Wales hang on for moral boosting win

Wales 27-20 Argentina:  Wales bounced back from an England thrashing at Twickenham to beat Argentina 27-20 in a World Cup warm-up match today.

The Welsh, hammered 62-5 a fortnight ago in their first World Cup warm-up and playing in a half-full Millennium Stadium, scored first half tries through captain Gareth Thomas, lock Alun-Wyn Jones and wing Mark Jones. Flyhalf James Hook scored 12 points with his boot.
   
The Pumas, in their first and only serious tournament warm-up game, opened the scoring with the first of two tries by left wing Ignacio Corleto. Flyhalf Federrico Todeschini kicked 10 points.
   
Argentina crushed neighbours Chile 70-14 last week but today were guilty of some uncharacteristic fumbling in the first half, which allowed Wales to pounce on the break.
   
The Pumas were more compact in the second half and Corleto's second try and a late penalty from Todeschini put Argentina within a converted try of snatching a draw.
   
Wales, however, withstood their final push on their line and Pumas replacement flanker Martin Durand was judged to have dropped the ball as he went over in a melee before the final whistle.
   
Argentina went in front quickly when Corleto intercepted  Tom Shanklin's pass to fellow centre Thomas and ran half the length of the field.
   
Wales pulled level within five minutes when Hook sold his marker a dummy and passed to Thomas who ran through to touch down under the posts.
   
Hook, who had hit the post with an earlier penalty attempt, converted.
   
Close to the half hour Wales pulled away with two quick tries, with lock Alun-Wyn Jones first going over from close in after a concerted series of attacks.
   
Then left wing Mark Jones touched down after a chase between Shanklin and Corleto following fullback Federico Serra's slip and loss on the ball when the Pumas were on the attack.
   
Argentina's right wing Lucas Borges was sin-binned just past the half hour for upending Wales fullback Kevin Morgan and a Hook penalty while Argentina were a man short made the score 24-7 at the interval.
   
Wales hooker Matthew Rees was sin-binned two minutes from time for deliberate offside during the home side's last-ditch defence of their lead.