the occasion of his 100th cap, and the home side made a strong start, monopolising possession and going through several phases of play before Halfpenny kicked an angled penalty.


Battered: Welsh centre Scott Williams takes the ball up at Millennium Stadium in his side


Battered: Welsh centre Scott Williams takes the ball up at Millennium Stadium in his side’s record win


Argentina could offer little in response, and Wales extended their lead after eight minutes when a crunching tackle by hooker Richard Hibbard – Wales’ best player last weekend – on Sanchez set up a breakaway score for Phillips.


The Wales scrum-half sprinted 70 metres to Argentina’s line, and Halfpenny’s conversion made it 10-0 before Tipuric was sin-binned by referee John Lacey on his assistant Steve Walsh’s recommendation for tackling a Pumas player off the ball.


Sanchez’s resulting penalty hit the post, but Wales will have been satisfied with their opening despite the yellow for Tipuric, and a second Halfpenny penalty took the home team 13 points clear.


Warrior: Wales flanker Sam Warburton is slowed by Pumas


Warrior: Wales flanker Sam Warburton is slowed by Pumas’ big men in their dominant win in Cardiff


Argentina occasionally threatened Wales’ 22, but the home team displayed a clinical edge and desire in attack that was underlined through their second try after 24 minutes.


The source was quality lineout ball, before Phillips delivered a deft inside pass that North gathered on a defence-splitting angle before touching down between the posts.


Halfpenny added the conversion, and Wales were almost out of sight at 20 points clear to suggest a record win against Argentina was very much on the cards.


Man of the match: Toby Faletau was a constant threat and scored a second half try to cap off his performance


Man of the match: Toby Faletau was a constant threat and scored a second half try to cap off his performance


Aerial: Faletau finishes in style to give the Red Dragons a commanding lead over Argentina


Aerial: Faletau finishes in style to give the Red Dragons a commanding lead over Argentina


Sanchez opened the Pumas’ account with a penalty 11 minutes before half-time, but they faced a long uphill battle to get themselves back into the contest as Halfpenny’s third successful penalty restored a 20-point lead for Wales.


Wales showed no sign of letting up in terms of their attacking intent, and centre Scott Williams sparked a brilliant attack from deep inside his own 22 that almost resulted in a try for North.


The Northampton wing required treatment after he was tackled, but he quickly dusted himself down as Halfpenny’s fourth successful penalty extended Wales’ lead to 26-3.


Miss chance: Nicolas Sanchez tried for a field goal but scored the Pumas only points from penalties


Miss chance: Nicolas Sanchez tried for a field goal but scored the Pumas only points from penalties


A second Sanchez penalty doubled Argentina’s tally, before Halfpenny missed his first kick of the autumn – it was his 12th attempt across two games – approaching the final quarter.


But Wales then cut open Argentina’s defence, with Halfpenny making initial headway before finding wing Liam Williams in support, and his scoring pass was taken by Faletau.


Halfpenny converted for a 33-6 advantage, with Argentina pretty much out on their feet and facing a painful damage-limitation exercise during the closing 20 minutes.


There was time, though, for one more try as Owens capitalised on outstanding driving work by his fellow forwards, with the ultra-reliable Halfpenny once again converting.









Comments (15)


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nastynick,


sunny perth, Australia,


39 minutes ago


blimey, the boyos beat a southern hemisphere side!!!!!!!





red dragon,


london,


1 hour ago


Sorry frothy got the wrong end of the stick.





Feral Pigeon,


North of England, United Kingdom,


5 hours ago


Well played Wales!





Northumbrian,


Northumberland, United Kingdom,


7 hours ago


I see that the Big Heads won ,,


2 of 4 repliesSee all replies





dicey,


cardiff,


3 hours ago


No, they lost to NZ.





dicey,


cardiff,


3 hours ago


No mun, they lost to NZ.





mattprice1707,


S.Wales, United Kingdom,


8 hours ago


What? Steve walsh as the touch ref pulls play back and recommends a wales player get sin binned? But according to so many english people on here after the wales england six nations game, steve walsh is wales’ biggest fan and won’t give a thing against them.





Northumbrian,


Northumberland, United Kingdom,


7 hours ago


He was just trying to make up for what he did last year,,,,,





mattprice1707,


S.Wales, United Kingdom,


3 hours ago


Northumbrian, march 2013 and november 2013 are in the same year.





Darran Clements,


Retford, United Kingdom,


8 hours ago


Some great work by Wales. They aren’t the same team they used to be, much more consistent these days. Third body bruising game on friday and then to something different against the Wallabies. Watching them against the Irish, they are going to have to be faster and just as clinical as they were against Argentina to stand a chance. Maybe if they remeber they were the backbone of the lions they can carry on where they left off in the summer.





Frothy,


London, United Kingdom,


8 hours ago


Great result for Wales. They need to carry this form through Tonga and into the Australia match and finally shake the curse against a big SH team. Shame it couldn’t have been the All Blacks though, as the Aussies are a little soft.





red dragon,


london,


6 hours ago


Is this a back handed compliment?





Frothy,


London, United Kingdom,


4 hours ago


Not at all. It’d just be good to see how Wales stack up against New Zealand if they can bring their best game. On paper, Wales have to be favourites against Australia in Cardiff, whereas New Zealand are underdogs to no-one. Could have been a great game.



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Wales 40 Argentina 6 - international rugby union match report
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