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Sunday, 11 November, 2001, 19:40 GMT
Harris wants another chance
Wales fly-half Iestyn Harris
Harris showed glimpses of his talent against Argentina
Iestyn Harris has pleaded with the Welsh selectors to give him another opportunity to make amends for his disappointing debut.

The £1.5million convert from rugby league is determined to prove his worth against Tonga next Saturday after Sunday's 30-16 defeat by Argentina.

Harris, 25, saw his outside-half debut marred by two mistakes which the Puma's pounced on for both tries in their first-ever Test-match victory over Wales.

After such a poor team performance, coach Graham Henry could justifiably drop many of the Wales players.


I am in the public eye and everything I do is under the microscope
Iestyn Harris
Harris hopes he will not be one of those to get the axe.

"I obviously made some mistakes but that's why I want to play in the next match to put things right,"said Harris.

"This has made me all the more determined to get back out there for Wales and prove my worth.

"I am serving my apprenticeship in union and people will say I should not have played so soon because of the mistakes but I wanted to get out there and start the learning process.

"I am in the public eye and everything I do is under the microscope but I have just got to knuckle down and get on with the job.

"I can only hope I am selected for the Tonga match and I will be working hard in training this week and doing everything I can to put things right."


Despite the result I enjoyed the experience and the intensity of the game
Iestyn Harris
Harris suggested that his 31-point haul for Cardiff in a Heineken Cup match against Glasgow raised false hopes.

He added: "As I said then, I have got to take things one step at a time and it is a case of waiting for things to work out.

"I was nervous before the game but as soon as the whistle went I settled down. The space was there for me, but the possession was not.

"We did not have much possession and lost a lot of ball up front. We were unable to play the game we wanted.

"We didn't get the quality ball that we hoped for, were under pressure and could not turn it around.

"But despite the result I enjoyed the experience and the intensity of the game."

See also:

10 Nov 01 |  Rugby Union
Pumas maul poor Wales
10 Nov 01 |  Wales
Henry faces stern test
10 Nov 01 |  Photo Galleries
Mixed fortunes
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