Battle of Buenos Aires: Lanus and Defensa y Justicia line up for Copa Sudamerica final

January 22 – On Saturday, Argentine clubs Lanus and Defensa y Justicia will contest the 2020 Copa Sudamericana final behind closed doors in Cordoba, the first continental final in South America since the coronavirus pandemic. The final had originally been scheduled to be 

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Ireland Leads Argentina By Three Strokes At World Cup Of Golf

Jay Gilmore - AHN Sports Contributor Shenzhen, China (AHN) - Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell lifted Ireland to a three-stroke lead over Argentina in the World Cup of Golf. They shot a better-ball 58 against Tano Goya and Rafael Echenique. McDowell and McIlroy combined for 12 birdies. McIlroy scored an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. Goya and Echenique shot 11-under par 61. Japan is a shot behind Argentina and the United States team of Nick Watney is tied for 15th with a score of 67. Watney had four birdies. Ireland is playing for it's third World Cup. Source:allheadlinenews.com Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017114459?Ireland%20Leads%20Argentina%20By%20Three%20Strokes%20At%20World%20Cup%20Of%20Golf#ixzz0YScdMyHB

Ex-Chelsea and Argentina star Crespo wins first coaching title with Sudamericana triumph

Former Chelsea, Inter, Parma and Argentina star Hernan Crespo celebrated his first title as a coach on Saturday as he led Defensa y Justicia to victory in the Copa Sudamericana. The Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires outfit lined up against Lanus in the final in Cordoba in an all-Argentine decider.

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With the goal of honor

Second half, Barcelona tied 1 to 1 with Real Madrid in a rematch of the European Championship semifinals. Peter put the Catalans ahead, and Marcelo, after a move to Di Maria, tied the game. Although the Catalan team plays with the convenience of having overcome a 2-0 to arch-rivals in the first leg, Casillas, goalkeeper of the "Merengue", is the figure of the party. Real clearly failed, except in the play of the discount. Messi and Mascherano are entitled in the premises, while Higuain and Di Maria is starting in capital equipment.


Lionel Messi, author of two goals at the Bernabeu, will again be the focus of attention of world football, pending for 18 days than it was a historic series of four derbies. First, by the League (which is headed Barca in comfort to a new title), was 1-1 at the Bernabeu, Real took the second 1-0 with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo at the Mestalla (stage Valencia), to win the Copa del Rey, and the third, the visitors 2-0 at Barcelona in the Champions League.


Everything going for to advance to the final of the Champions League to be played at Wembley. Not only for the last 2-0, but because their training will another player basic structure, Andrés Iniesta, absent at the Bernabeu, and because in real lack vital suspension two defenders: Pepe, good work on Messi contention until he was expelled in the first leg, and Sergio Ramos.

Sport in Argentina

Profile Facts--The practice of sports in Argentina is varied due to the country's multicultural population and its mostly mild climate. However, football is by far the most popular sport in the country. Other sports played professionally and recreatively are athletics, auto racing, basketball, boxing, cycling, field hockey, fishing, golf, handball, mountaineering, padel tennis, polo, roller hockey, rowing, rugby union, sailing, skiing, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Much Argentine sport success is in team sports, but boxing, tennis, golf and, in the past, rowing, are exceptions to the rule. Though it is the national sport, pato is not very popular.

Argentina is one of the most important sport powers in the region, ending at the top of the medal count at the South American Games since 1978, exceptions being 2002 and 2010. At a continental level, Argentina holds fourth place in the all-time medal table of the Pan American Games, behind the United States, Canada and Cuba. Despite a relative lack of success at the Olympic level in more traditionals sports like athletics, swimming and gymnastics, Argentina has had successful participations in other popular sports like football, basketball, tennis, volleyball and boxing.

Football

Argentine national team captain Daniel Passarella lifts the trophy of the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Main article: Football in Argentina

Football (or soccer) is not only a sport, but part of the country's culture. The sport is played by children during breaks at school and by grown-ups in the plenty of both indoor and outdoor fields located throughout the country.

The Argentina national football team has won the World Cup twice (in 1978 and 1986), successive Olympic gold medals (in 2004 and 2008), fourteen Copa América, one Confederations Cup and six Youth World Championship's. Argentine clubs have won the Copa Libertadores (the top continental competition) a record 22 times, and have won the Intercontinental Cup/FIFA Club World Cup 9 times, a record shared with Brazilian clubs. The Argentine Primera División is the top level domestic competition. The country's most famed national football idol historically is Diego Maradona.

Argentina's fiercest rival is Brazil. The rivalry is sometimes known as the Battle of the South Americans. They have played each other numerous times in the Copa América and in the Confederations Cup, and the clubs of these countries have met several times in the Copa Libertadores finals. Argentina is one of the few national teams in football that have beat Brazil in a regural basis, although in the latest years Brazil has turned the situation in its favor. The youth teams have also met at various tournaments. At the 2008 Olympics, the under-23 teams met in the semifinal clash, with Argentina winning 3-0 in a hard-fought game.

Women's football is far behind in terms of popularity and professionalism. Nevertheless, the Argentina women's national football team has competed in the Sudamericano Femenino since 1995, finishing as runner-up three times before finally winning the competition in 2006, with a 5-0 victory over Brazil in the last match of the final group stage. The national team also played in the 2003 and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cups, but finished last in its group in both occasions.

Basketball

Former Pres. Nestor Kirchner (left) with Argentine national team player Emanuel Ginóbili, 2005.

Basketball is also a popular sport, mostly in the provinces of Argentina. The Basketball Clubs' Association organizes the Liga Nacional de Básquet, the top level of the country's league system. Although the Argentine national team won the first FIBA World Championship in 1950, the sport did not gain country-wide popularity until the 2000s, when the national team conquered the Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and had a good performance in the 2002 and 2006 World Championship finishing respectively in second and fourth position. Argentine NBA star Emanuel Ginóbili also won NBA rings in 2003, 2005 and 2007 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, the last one with compatriot Fabricio Oberto.

Though women's basketball is not professional in Argentina, the national team participates in most of the international competitions, reaching its highest point at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, when they finished in 9th place.

Rugby union

Ignacio Corleto on his way to score a try against France- Argentina at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

 Rugby union in Argentina

Rugby in Argentina is still largely amateur; however, there are many professional players. Nevertheless, Los Pumas (the national team) have become one of the most powerful rugby national teams, finishing third in the 2007 Rugby World Cup played in France; they rose as high as third in the IRB World Rankings immediately after their World Cup run, and are now eighth. Since November 2004, Argentina have picked up at least one win over all the participants in Europe's Six Nations Championship, drawn with the British and Irish Lions, and narrowly lost to the All Blacks (who had to survive a last-second assault on their try line). In particular, they have had an enviable record in recent years against France—going 7–2 since 2000, with the losses by a combined total of 7 points.

Most important Argentine players emigrate to Europe (mainly to England and France) where they play professionally. Probably the best known players are Hugo Porta (played during the 1970s and the 1980s); current Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi; his immediate predecessor as captain, Agustín Pichot; current star utility back Juan Martín Hernández; Marcelo Loffreda, a former Puma who coached the team during their 2007 World Cup run before leaving to take up the coaching post at English club power Leicester Tigers; and the current head coach, 1990s Pumas star Santiago Phelan.

