Pumas wish they weren't playing hurting Wales team

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Daniel Hourcade wishes his Pumas weren't playing Wales so soon after Australia left town.

Wales was embarrassed by Australia 32-8 in a solemn Principality Stadium last weekend, and Argentina's coach expects a furious response from the home side on Saturday.

''It would be a huge mistake to think we are going to face the same team that played against Australia,'' Hourcade said on Friday.

''They will have worked hard this week to play better, and it is going to be a tough game.

''We are worried about a hurt, great team. You cannot be really confident. We would prefer to play Wales in a better moment.''

Wales has beaten Argentina in four of their last five meetings, but the Pumas go into this one favored. They are hardened from the Rugby Championship, and began their northern hemisphere tour by dismantling Japan 54-20 last weekend in Tokyo, on a recon mission for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Pumas showed off their high-tempo, all-round style at last year's Rugby World Cup, where they reached the semifinals, and Hourcade said they were still fine-tuning.

''We are in the middle of our process,'' he said. ''We are capable of playing anywhere on the field, but we are taking some bad decisions on the field. That is down to a lack of experience in a young team.

''But I prefer to have those type of mistakes. We play high-quality games all season, and it is a matter of time before we find the solution.''