Wales 40-6 Argentina

Wales scored some great tries

Four quite different tries, and the variety was good to see. Mike Phillips’ was an opportunist’s score finished well from 75 metres (although there was no way he was ever going to pass), George North’s was astraight off the training ground, Toby Faletau rounded off a great move and Ken Owens rumbled over for a try which could be accredited to all the forwards.

The backs were big

George North’s try was typical of what we have come to expect from him: a combination of speed, power and deftness when required. He was kept in check by South Africa last week, but against an admittedly much weaker opposition, he looked like he was back on the Lions tour.

Meanwhile, George North appears to be playing against children in Cardiff.

— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) November 16, 2013

It wasn’t just North: debutant Cory Allen and Scott Williams meant the Roberts-Davies combo was not missed yesterday while relative newby Liam Williams was threatening on his wing. Dan Biggar also ensured there was more control at stand-off than there had been last week. It was also nice to see the ball being chucked around a bit – and it would be even nicer to see attempts at similar flair against the top Southern Hemisphere teams.

Wing @George_North flies past the Argentina defence on the way to Wales’ second try of the day. #WALvARG pic.twitter.com/NuohShUWqi

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 16, 2013

Injuries continue to mount

With Cory Allen out for the rest of the autumn, it’s approaching crisis point at centre…

The ref was good

From my vantage point at least, John Lacey had a decent game – not as pedantic as many referees, not as desperate to be the centre of attention as others (including Alain Rolland last week and yesterday’s touch judge Steve Walsh).

But two downers on the day

The Millennium Stadium is a great venue, but the pitch is as bad as it’s ever been, and almost certainly dangerous.

The Millennium Stadium pitch being tended on Wednesday, November 13

There were also a number of attempts – ultimately and fortunately unsuccessful – at starting a Mexican Wave. Anyone who’s been to a sports game with me will know I loathe Mexican Waves. Then again, if that’s the symptom of a comfortable Welsh victory, so be it…

Dylan Hartley v Wayne Barnes v Richard Cockerill

Despite the fact it was entirely his fault, and it’s hardly the only disciplinary blemish on his career, I can’t help feeling slightly sorry for Dylan Hartley.

Not because I believe his story about his eloquent “f****** cheat” being aimed at Tom Youngs as opposed to referee, and Stuart Broad-lookalike, Wayne Barnes.

Twickenham was stunned by Dylan Hartley’s red card – especially at my end, where we couldn’t see the colour of the card Wayne Barnes showed

But the fact a second of madness – undoubtedly borne out of a frustration at the way the first half of the Premiership final had ended, with a Stephen Myler mistake and a collapsed scrum giving Leicester the chance to extend their lead by three cheap points – has cost Hartley his Lions place and, possibly, Saints the title.

Even so, you’ve got to commend Barnes for having the guts to show Hartley a straight red card for an incident which a less authoritative referee (and, dare I say it, most football referees) could easily have got away with pretending it had never happened. It’s good to see some officials sticking up against abuse.

The RFU should be praised, too, for the speed in which they convened a hearing and handed Hartley an 11-week ban. It gave Rory Best the chance to get on the plane to Australia straight away, even if it was disappointing Warren Gatland didn’t decide to heed my advice to #callforKen (Owens).

 
Anyway, the RFU has to deal with Leicester coach Richard Cockerill who, let’s face it, is guilty of almost as much as Hartley.

Cockerill came racing down the steps from his coaching position to berate the fourth official after what he believed – probably wrongly – to be a late hit by Saints second row Courtney Lawes on Tigers captain Toby Flood. In effect, Cockerill was also questioning the competence of the officials, if not outright accusing them of cheating. Respecting the referee applies as much to players on the field as to coaches off it.

Oh, and it’s been a bit overshadowed, but the game itself wasn’t bad either.