Western Mail

Pumas Spell Danger ; so Just How Big a Danger Are Argentina to Wales On Saturday? Andy Howell Went to See the Pumas Play England at Twickenham to Find Out

ANY Welsh rugby supporters expecting Warren Gatland's team to stroll to a victory over Argentina in Cardiff next Saturday need to reassess their opinion. For the Pumas, despite being without injured world stars Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi, were unlucky to leave Twickenham without at least a draw.

Johnson Looking for Improvement

MARTIN JOHNSON warned England will be in "big trouble" if they fail to improve before New Zealand arrive at Twickenham for the final Investec Challenge clash of the autumn next Saturday. Despite England beating Argentina 16-9 there was precious little for the 78,000 crowd to cheer - in fact they booed and jeered - and the only crumb of comfort for a frustrated Johnson was the result.

Eagles Given a Scare by Uruguay

Uruguay USA 22 27 USA EAGLES head coach Eddie O'Sullivan is hoping his side are not left to rue a late Uruguay points rally in the first leg of the Rugby World Cup 2011 play-off. The Eagles left Montevideo with a 27-22 victory which leaves them 80 minutes from securing the Americas 2 qualifying spot for New Zealand 2011 and maintaining their ever-present record in the championship.

Biggar Wants Chance to Atone for Samoan Blunder

DAN BIGGAR insists that the interception clanger that let Samoa back into the match against on Wales on Friday night can help him become a better player. The 20-year-old Ospreys star saw a pass aimed at Tom James snaffled by centre Seilala Mapusua who galloped 70 metres to score a try that set up a frantic finish.

All Blacks Made to Work Hard for Their Victory Over Azzurri

Italy New Zealand 6 20 NEW ZEALAND overcame a stern test from Italy to claim a third successive win on their end of season tour in front of a sell-out crowd at the San Siro in Milan. After the Bledisloe Cup clash win over Australia in Tokyo and defeat of Wales in Cardiff, Luke McAlister slotted five penalties and Corey Flynn scored a first-half try as the All Blacks extended their 100 per cent run against Italy with an 11th win. The Azzurri replied with two Craig Gower penalties, but despite ...

Warburton Is Keen to Put Errors Right

SAM WARBURTON wants to use Argentina to take out the frustration of the "daft decisions" he says plagued his home Wales debut against Samoa on Friday night. The Blues youngster was given the chance to show he can be the heir to the incomparable Martyn Williams at flanker and much of what he produced would have impressed coach Warren Gatland.

Gatland Left with a Pack of Trouble As He Ponders His Options ; After Stuttering Against Samoa, How Will Warren Gatland Play It When He Announces His Side to Face Argentina Tomorrow? Simon Thomas Analyses the Coach's Options

WHEN it comes to considering the Welsh team to face Argentina, the first thing to ask is what will Warren Gatland be looking to get out of the game? Clearly the No 1 priority will be a victory, with Gatland having set a target of winning the three remaining autumn internationals following the defeat to New Zealand. Having scraped through against Samoa on Friday night, Wales - just about - remain on course to achieve that goal and will be looking to maintain the winning momentum in more convin...

O'driscoll Caps His Century with Dramatic Late Try

Ireland Australia 20 20 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL celebrated his 100th Test appearance by scoring a dramatic late try to salvage a draw for Ireland at Croke Park. The Irish pounded away at Australia's line in a nail-biting climax to a thrilling contest and were rewarded by O'Driscoll's try with a minute to go.

Low On a High After Helping Scots Beat Fiji

Scotland Fiji 23 10 MORAY LOW is prepared to spend all his free time this week replying to congratulatory text messages after marking his first start for Scotland with a man-of-the-match display against Fiji. Glasgow tighthead Low was one of a handful of stand-out performers in Saturday's opening autumn international at Murrayfield.

Trying Times for Harries As He Is Denied by Referee

Leicester Dragons 29 20 WING Will Harries was sure he had scored a second-half try which would have given the Dragons a deserved Anglo-Welsh LV Cup bonus point at Welford Road, Leicester, writes Gary Baker. Harries bamboozled Leicester's new superstar signing Lote Tuqiri to an extent that the Australian legend didn't know which way to turn when outside-half Shaun Connor nudged an accurate kick to the right-hand corner of Leicester's try area.

