Wales coast to win over Argentina

Two Shane Williams tries and a fine all-round display by Stephen Jones earned Wales a comfortable 33-16 victory over Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales, who dominated from the start, opened the scoring on nine minutes with a Jones penalty.

Ten minutes later the flyhalf 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.

For 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 the lively Shane 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 his side's lead again.

Argentina had scored just one try in their last six matches on tour, but the impressive Rodriguez ended the drought after charging down a Jonathan Davies kick to score before adding the conversion to put them seven behind Wales 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.

Wales finish the November internationals against Australia, while Argentina, who lost to England last weekend, travel to Scotland.

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

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