Iestyn Harris, the man hailed as the latest in a long line of saviours for Welsh rugby, came to terms with his nightmare start to his international career on Sunday and pleaded to be given another chance.

The 25-year-old (pictured), who moved from the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team to union at Cardiff in a £1.5 million transfer, was guilty of two mistakes which led to Argentina's two tries, helping the Pumas to a 30-16 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

"It did not go the way I wanted it or the way the team wanted it. I am hugely disappointed. I obviously made some mistakes, but that's why I want to play in the next match to put things right," said Harris, who hopes to retain his place for the game against Tonga on Saturday.

"I am serving my apprenticeship in union and people will say I should not have played so soon because of the mistakes, but I wanted to get out there and start the learning process.

"I am in the public eye and everything I do is under the microscope, but I have just got to knuckle down and get on with the job.

"I can only hope I am selected for the Tonga match and I will be working hard in training this week and doing everything I can to put things right," added Harris, who scored 11 points in the game.

There were huge expectations on Harris with fans hoping that the new recruit could put Wales back on the path to the great heights they once enjoyed.

But he admitted that his 31-point haul for Cardiff against Glasgow in the European Cup in October raised false hopes. "I have got to take things one step at a time and it is a case of waiting for things to work out."

Harris must envy the position that Jason Robinson, another rugby league recruit to union in England, has found himself in.

Robinson was also fast-tracked into the England set-up as well as the British Lions tour to Australia in the summer. But while Harris was enduring such a nightmare in Cardiff, Robinson was proving his doubters wrong in England's 21-15 win over the world champion Wallabies at Twickenham.

Former Wigan league star Robinson was moved from the wing to fullback and put in an almost faultless display. "Jason could play anywhere in the back division," said delighted England coach Clive Woodward.

"I might even play him at scrumhalf against Romania next week," he added, aiming criticism at those who said Robinson would be found out at fullback. "He has spent his whole rugby career catching the ball, why should anything change now." - Sapa