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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Wales Coast to 33 - 16 Win Over Argentina

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Two Shane Williams tries and a fine all-round display by fly half Stephen Jones earned Wales a comfortable 33-16 victory over Argentina at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The diminutive Williams and classy Jones were both on hand to pounce on three opportunist tries between them as Wales were always in control of Santiago Phelan's spirited side. "Shane is like a fantastic Premiership striker. 

He is one of those guys who you always like having because if anyone is going to be on the end of something it is him," captain Ryan Jones told reporters. "Steve is a fantastic tactician, he knows the game inside out. He can control the game just as good as any world class 10 in the world," the number eight added. Wales, who dominated from the start, opened the scoring after nine minutes with a Jones penalty. Ten minutes later the fly half was on the board again, this time with a quick tap penalty which caught the Pumas napping as he stole over the try line and added the conversion. 

Forr all their possession Wales failed to stretch their first-half lead and the 13-3 halftime score could have been closer had Argentina centre Martin Rodriguez not slammed a penalty against the post before converting another just before the break. Thirty seconds after the restart Wales added a second try when Williams charged down a clearing kick before scything through the Pumas' defence to score between the posts, leaving Jones the easiest of conversions. Rodriguez hit back with two well-taken penalties to keep the visitors in touch at 20-9 before winger Leigh Halfpenny's thunderous halfway line penalty stretched the lead again. 

Argentinaa have struggled for tries on their travels but the impressive Rodriguez grabbed on after charging down a Jonathan Davies kick to score before adding the conversion to put them seven behind on the hour. However, any creeping fears for Wales coach Warren Gatland would have lasted just minutes as Williams seized on a loose ball in plenty of space to score his second try, which Jones duly converted. Argentina, who had given scrumhalf Agustin Figuerola his first start and handed lock Mariano Sambucetti a place following a four-year absence, faded badly towards fulltime and Halfpenny added another long range penalty to put the gloss on a 33-16 win. 

"There are a couple of things to tidy up in our performance going forward, we still feel there is another level in us and a level we are going to have to get to next week if we are going to beat Australia," Gatland told reporters. "It's an expectation that we want to compete with the best in the world and it's as much internal pressure as it is external." Gatland was also pleased to see Williams nearing his best after the highs of last season and his World Player of the Year award. "It has been tough for him, in terms of that World Player of the Year and the pressures he was under, he said, "He knows as well he hasn't played as well as he is capable of...and it's just pleasing to see him get his form back and a bit of confidence." Wales finish their November internationals against Australia, while Argentina, who lost to England last weekend, travel to Scotland. Source:nytimes.com

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