Jones the talisman leads Wales and Howley to redemption against stubborn Argentina
Wales needed it, Robert Howley needed it and yes, the Welsh public demanded it. But with his fellow heavyweights back at his side, there can be even less doubt that Alun Wyn Jones warranted it.
This was a hard-earned win carved in honour of their emotional talisman. With respect to the remarkable Liam Williams, there was no more notable contribution than that of the indefatigable lock. He would never say so, but for Jones, this man-of-the-match award would have meant so much after the recent death of his father.
A rugby man through and through, Tim Jones would have enjoyed this bounce-back win after the 32-8 embarrassment against Australia the week previous. For its guts and, yes for periods, its quality, overcoming an Argentine team who will never be taken lightly again after reaching the World Cup semi-final last year.
It took two late Leigh Halfpenny penalties to ensure Wales’s first victory in seven games, but, understandably, there was no complaining. “The last 10 minutes were pretty tense – it must have looked like we were just trying to keep everyone entertained,” Jones said. “We put in a pretty poor performance in the first game of the series, so we had to perform for all the fans who turned up tonight. We have taken a lot of criticism, but we keep on trying to prove people wrong.” For Howley, it was the first time that he had led Wales to win against southern hemisphere opposition in seven attempts as a stand-in coach. He will appreciate now, more than ever, how important it is to have Jones and Williams, as well as Sam Warburton and Jonathan Davies, available.
All four were absent for the Wallabies walloping and, to varying degrees, all four stated their worth. And for captain Gethin Jenkins this gave him every justification to celebrate his achievement of breaking the front-row world record with a 133rd cap, which featured the loosehead restating his uniqueness with a chip-through which led to the second try.
“I can’t speak more highly of the leadership group because they were outstanding,” Howley said. “Alun Wyn Jones is a world-class player. He has an ability to bring players up to another level. He’s a Test match animal.” Indeed he is, and how influential he was in securing the Welsh pack’s dominance after a nervy opening, which saw Argentina take an early lead.
After their shocking first half against Australia they managed to counter the initial Puma fervour and press home their superiority in the set-piece. Saying that, at the break, they were only 6-3 to the good, courtesy of two Halfpenny penalties, Williams may long wonder how.
An ankle tap stopped his first charge for the line, while later he almost touched down a Dan Biggar crosskick, before a trailing left leg only denied his surge for the whitewash. But after the visitors somehow survived a red onslaught on the brink of half-time, Williams eventually stole the five points he was at the very least due after he jinked and squirmed his way over three minutes after the restart, with the TMO eventually agreeing.
Either as wing or full-back, there can be little doubt that Williams has established himself as the Dragons’ most potent attacking weapon.
“Liam brings the X-factor,” Howley said. “He was unlucky a few times on the far side. He’s taken his try very well. He is quick, elusive and always a threat.”
But then, so are Argentina and it says so much about their ever-growing belief and conviction that despite being on the back foot for the majority of the game that they still pushed Wales all the way. Juan Martin Hernandez dived on Martin Landajo’s kickthrough, after the quick-witted scrumhalf had taken a snap penalty, to pull them back from 11-3 down.
And then, after the scrum-half Gareth Davies highlighted what an arch finisher he is from close in, the excellent Landajo pulled them back within a score again. It was left for Halfpenny to apply the sure-booted Valium and allow the 50,000-strong Principality Stadium crowd to go into the night with some satisfaction.