Hook and Bennett start second Test

Ospreys duo James Hook and Huw Bennett have both been handed starting spots. Hook, who became the 1,042nd player to win a Welsh cap on his try scoring debut as a replacement for the injured Matthew Watkins during the first Test, replaces the Scarlets centre for this weekend’s clash. Bennett, meanwhile, takes over at hooker in place of another Scarlet, Matthew Rees, as Jenkins rotates his squad. On the bench, Dragons centre Nathan Brew comes in for Blues wing Chris Czekaj, while Scarlets hooker Rees misses out.

“Although Matthew Watkins has suffered with a back injury this week, James very much played himself into this team with his performance on Saturday and in training and he deserves this chance to show us what he is capable of,” said Jenkins. “We always had in mind that we would give Huw Bennett an opportunity on this tour and he joins the team in a straight switch at hooker.

“Apart from those two changes, and Nathan coming in for Chris Czekaj on the bench, we have asked this team to maintain the high standards set last week, add an extra dimension to their play and prove they are capable of beating this Argentinean team.

“We know we were not far away from a victory last week and we know the areas in which we need to improve. We meet them head on physically and we will be looking to do that again.  It will be a tough battle in the contact area and at the set piece but we know we have to give ourselves the platform to play rugby.

“Indiscipline cost us in certain areas and we hope to remove that aspect from the game this weekend and play as we know we can.”

Rhys Thomas is the last of the five uncapped players who joined the tour yet to feature under Jenkins and the Wales coach won’t hesitate to use him if required.

“We have come on this tour to develop young players and we have already had a great amount of success in achieving that aim,” said Jenkins. “Saying that, we are about winning Test matches and we have not handed out caps lightly. Rhys will feature if the need arises and we will all be pleased to see him win his first cap if the game requires it.”

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys) ;  Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff Blues),  James Hook (Ospreys and Neath),  Shane Williams (Ospreys) ;  Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Jones (Ospreys – Captain), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys and Swansea), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys and Swansea), Gavin Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets)

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gareth Delve (Bath Rugby), Andy Williams (Bath Rugby), Nathan Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), AN Other