Wales skipper hails Pumas welcome

Wales fly-half Nick Robinson is surrounded by friendly Argentines

Raul Conti Stadium, Puerto Madryn
Sunday, 11 June
Kick-off: 1840 BST
Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and this website

Coverage details

Wales captain Duncan Jones thanked the warm welcome the squad received in Argentina after arriving in Trelew, capital city of Chubut province.

Chubut is a former Welsh colony, so Gareth Jenkins' side should feel at home ahead of Sunday's first Test in Puerto Madryn's Raul Conti Stadium.

"It was humbling to see hundreds of Argentine fans treating us like heroes just for turning up," said Jones.

"It's great to have that support and pretty unusual for an away tour."

Jones received a commemorative certificate from the mayor of Trelew, Cesar Gustavo MacKarthy on arrival, and the team spent time with local fans signing hundreds of autographs and posing for pictures.

The Welsh speakers in the Wales team also spent time chatting in their national language with some of the locals, as Patagonia maintains a significant Welsh-speaking population.

Jones will captain Wales for the first time on Sunday, with his Ospreys colleagues Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones set to win their first senior caps.

After Sunday, Wales will leave their home-from-home in Patagonia and head to the Argentine capital Buenos Aires for the second Test on 17 June.

Argentina are without some France-based players, in action for Biarritz and Toulouse, plus fly-half Felipe Contepomi who is sitting medical exams, but are still formidable.

The Pumas will up back up to full strength for the second Test and Jones knows how tough it is to beat them.

"I came to Argentina two years ago, when Colin Charvis was the team captain," Jones added.

"We won one and lost the other game. That's why I'm aware of how difficult these Test matches will be."