There has always been discussion regarding the possibility of Argentina joining the Tri Nations alongside the main Southern Hemisphere powers of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, although this proposal and a similar one to join the Super 14 Southern Hemisphere professional league have both been consistently denied. More recently, Argentina has lobbied for inclusion in the Six Nations, which arguably makes more sense for the country, considering that most top Argentine players are based in Europe. In 2006, both Pichot and Loffreda publicly urged that Argentina be admitted to the Six Nations, with both on record as being willing to have the Pumas play their "home" fixtures in Europe (possibly in Spain or Portugal) to alleviate travel issues for all teams involved. However, while these discussions were ongoing, The Sunday Times of London reported in February 2007 that the sport's world governing body, the International Rugby Board, was brokering a deal with Tri Nations organiser SANZAR that could have seen Los Pumas admitted to that competition as early as 2008. However, this plan was not implemented; ultimately, after the Pumas' 2007 World Cup run, it was decided that the earliest that the team could enter a major international competition would be 2012, and that the Pumas would eventually join the Tri Nations. SANZAR has since extended a provisional invitation for Argentina to join an expanded Tri Nations in 2012.

Tennis

David Nalbandian and fans at the 2006 Australian Open.

 Tennis in Argentina

Tennis is quite popular among people of all ages, ever since the 1970s with Guillermo Vilas and later with Gabriela Sabatini in the 1980s both reached the number 2 position and winning several Grand Slams. Even though no Argentine player reached the first place at the ATP rankings, there are many Argentine players within the most important in the circuit. During the 2000s, a number of Argentine players were among the top 10 of the ranking. The highlights of that succes were an all-Argentine final in the 2004 French Open, the hit of David Nalbandian winning the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup to world number 1 Roger Federer. In that edition of the Tennis Masters Cup were gathering the top 8 players of the season there were 4 Argentine players, a record for any nationality in the history of the Masters Tournament. Most recently, Juan Martín del Potro has emerged as one of the leading players in the world, having won the 2009 US Open, beating Roger Federer, days before the Argentine turn 21 years old. Argentina won the World Team Cup four times, in 1980, 2002, 2007 and 2010 . The Argentine team also reached the semifinals of the Davis Cup 6 times in the last 9 years, losing in the finals of 2006 and 2008, to Russia in Moscow, and to Spain in Mar del Plata, Argentina, respectively. Increasing this defeats in the last stage of the competition is the loss in the final of 1981 against United States in Cincinnati.

Field hockey

Las Leonas

Las Leonas (Argentina's national women's team) is one of the usual contenders in all the premier tournaments in women's Field Hockey. They conquered the Women's World Hockey Cup in 2002 and 2010. In the Olympics they won a silver medal in 2000, as well as bronze in 2004 and 2008. Also Las Leonas won the annual Hockey Champions Trophy in four occasions, 2001, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In the other hand the men's team hasn't been able to win any major tournament except for the hockey tournaments at the 1971 and 2003 Pan American Games, although they won the 2005 and 2007 Champions Challenges, and are usually positioned among the top ten teams in the world participating in the World Cups and Champions Trophies.

Rink hockey

Rink hockey is mainly played in the Cuyo region (especially in San Juan Province). Argentine players have an international quality, with the men's national team has won 4 Rink Hockey World Championship titles. The woman national team also has won 3 World titles. Argentine Clubs such as Olimpia and UVT have also won international titles.

Boxing

for a list of Argentine boxers see Category:Argentine boxers

Luis Firpo throws Jack Dempsey out of the ring in 1923; this was the basis for artist George Wesley Bellows' famous portrait.

Pascual Pérez was Argentina's first world boxing champion. There Argentine boxing legends such as Carlos Monzón, Santos Laciar and Juan Martin Coggi held the world champion's title in their categories. Argentine boxers have, as of 2004, earned 24 olympic medals, including seven gold medals.

Argentine boxer Victor Galindez was the third Hispanic to win the world's Light-Heavyweight title (after Puerto Rico's José Torres and Venezuela's Vicente Rondon, WBA-recognized champion during the middle 1970s). Galindez died after he was run over by a car during an auto racing competition that he took part of.

In 1994, WBA world Middleweight champion Jorge Castro knocked out John David Jackson in the ninth round to retain his title in Monterrey, Mexico. Since Castro was on the brink of suffering a technical knockout loss when he won the fight, the punch with which he beat Jackson has become known as boxing's version of Diego Maradona's Hand of God goal.

