Argentina play down Wales loss

ARGENTINA prop Rodrigo Roncero played down the importance of his side’s 27-20 defeat to Wales on Saturday.

The Pumas launched a late onslaught in Cardiff but were unable to grab a win which would have boosted morale ahead of the World Cup.

However, Roncero was not particularly despondent despite the setback.

He said: “In the first half, we made childish mistakes.

“To win was not the main thing but we were looking forward to giving a greater identity to the team.”

Felipe Contepomi, who played at centre despite an outstanding display against Ireland earlier this year at fly-half, was also unconcerned.

“We need more time playing together,” he said. “We shouldn’t be too desperate over this.”

Federico Serra believed a more measured approach could pay dividends.

He said: “I think we need more patience in some situations. In the second half we changed our plan and that’s a good thing.

“There are several things to correct. We made quite a lot of mistakes indefence during the first half,” said Serra.

“In these kind of Tests we cannot give away those types of errors.”

Argentina’s final warm-up game before the World Cup in France comes next Saturday when they meet a Belgium XV in Brussels.

One player who will hope to take part is centre Martin Gaitan, who suffered a “cardiac problem” after the Wales game.

He fainted in the dressing room and was rushed to hospital where it wasdiscovered one of his arteries was dilated.

Wales scorers: Tries: G. Thomas, Wyn-Jones, M. Jones. Cons: Hook 3. Pens: Hook 2.

Argentina scorers: Tries: Corleto 2. Cons: Todeschini 2. Pens: Todeschini 2.

WALES: Morgan, D. James, Shanklin, G. Thomas, M. Jones, Hook, Peel, Popham, Williams, J. Thomas, Wyn-Jones, Gough, A. Jones, Rees, D. Jones.

Replacements: Robinson for G. Thomas (66), Charvis for Williams (68), W. James for Gough (61), Jenkins for D. Jones (58).

ARGENTINA: Miras, Borges, Gaitan, F. Contepomi, Corleto, Todeschini, Pichot, Longo Elia, J. Fernandez Lobbe, Leguizamon, Albacete, C. Fernandez Lobbe, Scelzo, Ledesma, Roncero.

Replacements: Durand for Leguizamon (61), Kairelis for C. Fernandez Lobbe (61), Bonorino for Scelzo (61).

Referee: C White (RFU).