That was a relief admits Gethin

WALES captain Gethin Jenkins said: “It was a massive relief and the feeling at the end was very different to last week.

“We had our back against the wall but the boys showed the right reaction and attitude. We didn’t have to say too much in the week. In the head is where everyone needs to be ready for a game like this.

“We felt in control for most of the game but we let Argentina back in when we switched off at a penalty and they scored. We need to step up and react quicker.”

Jenkins became the most-capped prop in world rugby on his 133rd Test appearance but it was the return of Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones that made the difference to the Welsh pack.

For Jones, this man of the match performance was all the more impressive given he was playing for the first time since the death of his father a fortnight ago.

Howley said: “He is world-class and brings the players around him to another level.

“To have him and Sam Warburton back in the squad clearly raises our level performance.

“The way Alun and Sam are able to hold players up in the contact area meant we could stop Argentina and get good line-speed in defence.

“Argentina have a great off-loading game and play very loose and attractive rugby but we were able to stop that pretty well.

“There was some frustration at half-time that we had a period in the last ten minutes when we had six penalties but didn’t get over the line. But we kept our patience and showed a more clinical edge in the second half.”

Liam Williams grabbed the try that kick-started the Welsh attack. Howley raved: “He has the X-Factor. He has the ability to unlock defences.”

Wales have moved to sixth in the world rnkings, back ahead of Argentina.

Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade said: “Wales did very well in stopping our game. Scotland will try to do the same so we have to find new answers.”