With video by Marcus Hughes
WALES skills coach Neil Jenkins said he was sure 18-year-old sensation Keelan Giles would make his Wales debut this autumn after being called up to replace Hallam Amos.
Amos injured his shoulder diving to score in Saturday’s 32-8 defeat to Australia after coming on as a second-half replacement.
Jenkins said that Giles was a “fantastic young talent” with a “little bit of X-Factor about him”.
He added: “We’ve got a lot of good wingers. It’s up to Keelan, he’s got to take the chance with both hands.
“He’s already done that with the Ospreys and I’m sure he’ll do it in our environment.
“He’s quick, he’s electric on his feet, and he’s brave.”
Scrum-half Rhys Webb is expected to join Amos on the sidelines having been stretchered off with an ankle injury on Saturday, giving the Scarlets’ Gareth Davies a chance to stake his claim for the jersey.
Speaking to the media at Wales’ training base, the Vale Resort, Davies said: “The squad is itching to get back out there and put things right.”
He added: “We weren’t there from the off – we couldn’t quite get that tempo going. We’ll come out all guns blazing.”
A much-improved performance will be needed from Wales if they are to bury the ghosts of Saturday’s embarrassing 32-8 reverse in which Australia were their superiors in every facet of the game.
The defence, for so long the strongest aspect of Wales’ game, was particularly porous with defence coach Shaun Edwards saying on Monday: “Their [Australia’s] front five were consistently gaining ground and creating quick ball.”
“I thought their attack coach [Stephen Larkham] got the better of me on the day. I’ll hold my hands up.”
The Wales pack may be bolstered by the return of Alun Wyn Jones, who missed the defeat due to the death of his father, and captain Sam Warburton, who returned to action for the Blues last Friday after a month out with a cheekbone injury.
Wales overcame Argentina 40-6 the last time the two teams faced each other in 2013, but the visitors are an altogether different proposition nowadays, playing an exciting brand of rugby that saw them reach a World Cup semi-final last year.
What team would The Cardiffian pick to face Argentina on Saturday?
Liam Williams; Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, George North; Sam Davies, Gareth Davies; Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Samson Lee, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton ©, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty
