Pumas celebrate Welsh anniversary in style

CARDIFF (AFP) –

Argentina’s wing Juan Imhoff scores a try during their Autumn International rugby union match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Argentina became the first team to beat Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales at home this year as they recorded a come from behind 26-12 win.

Argentina became the first team to beat Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales at home this year as they recorded a come from behind 26-12 win on Saturday at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Second-half tries by Juan Imhoff and Gonzalo Camacho proved the difference as the Pumas’ recorded only their second win in Wales — their previous victory being 11 years to the day of their latest exploit.

Following their involvement in the Rugby Championship there were fears in Wales that the South Americans could catch the Grand Slam champions cold.

And they took full advantage with a pair of scintillating tries from their wings to bring Wales crashing down to earth and end any hopes of them climbing to fourth in the world rankings which would have seen them be seeded top of a 2015 World Cup pool.

“This is a great win for us and coming as it does 11 years to the day since we last beat them in Wales,” said Argentina captain Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

“It is a hugely significant win and against the Six Nations Grand Slam winners an extra special one.”

Wales’ wing George North (R) hands off Argentina’s wing Gonzalo Camacho during their Autumn International rugby union match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Argentina became the first team to beat Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales at home this year as they recorded a come from behind 26-12 win.

Interim Wales head coach Rob Howley said Argentina had taken their game to new heights.

“They played the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia over a six-week period and they have certainly learned from that and we were exposed to it today and we very much came second,” former Wales scrum-half Howley said.

Wales were without several of their Grand Slam stars with Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Ryan Jones and Jonathan Davies all ruled out through injury.

Aaron Jarvis slotted into the front row to make his debut while Tavis Knoyle was preferred to Mike Phillips at scrum-half.

Jamie Roberts, who will leave Cardiff Blues at the end of the season, lined up at inside centre opposite Felipe Contepomi, who inspired the Pumas to victory in Cardiff in 2001.

The veteran play-maker sat out the recent Rugby Championship but was recalled for the autumn series and opened the scoring on three minutes after Ian Evans was penalised for a high tackle.

Wales quickly hit-back through Leigh Halfpenny, after Jarvis settled any early nerves with a penalty earned at the scrum, but Argentina regained their lead thanks to a Nicolas Sanchez drop-goal.

But Argentina were dealt a major blow on 13 minutes when they lost Contepomi to a knee ligament injury and moments later Halfpenny knocked over his second penalty.

Argentina’s Horacia Agulla (2nd L) drives with the ball during the Autumn International rugby union Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Argentina beat Wales 26-12 in their one-off Test.

The full-back turned from point scorer to saver after a clinical counter-attack from the Pumas.

After turning over possession the ball was spread wide to Imhoff. The wing raced down the left and threaded a kick through. But despite winning the race Gonzalo Tiesi lost the ball under the tackle of Halfpenny.

Wales lost their own inside centre midway through the opening half as Roberts suffered a heavy bang to the head but Halfpenny fired the hosts into the lead with his third successful shot at goal.

Sanchez struck the uprights within minutes of the restart and totally miscued a second attempt minutes later as he slipped over on the greasy Millennium Stadium turf.

And Halfpenny punished the Pumas for their inaccuracy as he maintained his 100 per cent strike rate with another penalty but Sanchez made some amends with a second opportunist drop-goal.

The Pumas continued their resurgence and sparked the game into life with the opening try. Juan Manuel Leguizamon created the opening with a superb offload to Fernandez Lobbe, who released Imhoff.

And the Racing Metro star showed some dazzling footwork to round Halfpenny and score.

Sanchez slotted the conversion and Argentina were quickly back on the scoreboard with a second try. Again an offload did the damage and Camacho took full advantage with a superb finish in the corner.

Sanchez expertly converted from the touchline to hand his side a 23-12 advantage and leave Wales starring down the barrel.

Sanchez continued to keep the scoreboard ticking and put the pumas 14 points and out of reach. Wales rallied at the death but the visitors weathered the storm to claim a major scalp.