Marcela Acuna is a world champion female boxer and arguably one of the most popular fighters of the 2000s in Argentina.

Other fighters, such as Oscar Bonavena, Juan Roldán and Luis Firpo, did not win world championships but were also popular among boxing fans during their years as professional fighters.

On the 17th April 2010, Sergio Martinez outpointed American Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City to become the lineal Middleweight champion of the world.

Volleyball

Volleyball has a professional male league. Argentina national volleyball team's best achievements are the bronze medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1982 FIVB Men's World Championship. Male team is usually ranked by the FIVB among the best 10 national teams in the world. The boys volleyball team are ranked number one in the world, and they won a silver medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.

Female volleyball is not played professionally. The national team is less important internationally than its male counterpart (FIVB's 17th place).

Auto racing

From rally to Formula One, auto racing is a sport followed by a number of fans in Argentina. Formula one legend Juan Manuel Fangio was five time world champion and has held the record of most victories for many years. Years after Fangio's career was over, Carlos Reutemann was the best known Argentine driver of the 1970s. Argentine competitions include the TC 2000 and Turismo Carretera road racing series as well as Rally Argentina of the World Rally Championship. Argentina has also hosted the 2009 and 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally along with Chile. And will do it again in 2011. Former events include the defunct Formula One Argentine Grand Prix and World Sportscar Championship's 1000 km Buenos Aires.

Golf

Among the best in South America, important Argentine golfers include Antonio Cerdá, José Cóceres, Roberto DeVicenzo, Eduardo Romero, Ángel Cabrera and Ricardo González. DeVicenzo and Cerdá won the 1953 Canada Cup. In history argentines golfers won three Majors, DeVicenzo the British Open in 1967, and Ángel Cabrera the U.S. Open in 2007 and the Augusta Masters in 2009.

Polo

The Argentine Olympic polo team, 1936.

Argentina's polo team won their first Olympic Gold Medal in 1924. Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., Gonzalo Pieres Jr. his brother Facundo, the Novillo Astrada brothers, the Heguy's, Tommy Iriarte are amongst the best polo players in the world. The three most important Polo tournaments in the world, The Argentine Open, The Hurlingham Open and the Tortugas Open are held in Argentina. In the history, Argentina was and nowadays is the leader of this international handicapped sport. However, less handicapped national teams have defeated Argentina. Argentina has been the uninterrupted world champion since 1949 and is today the source of most of the world's top ten players.

Cricket

Argentine cricket players, before their first wicket, 1949.

Cricket has been played in Argentina since 1806, with the international side making its first appearance in 1868 against Uruguay. The sport regained some popularity due to the national team's participation at the World Cricket League, and the Argentina national women's cricket team at the Women's version of the ICC Americas Championship. Though a minority sport here, Argentina is the strongest team in mainland South America currently playing in division 4 of world cricket league. There is a huge scope of development of the sport in this country, given that there are a large number of British descendants in Argentina.

Olympic Games

Argentina at the Olympics

Argentina was one of eight founding members of the International Olympic Committee and first participated in the Olympic Games in 1900 with one single athlete. Argentine olympic competitors have, from 1900 to 2004, garnered 60 medals (gold, 15; silver, 23; bronze, 22); from 1924 to 1952 its athletes had good showings, giving the Argentine delegations global ranks of between 16th and 19th. From 1956 to 2000, however, Argentina did not win any gold medals, a situation that was reversed in 2004 when it acquired two and further so, in 2008.

Sailing

Argentina has 8 olympic medals in this sport (4 silvers and 4 bronze), and Argentinian experience and level in this sport are high even between young children competing in optimist class boats.

(source:wikipedia)

Argentina beats Scotland 9-6

Image Source:telegraph.co.uk EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -Argentina brought Scotland back to earth with a familiar thump when the Pumas won their rugby test 9-6 on Saturday and extended their unbeaten run at Murrayfield to a decade. A week after watching Australia miss a last-minute conversion for a first win over the Wallabies in 27 years, Scotland's luck ran out when center Martin Rodriguez landed a winning drop goal two minutes from the end to cap the Pumas' second-half comeback. 

