These are your evening rugby headlines for Sunday November 6 at the end of a busy weekend of international rugby.
Ringo joins Alun Wyn debate
Former Wales star Mark Ring has waded into the debate over Alun Wyn Jones after Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira’s call for the lock to retire.
Ex-Springboks prop Mtawarira ignited an online conversation by posting on Twitter that the Lions captain should call it as day as a player, saying: “Alun Wyn Jones about time to retire...a good dancer knows when to leave the dance floor...I am sure there is a young Welsh lock waiting for his turn in that jersey.”
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Others joined in, with plenty having a view on whether the 37-year-old ex-Wales skipper should heed Mtawarira’s advice or not.
Ring, capped 32 times for Wales and one of the most gifted players to wear the red jersey, initially talked up Jones, saying he’d had a great career, led the team ‘magnificently’ and commanded huge respect from players and supporters. However, Ring then added: “He's kept his place because there's no-one to push him!"
He went on to say that compared to others and 'for a while'. there are 'many more, better, athletic and physical' second rows playing for other sides.
Jones made 10 tackles in the 40 minutes he was on the field against New Zealand, with the official Autumn Nations Series website also suggesting he made 17 metres from three carries. There were ruck clearouts, a lineout win and efforts to defend mauls. On the debit side, he coughed up possession once.
There is a case for believing Wales didn’t lose because of Jones or any other single player on Saturday, with New Zealand simply the better team in all departments, but there was considerable interest in The Beast's argument.
Another ex-Wales international, Lee Jarvis, supported Jones, writing, not without sarcasm: “Let's be honest coming on half-time he should have scored three tries, set up two, made 36 tackles and spiral kick the ball 70m.”
'Brilliant!' North joy at Rio's debut
Rio Dyer received the George North seal of approval after marking his Test debut with a try.
Aside from losing an aerial battle to the Jordie Barrett as the 6ft 5in Kiwi claimed his first touchdown on Saturday, Dyer made a highly encouraging international bow.
He often led the chase and was bold enough to venture off his wing on his debut.
"It was brilliant,” said North. “Rio has been on fire for the Dragons and deserved his start. His first test and a try with it is huge.”
There were also plaudits from the experienced Wales international for another Test debutant in Sam Costelow. “It was great for Sam to come on as well for his first cap,” added North.
Next up for Wales is a meeting with an Argentina side who scored an historic away win over New Zealand in the summer. The Pumas were crushed a week later, but in an earlier round of the Rugby Championship they defeated Australia 48-17. For the record, Wales have never scored anything like that number of points against the Wallabies in a single game.
And the Pumas underlined the threat they’ll pose by beating England at Twickenham this afternoon. For the record, Wales haven’t beaten England at the same venue for seven years and away in the Six Nations in 10 years.
"Again, the autumn series is four big tests back to back. We are quickly into it now. The games will come thick and fast, and we've got three games to make it right,” said North.
"New Zealand had a game before this game to iron out anything. We've gone straight into it. There were glimpses of some good rugby in there from us, but it is an 80-minute performance we need. We've come out pretty much unscathed, so physically we will be okay.”
Pumas shock England - then turn sights on Wales
Emiliano Boffelli scored 25 points as Argentina shocked England at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon.
The wing scored a try and kicked six penalties and a conversion to help hoist his side to a 30-29 victory.
It was their first success over England at Twickenham since 2006. Fly-half Santiago Carreras scored Argentina’s other touchdown.
Man-of-the-match Boffelli slotted the match-winning penalty on 70 minutes in a game that saw the lead repeatedly change hands.
Boffelli said: “We are very happy … but tomorrow we will think about Wales. But yes, we are happy.
“We spoke that we must try stay close in the score at half-time. Michael Cheika is very important for us. He has experience in international rugby. He is confident in us."
Australia ‘disappointed’ after France loss
Australia coach Dave Rennie couldn’t hide his dejection after seeing his side narrowly come out on the wrong side of the scoreline against France.
Les Bleus had won 10 games in a row and had been fancied to account for the Wallabies without too much bother.
But the visitors to Paris made the hosts battle all the way, with a Damian Penaud try five minutes from time earning France a 30-29 win.
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“It’s pretty quiet in the changing room,” said Rennie. “The guys are gutted because they emptied out the tanks tonight and we were just one error or one more controlled exit away from winning it.
“We’re all pretty disappointed, but I’m really rapt with the character and the attitude. No-one gave us a chance to come here to Paris and take on a French side that’s been very impressive the past 15 months.
“We talked about playing without fear and competing hard and throwing everything at them and we did that for a big chunk of the game. Disappointing outcome, but proud of the effort.
“It’s a game of inches isn’t it? We got away with a tight one last week and we finished second tonight.”
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