Argentina tour strengthens Wales

Davies and Jenkins are happy with Wales' tour to Argentina

Wales assistant coach Nigel Davies says the tour to Argentina was a success despite losing both Test matches.

Saturday's 45-27 loss in Buenos Aires, Wales' heaviest reverse to the Pumas, followed a 27-25 loss in Puerto Madryn.

With more than 20 players missing through injury or rehabilitation, Wales gave debuts to five youngsters.

"We're delighted with that, we were intent on doing that and five new caps means we've got five more people to compete for places," Davies said.

"That will increase the pressure on the more established players, which I believe will raise the bar."

James Hook, Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones, Richard Hibbard and Rhys Thomas all won their first Wales caps in the series.

Given the weakened squad available to head coach Gareth Jenkins in his first two matches in charge, Wales emerged with great credit for running the Pumas close in the first Test.

We had a relatively young group of players excited and proud to play for their country Wales assistant coach Nigel Davies

Only some borderline calls by the match officials separated the two sides, although the second Test result proved a rude shock.

"It was by no means a disaster," Davies added.

"We want to breed a winning mentality, we must go into matches believing we can win and we certainly did that in both games.

"In the first Test we were probably unlucky not to get the result and went into the second with expectations of what we could do.

"We just didn't deliver in lots and lots of areas, so that was hugely disappointing and was less than we were capable of."

Wales occasionally lost their discipline because of pressure from the powerful Argentina pack.

The tourists suffered two sin-binnings in each match, with Alix Popham and Gavin Thomas yellow-carded in the first Test, while Evans and Hook earned the referee's ire in the second.

Evans was afterwards cited for a late charge on Pumas skipper Agustin Pichot and given a six-week ban.

"What we had were a relatively young group of players who were really excited and proud to play for their country," Davies said.

"Maybe a couple of them got carried away on occasions, but another area which is key is the contact area.

"On a number of occasions we were penalised and that's going to be key moving forward - in all internationals it's where it's won and lost."