"We have the ability to win any game but also, as seen today, we have the ability to lose any game,'' Scotland coach Andy Robinson said. For Argentina there was relief after losing to England and Wales on tour. The victory was only the Pumas' second in five tests this year. "We lost against England playing well but with some mistakes. Then we didn't play well against Wales,'' coach Santiago Phelan said. "This game was very important for us. To get a good result is very important for the continuity of this team.'' Scotland deservedly led 6-0 at halftime but two penalties from flyhalf Phil Godman were scant reward for the home side's domination. 

Godmann kicked his first in the 14th minute and the other four minutes before halftime, and in between he missed two other penalty attempts as Argentina was frequently penalized at the breakdown by referee Alan Lewis. Two potential tries in 40 minutes of enterprise were also blown as Scotland appeared on the cusp of its first autumn sweep in seven years. Out of the interval, the Pumas came out a different side, willing to attack more, and Scotland errors suddenly multiplied. 

Thee Pumas hassled at the breakdowns, and Scotland's composure was rattled further when lock Nathan Hines was sent to the sinbin for a spear tackle on winger Federico Martin Aramburu. Rodriguez halved Argentina's deficit with a 50th-minute penalty, and nine minutes later his second penalty tied the score. In the 66th, the center, who has scored all of Argentina's points in its three autumn tests, could have put his side ahead for the first time but he sent a long-range penalty wide. But he made no mistake in the 78th with his drop goal from right in front of the posts. Against top-tier opposition in its last two tests, Scotland didn't score a try. "What concerns me is our ability to finish,'' Robinson said. "We need to keep the scoreboard ticking over and we didn't do that. We came up against a very brave Argentine defense - the swamped and suffocated us in the last 20 minutes.'' Source:cnn.com

Sexton kicks Ireland to win over South Africa; Argentina, New Zealand and Italy also win

LONDON — New Zealand overwhelmed France 39-12 to stay unbeaten on its European tour Saturday, while Jonathan Sexton kicked Ireland to a 15-10 win over South Africa and Australia rebounded from last week's shock loss to Scotland to crush Wales 33-12. 

Thee All Blacks scored five tries through Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Jerome Kaino, Cory Jane and Conrad Smith and kept the French scoreless in the second half. It was the fourth straight match that the All Blacks had not conceded a try after previous wins over Wales, Italy and England. In fact, New Zealand hasn't conceded a try in Europe since its World Cup quarter-final loss to France two years ago. Fly-half Daniel Carter added 14 points with two penalties and four conversions. 

Sextonn landed five of his seven kicks to justify his selection ahead of record scorer Ronan O'Gara and give Ireland a third straight win over the world champion Springboks, completing an unbeaten year for the Six Nations champion. Stung by its 9-8 defeat to the Scots, Australia scored three tries in the opening 25 minutes to set up its biggest win in Cardiff since 1991. There was less excitement at Murrayfield, where Martin Rodriguez struck a late drop goal to give Argentina a 9-6 victory over Scotland, while Italy beat Samoa 24-6 for its first victory in 14 matches. 

Althoughh the Irish struggled to get the try their pressure merited, Sexton succeeded with enough of his penalties for a win that was clinched when captain Brian O'Driscoll halted a late South Africa attack with a crunching tackle. South Africa did score the only try of the match through Schalk Burger but was lucky to keep 15 men on the field for the whole game as its discipline crumbled under pressure. South Africa heads home with only a win over Italy to show from four tests. Ireland dominated South Africa in the second half to overturn a 10-6 halftime deficit, taking about two thirds of possession and three quarters of the territory to force the World Cup holder into elementary errors. 

