Autumn internationals - Wales v Argentina
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 21 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC ONE Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Sale prop Eifion Roberts has been overlooked by Wales this autumn

Ex-Wales scrum-half Robert Jones says that Sale prop Eifion Roberts deserves a place in the national set-up.

Although short of tight-heads, Wales coach Warren Gatland left Roberts out of his autumn squad, with Wales playing big scrummagers Argentina on Saturday.

Gatland cited fitness issues and the "weakness" of the Guinness Premiership among reasons to omit the 28-year-old.

"If Warren Gatland feels that he has a future in the Wales set-up... he needs to be part of it now," Jones said.

"He is a big, big man and as much as we're talking about scrummaging in particular now, he does [also] carry very effectively.

"He's got a lot of weight behind him, as we know, but he's quite dynamic in terms of his ball-carrying and I feel he is deserving of a chance."

Gatland has kept faith with Paul James at tight-head prop against the Pumas, the Ospreys loose-head having acquitted himself in the unfamiliar number three jersey so far this autumn.

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The Wales scrum held its own - although not without the occasional creak - in the loss against New Zealand and last week's win over Samoa.

But Jones has called on the front row of James plus Lions pair Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins to raise their game against one of the best scrummaging sides in the world.

Up against them are the formidable and experienced figures in the Pumas front row of Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma and Martin Scelzo.

"What I think would be fantastic on the weekend - and we have seen it from Wales in the past - is if in those early scrums Wales can put them under pressure," said Jones, Speaking on BBC Wales' Scrum V Radio programme.

"If they've worked hard in terms of technique and their ability to out-scrummage Argentina... it's a huge lift for the players on the field.

"But psychologically when you're at home in Cardiff you can imagine how the crowd react and how then the players can respond to that.

"I know it's a long 80 minutes when you've got to scrummage 15-20 times... but those first one or two are vital."

Last week Wales were unable to dominate a Samoa scrum that is not renowned for its tight play, but Jones believes that Wales have been putting in the extra work since then on the training pitch.

"The Samoa game could well have been the wake-up call, the realisation that our scrum needs to be functioning a little better," Jones added.

"This week the emphasis has been on that, up against arguably the best scrummaging side in the world."

Wales: James Hook (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts (both Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins (both Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones (both Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Andy Powell, Martyn Williams (both Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues).

Referee: George Clancy (Ire)

Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (Fr), David Changleng (Sco)

Television match official: Jim Yuille (Sco)

Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (Fr)

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