Argentina v Wales: New Wales outhalf Nicky Robinson is hoping to continue where he left off against Argentina when the tourists bid to level the series in Buenos Aires today. He entered the fray when Wales were trailing 38-9 in Tucuman last weekend, taking over from out-of-form Ceri Sweeney, and was credited with sparking his side's five-try revival, which saw them cut the margin to 50-44 at the final whistle.
However, despite the verdict of the public and his team-mates, the 22-year-old Cardiff Blues player feared he had followed Sweeney's example of committing too many errors to retain hopes of starting a major tour Test. Robinson said, "When I came on both sides were tired and that worked to my advantage. The game opened up for us, Argentina took their foot off the pedal and we seemed to get a bit more ball, which was key."
Robinson hopes to repay coach Mike Ruddock's faith and help Wales level the series before flying on to South Africa, where they face the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday. He said: "We'd be bitterly disappointed to concede another 50 points and another six tries against Argentina."
Everyone in the Wales camp finds it hard to take that having matched the Pumas' pack power, their recently established reputation for good defence came spectacularly undone. But for Robinson there is also irony in taking over the Wales number 10 jersey having regularly played second fiddle in that role at Cardiff to recent rugby league returnee Iestyn Harris.
Robinson made his first mark at international level in Wales's World Cup warm-up games against Romania and Ireland last summer, playing at outhalf and full back respectively. But he regards starting against Argentina in the number 10 jersey as of far greater significance.
He said, "I'm not taking anything away from those caps - it's great to get a cap at any time. But this is a big moment in my career, although I don't want to turn it into too big a moment. It's another game but personally I feel this is the real one where I've worked hard and earned my place in the team and don't want to let it slip by."
ARGENTINA: H Senillosa; J Nunez Piossek, J Orengo, M Contepomi, L Borges; F Contepomi, N Fernandez Miranda; R Roncero, F Mendez, O Hassan, I Fernandez Lobbe, P Albacete, M Durand, L Ostiglia, G Longo (captain). Replacements: M Ledesma, E Guinazu, P Bouza, M Schusterman, M Albina, J de la Cruz Fernandez Miranda, F Martin Aramburu.
WALES: G Henson; H Luscombe, S Parker, T Shanklin, S Williams; N Robinson, D Peel; D Jones, H Bennett, A Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, D Jones, C Charvis (captain), M Owen.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