Lockk Andries Bekker was lucky to stay on the field when he dropped his knee and forearm on a grounded opponent, and Sexton struck the resulting penalty to put Ireland 12-10 in front. "We see it as a blessing that we have a world-class fly-half and an up-and-coming fly-half," Ireland coach Declan Kidney said. "We'll need both of them. "We finished the series with a win, which is good for confidence, and we're looking forward to coming back for the Six Nations." Digby Ioane, James Horwill and David Pocock touched down as Australia eased into an early 20-6 lead at Millennium Stadium. "Last week we played too conservative," Australia fly-half Matt Giteau said. 

"We thought we may as well go out there and throw the ball around. We had nothing to lose." Wales fly-half Stephen Jones kept his team in the game with two more penalties, but Giteau kept scoring at the other end and replacement Tatafu Polota-Nau rounded off a sweeping attack for Australia's fourth try late on. Giteau, who missed a last-minute conversion that would have beaten Scotland, won the man-of-the-match award with 13 points and some sparkling open play. He had already put the Wallabies ahead with the first of his three penalties when Ioane touched down in the eighth minute. Restored to the side at centre after recovering from a shoulder injury, Ioane got on the end of a kick from Giteau, who managed to get the ball away despite seeing a big tackle coming his way. Leigh Halfpenny kicked from halfway to trim the deficit to 8-3 but Horwill touched down in the corner after some slick passing in open play and Pocock stretched to place the ball over the line to make it 20-6. 

Australiaa withstood concerted pressure before moving play up to the other end. The ball was spread across field with two passes and Polota-Nau found the gap to go through and touch down. Scotland was on course for an unexpected sweep of November wins when it led 6-0 at halftime through two penalties from fly-half Phil Godman. But Argentina came back strongly and, after Rodriguez kicked two penalties to level the score, the centre dropped the winning goal in the 78th minute to clinch the Pumas' first test victory this month. 

Thee South Americans, who lost to England and Wales over the past two weekends, maintained its record of not having been defeated by Scotland at Murrayfield since 1990. It was Scotland's first loss under new coach Andy Robinson. Luke McLean touched down for Italy in the first half at Ascoli Piceno, and referee Christophe Berdos awarded a penalty try in the closing minutes after Samoa continued to infringe at scrums on its line. Mirco Bergamasco added eight points with two penalties and a conversion, while Craig Gower kicked a penalty and scrum-half Tito Tebaldi slotted a second-half drop goal. The result moves Italy above Samoa into 11th in the International Rugby Board rankings, with Samoa slipping to 12th. It was Italy's first win since they beat Argentina in Cordoba 17 months ago. Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g9ul1eQENOg1zOwx0O5THf8DVGVg

Argentina narrow gap on Irish at Golf World Cup

ARGENTINA trimmed Ireland's advantage at the Omega Mission Hills World to two shots after picking up an early gain at the start of today's testing second round foursomes. Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell combined brilliantly yesterday to card a superb 14 under par in the opening round fourballs to move into a three-shot lead. But with second round playing partners Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya combining to birdie the opening hole of the undulating Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Golf Club, the lead was trimmed to two. Japan slipped five shots off the pace with an early bogey with defending champions Sweden, Italy, China and Singapore improving to nine under to join Hiroyuki Fujita and Ryuji Imada in pursuit of Ireland. Canada remained at eight under with Wales, the United States and Venezuela posting early gains to move six shots off the pace. USA duo Nick Watney and John Merrick reached the turn in three under with Venezuela picking up three shots over their opening eight holes. England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher started with two early birdies but a bogey left the pair seven under following yesterday's disappointing 66 in fourballs. World number eight Sergio Garcia continued to struggle alongside Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano as the pair wiped out three early gains with three consecutive bogeys after the turn following yesterday's dismal three-under 69. Source:dailyrecord.co.uk