Collins' Efforts to Lead by Example Prove All in Vain

21 11 Bath Ospreys Try: J Tipuric Pens: B Davies, G Owen Tries: L Watson, D Browne Con: R Davis Pens: R Davis (3) J Cuthbert, J Maddock, T Cheeseman, B Williams, M Stephenson, R Davies, M Baxter; N Catt (D Flatman 64), R Hawkins (L Mears 29), A Jarvis (M Lilley 64), S Hobson, P Short (capt, D Browne 40), A Beattie (L Watson 40), G Mercer, B Skirving B Davies (H Dirksen 75), N Thomas, S Parker, A Bishop, A Beck, G Owen (M Jarvis 56), L Davies- R Wells 72); R Bevington (C Griffiths 75), E Sherv...

Scarlets Enjoy an Impressive First Birthday Party at New Home

Scarlets Worcester Warriors 32 17 AS birthday celebrations go, a comprehensive Anglo-Welsh victory wasn't to be sniffed at by anyone at the Scarlets on Saturday. With their impressive Parc-y-Scarlets ground a year old, Nigel Davies' side marked the occasion in stylish fashion, with a victory against Mike Ruddock's Worcester that prompted talk of winning silverware in the aftermath.

Errors Let Us Down - Young

BLUES boss Dai Young was left bemoaning his team's lack of creativity following their Anglo-Welsh LV Cup defeat at home to London Irish. "Our approach work was quite good on occasions but once we got around their 22 individual errors let us down and that's a disappointing factor," said Young, "It's a similar problem to what we've had in a lot of the games we played this season.

Blues Find Themselves On the Wrong End of Aerial Pin-Pong Shocker

11 12 Blues London Irish Pens: P Hewat (2), T Homer, R Lamb Try: R Rees Pens: C Sweeney (2) S Norton-Knight; R Mustoe, G Thomas, D Hewitt, C Czekaj; C Sweeney, R Rees; T Filise, G Williams (R Thomas 45), G Powell (S Hobbs 71), D Jones (J Down 60), S Morgan, B White, X Rush (capt), J Navidi. T Homer (M Watson h-t); P Hewat, J Joseph (R Lamb 66), C Gower, J Rudd; C Malone (M Catt 58), P Richards (capt); C Dermody (D Murphy 48), D Paice (J Buckland 58), A Corbisiero, G Johnson (J Fisher 33), A P...

Resilient Steelmen Stun Woeful All Whites

Ebbw Vale Swansea 14 7 WHEN Swansea found out minutes before kick- off that Pontypridd-Neath had been called off they knew this was a golden opportunity to take top spot in the Premiership. But they blew it - big time, writes Richard Thomas. And in the end they looked far from potential Premiership leaders - outplayed and out-thought by an Ebbw side with just one win to their name in their previous 11 matches.

Newport's Pack Front Up to Keep Llanelli at Bay

Newport Llanelli 23 17 WITH the weather taking its toll elsewhere Newport took the opportunity to jump up into second in the table with a hard-fought victory over Llanelli at Rodney Parade, writes Mark Wallace. Though heavy rain and wind persisted throughout both sides belied the treacherous conditions to play some attractive rugby and while Newport were the stronger side for long periods the youthful visitors put up a spirited display, fully deserving their losing bonus point.

Wands Halt Battling Pooler

Glam Wands Pontypool 15 10 PONTYPOOL have lost all their league games this season but a fourth bonus point emphasised they still keep their spirit, writes George Williams. They nearly snatched at least a draw as their pack pressed hard near the home line in the closing minutes.

Keys Too Strong for Quins

Cross Keys Carm Quins 25 8 THE fact that not one replacement came off the Cross Keys bench, other than a short blood interlude for lock Ben Watkins, emphasises how satisfied the Keys coaching staff were with their team. And rightly so, as the home side drove home their dominance, especially up front as the game wore on, to totally out-muscle a lightweight Quins eight that lacked Keys' fire and passion.

Ramsey the Gem As Toshack Finds Diamond with a Real Cutting Edge

Paul Abbandonato at Cardiff City Stadium 3 0 Wales Scotland Edwards 17 Church 31 Ramsey 34 Attendance: 13,844 Referee: Cyril Zimmermann (Switzerland) WALES MAN OF THE MATCH AARON RAMSEY The Arsenal youngster was up against a Champions League regular in Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, but made the Scotland captain look fourth rate. Head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch. THE revolution has begun. At last. I say that semi tongue-in- cheek, of course, because nobody should get to...

Reputations Count for Nothing in Wales Camp, Warns Tosh

WALES boss John Toshack has told his young guns, including Aaron Ramsey, he wants to see them playing week in, week out for their clubs in the build-up to the Euro 2012 campaign. Toshack is hoping Saturday's thumping 3-0 triumph over Scotland proves the launchpad towards a better 2010 for his team.