The delight felt by Wales coach Graham Henry at his squad's first series victory of any consequence in the southern hemisphere was tempered by his concern at the way rugby is being refereed.
With the World Cup less than four months away, Henry fears the tournament could become bedevilled by the whistle unless the International Rugby Board relaxes its charter, which insists on strict application of the laws, and allows officials to show some common sense.
Wales's victory at Ferro Carril Oeste on Saturday was notable only for the result: no team from the British Isles had ever won a series in Argentina with a 100 per cent record. As a game, it was instantly forgettable, clotted with 38 penalties.
"The sport does have a potential problem," said Henry. "The average number of penalties awarded in a match should be closer to 20 than 40. Laws are being applied more rigidly than ever and it makes continuity harder to achieve.
"Borderline offences are being whistled up and the last thing we want is the World Cup, which is the game's showpiece, to be full of stopstart matches.
"Players and coaches have responsibilities, as do referees. As a team we work very hard in training at staying within the laws. Games turn on penalties: when we trailed 23-0 in the first Test here, we had conceded nine penalties in a 20-minute period without being awarded one. We then had four in quick succession and scored 10 points."
The two countries meet in the opening match of the World Cup on October 1st, a game Wales should win comfortably.
Argentina had promised them a torrid opening quarter, but they trailed 8-0 after 14 minutes, having conceded the softest of tries. Fullback Diego Albanese fielded a harmless kick-ahead near his own line and dummied out of two tackles before kicking the ball at the Wales centre, Allan Bateman, who freed the hooker Garin Jenkins outside him.
The match only warmed up after 28 minutes when a free-for-all spread into the Argentine dug-out: three players were shown the yellow card but it could have many been more.
Argentina were briefly imbued with purpose, Contempomi kicking three penalties to give them the lead, but Neil Jenkins took Wales into a 23-9 advantage with 10 minutes to go, and passed 800 international points in the process. The home side's rally was too little, too late.
ARGENTINA: Albanese; Bartolucci, Orengo, Arbizu, Camardon; Contepomi (Cilley, 55min), Pichot; Grau, Mendez (Lemesda 66), Reggiardo (Hasan 76), Sporleder (capt), Lobbe (Allub 61), Martin, Ruiz, Longo.
WALES: Howarth (Sale); Thomas (Cardiff), Taylor (Swansea), Bateman (Northampton), James (Pontypridd); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), Howley (Cardiff, capt); Rogers (Newport); A Lewis, Cardiff, 75), G Jenkins (Swansea); Humphreys, Cardiff, 74), Evans (Swansea); Young, Cardiff, 60), C Quinnell (Cardiff), Wyatt (Llanelli), G Lewis (Pontypridd), Sinkinson (Neath), S Quinnell (Llanelli).
Referee: C White (RFU).