Ireland Leads Argentina By Three Strokes At World Cup Of Golf

Jay Gilmore - AHN Sports Contributor Shenzhen, China (AHN) - Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell lifted Ireland to a three-stroke lead over Argentina in the World Cup of Golf. They shot a better-ball 58 against Tano Goya and Rafael Echenique. McDowell and McIlroy combined for 12 birdies. McIlroy scored an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. Goya and Echenique shot 11-under par 61. Japan is a shot behind Argentina and the United States team of Nick Watney is tied for 15th with a score of 67. Watney had four birdies. Ireland is playing for it's third World Cup. Source:allheadlinenews.com

Shane Williams helps Wales to a convincing win over Argentina

Shane Williams races clear of Argentina's defence to score a try at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Photograph: David Jones/PA To kick, to run – perchance to dream: the options seemed to paralyse Wales to the point of inertia until all those old instincts came bubbling to the surface, the shackles were flickeringly loosened and the disgruntled congregation had a bit of rugby to talk about. 

Nott much, mind. This was some way short of a feast, more a curled sandwich. Perhaps it was the media pressure. Maybe it was internal doubt. But, every time a player, from either side, found himself in space it was as if a major public debate was going on inside his head. The danger, of course, in worrying about external pressure and the wishes of a nation hungry for a return to traditional values is that sometimes it is no bad thing to kick. 

Thee players looked confused, often, as to when that might be. The game is played at such pace and with such physicality that the time left for thinking is reduced to near zero. And that set the pattern for the scoring. All four tries, three of them Welsh, two of them by Shane Williams, only one in an awful first half, came from broken play so had drama invested in their execution. But it was altogether a messy affair, blighted by Welsh handling errors in the first half and illuminated only when both teams entered into a contract to abandon the boot in the second. The modern curse of kicking away possession to avoid potential punishment at the now brutal breakdowns is yet to be exorcised, though. It took only five minutes for the first kick from hand to send sighs of frustration around the stadium – and it was Williams, the prince of the running game, brought back from temporary exile, who chipped through, although it was a tactically apt choice, with the cover closing and no visible means of support to sustain his run. T

Thenfollowed a nine-kick rally – the rugby equivalent of clay-court tennis – that ended with Hook kicking dead as the boos oozed up from the crowd. When would this end, this trial of the masses? Stephen Jones, it was, who saw an opportunity more attractive than an ISA. He sensed Argentina napping after giving up one of many penalties, tapped and darted 35 metres at an angle to dive over in the corner. 

Blessed relief. Mr Clancy was being inordinately hard on the South Americans, though, missing Martyn Williams offside as well as a late hit off the ball on Gonzalo Tiesi. Rodrigo Roncero was having a nightmare, collapsing at the scrum twice then getting the worse of some finger-pointing handbaggery with Williams (M). But, to their credit, Argentina did not lose focus. Led by their towering leader, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, a stand-out man of the match, and sustained by the point-scoring expertise of Martin Rodriguez, they harried and crunched, closing corridors of certainty and then driving with purpose up the middle. Wales led 13-3 turning around and Shane Williams had had enough of the stalling. Luke Charteris charged down Agustin Figuerola's kick from the set piece, Williams picked up the scraps then, stepping off left and right feet, weaved his way past half a dozen bewildered tacklers to score one of his specials. 

Sometimess there is a price to pay for hasty invention, though. On the hour, a quick throw-in by Gareth Cooper to Shane Williams had the ball spinning across field, but the attacking line was unstructured and too deep, so Jonathan Davies, inevitably, kicked, Rodriguez charged it down, gathered, scored and converted to reduce the gap to a single score. Within moments, Welsh hearts were set beating hard again by, who else, shimmering Shane, who collected another loose ball, spotted unattended acreage that was too good to resist and ran it round under the posts, giving the faithful a little salute to cap it off. He was back, to the relief of himself, his coach Warren Gatland, Welsh fans and supporters of running rugby everywhere. "We tried to play some rugby," Gatland said. "Overall, it was a very pleasing performance. We're looking forward to Australia next week. I'm pretty happy. Nice to see Shane back on the scoresheet. Great to see him make a few breaks." You could say that. Source:guardian.co.uk

