Wales hadn’t won an away Test since they beat Japan in Tokyo in 2001 and had suffered thirteen successive defeats on the road. This was also their first victory over a team ranked above them in the world rankings for more than three years since their win over France in Paris in the 2001 Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship. Ruddock’s men also became the first northern hemisphere side to beat a team from the southern hemisphere this summer.
Wales had the chance to hit the ground running when they were awarded a penalty after just four minutes as they went full throttle for Argentina from the kick off. Under the pressure of an immensely partisan crowd, Gavin Henson, playing fullback but with place kicking duties, missed the opportunity but only had to wait a further eight minutes to make amends by slotting between the sticks at the second attempt as Argentina were penalised yet again.
3-0 up and with the wind and momentum at their backs Wales began to spread the play with the forwards providing an excellent platform for the backs to deliver an onslaught. Shane Williams worked some marvellous magic with his feet and quick wit to confuse the Pumas’ defensive line and bag a brace in just four minutes with Henson on hand to deliver two conversions.
Argentina had a chance to strike back on 18 minutes with a penalty but Felipe Contemponi skewed his kick. Argentina tried to absorb the ensuing pressure but cracked on the half hour as Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe was sent to the sin-bin. Henson made good where Contemponi had failed and put Wales another three points up two minutes later. As Wales cranked up through yet more gears to capitalise on the one-man advantage Shane Williams completed a marvellous hat-trick and whilst Henson missed the conversion, Wales were 25-0 to the good and apparently out of sight at half time.
Any thoughts Wales and Ruddock may have had about playing exhibition rugby with the 25 point cushion in the second half were quickly brushed aside within two minutes of the restart as a Colin Charvis yellow card gave Argentina the boost they desperately needed and they began to batter their way back into the match.
Hernan Senillosa struck a penalty from the Charvis sin-binning to get Argentina on the board and a minute later Matrin Aramburu powered over for a try which Senillosa duly converted. Charvis returned to the field after ten minutes but Argentina were continuing to push forward and Omar Hasan Jalil crossed to bring the hosts back to within ten points of Wales. Senillosa missed the conversion this time round, and with it may have handed Wales back the impetus.
Five minutes later Henson struck a penalty to put Wales 28-15 in front and after just another four minutes Nicky Robinson crossed for a try himself having pulled the strings for the tourists during the first three-quarters of the match. Henson scored the ensuing conversion but missed a later penalty to give Wales 35 points to the good. Although Argentina produced a late rally to score a try through Lucas Borges, Senillosa’s missed conversion yet again said it all for the hosts and Wales levelled the Test series at one win a piece with the Pumas.
Wales skipper Colin Charvis collected the Peugeot Test trophy as wing-wizard Williams’s hat-trick earned him the man-of-the-match accolade.