Wales bring back big guns for Argentina match

Warren Gatland has made six changes to the Wales team for Saturday's match against Argentina. Jonathan Davies, the 21-year-old Scarlets centre, replaces Tom Shanklin in the centre after the British and Irish Lions player was injured in the 17-13 win over Samoa on Friday. Jamie Roberts moves to outside centre to accommodate Davies, while there are recalls for a quartet of 2009 Lions with wing Shane Williams, fly half Stephen Jones, hooker Matthew Rees and flanker Martyn Williams all returning after being rested. 

Garethh Cooper is the surprise inclusion at scrum half, at the expense of Dwayne Peel. Cooper started against New Zealand earlier this month, but Peel was among Wales' best players during the 17-13 victory over Samoa. On the bench, there is an opportunity for Dan Lydiate, the uncapped Dragons flanker, while Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop - called into the squad as cover for Shanklin yesterday - is also a replacement. 

 "Jonathan came on at inside centre on Friday when Tom Shanklin was injured, and he acquitted himself well," Gatland said. "That's his natural position. He plays there for his region and is comfortable there. "Jamie is the more experienced player and more than capable of playing at 13, and we are looking forward to the continuation of the partnership from the second-half last weekend. With James Hook going so well at full back, it was important for us to continue his international development in that position." 

Andd as for Lydiate's call-up to the substitutes, Gatland said: "Dan has impressed in training. We have selected a small squad, and he is the only one who has not been involved so far, so we felt it was important for his development that he gets the opportunity to win his first cap and put what he has learnt into practice." Wales team to play Argentina. J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys); A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons); A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), D Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Peel (Sale Sharks), A Bishop (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues). Source:timesonline.co.uk/

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

GB call up for Herbert for Argentina Tests

HOCKEY ace Beckie Herbert has been named in the Great Britain squad for next month’s five test series against Argentina. The Leicester Hockey Club leading goal scorer will travel to Salta for the games on 12-18 December. GB head coach Danny Kerry said: ‘This is the earliest a GB squad has ever assembled for such a test series during an Olympic cycle and we look forward to developing a number of parts of our game playing against the world’s current number two side.’ Source:thisisjersey.com

Maradona hails Messi after Argentina defeat

MADRID — Argentina coach Diego Maradona hailed Lionel Messi's performance in the 2-1 defeat to European champion Spain on Saturday, saying the forward is slowly becoming the "leader" of the team. Messi struck a 61st-minute penalty in the visitor's improved second-half performance, only for Xabi Alonso's 86th-minute penalty to squash the comeback. Alonso also opened for the host. "It wasn't brilliant but the team responded well against the European champion," 

Maradona said. "It works for me, it works a lot for me because the team reacted very well." Messi was more involved in Argentina's play than in recent World Cup qualifiers, when the young Barcelona forward received criticism for failing to emulate his club play for country. But he didn't appear to stand out and was replaced by winger Diego Perotti in the 84th. "Leo played marvelously well today, little by little he's becoming the team's leader," Maradona said at Vicente Calderon Stadium. "It's what I want, what I hope for." Messi was one of the few bright spots during a first half when Argentina barely threatened Spain's goal "I leave here happy because in the first half they were much better than us but we resolved the problem," said Maradona, whose team was particularly troubled by Spain forward David Silva. 

"The second half was all ours. Our only problem was a lack of definition." Spain coach Vicente del Bosque called it a classic Argentina performance, filled with aggressive, combative play. "We expected a rough, tough match," the Spanish coach said. "That's no criticism of Argentina, it's praise because they're a super professional team." Maradona will travel to FIFA headquarters on Sunday for a special hearing convened after the 49-year-old World Cup winner's expletive-filled tirade against journalists following a victory at Uruguay last month. Maradona is facing up to a five-match ban and a heavy fine. "I'm going to go and declare and nothing more," Maradona said. Source:usatoday.com