Quilter Nations Series
Wales (14) 28
Tries: T Williams, Lake, Morgan, Murray Cons: Edwards (3), Evans
Argentina (31) 52
Tries: Delgado, Prisciantelli (2), Cruz, Carreras, Delguy Cons: Carreras (7) Pen: Carreras
The defeat would be a record against Argentina whose mix of brutal power and pace would be no match for a Welsh side starting a new era under new head coach Steve Tandy.
The man of the match award could have gone to several Pumas, but there could be no arguments with Geronimo Prisciantelli who would score two tries and create two more. Dually award the acclaim at the final whistle.
Half-back partner Mateo Carreras would score 22 points, including a well-worked score, whilst Pedro Delgado, Simon Benitez-Cruz, Bautista Delguy, and Santiago Grondona would also get on the scoresheet.
Wales had their moments with four tries of their own through Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, and Blair Murray, encapsulating how far they have come under the new leadership team; however, a chastening result will only highlight the size of the task ahead for Tandy and co.
Wales would look start a new era on a positive sphere but would be very much placed as underdogs with new head coach Tandy calling the shots for the first time.
The Wales boss would look to follow up July’s 31-22 success in Japan, which ended a humiliating 18-Test losing streak that began with the World Cup quarter-final defeat by the Pumas back in 2023.
It had been 27 months and nine games since a Welsh Test win at the Principality Stadium, a World Cup warm-up triumph against England.
Standing in their way would be an Argentina side ranked sixth in the world, fresh from a tense and tight Rugby Championship which saw an away success in Australia and a first-ever home victory against New Zealand.
There would be seven changes to the side that beat Japan in the summer with Tandy welcoming back captain Morgan to lead his new-look side.
In the front row, Rhys Carré was named at loosehead, making his first appearance for Wales since 2023.
Morgan’s British & Irish Lions teammate Williams’ inclusion at scrum-half meant the duo would make their first appearances for Wales since the Guinness Six Nations, whilst Dafydd Jenkins and former Ospreys lock Adam Beard would come into the second row having missed the summer series through injury.
Creative duties would lie at the feet of Ospreys Dan Edwards, named at fly-half for his second start for Wales, whilst the versatile Ben Thomas would rekindle his partnership with Max Llewellyn in midfield after the Gloucester centre had also been on the treatment table over the summer.
19 of the players who lost 29-27 to the South Africa in the Rugby Championship finale would be available to Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi.
The Pumas boss, however, would be without several influencial players as he would make four changes. La Rochelle tight-head prop Joel Sclavi, Exeter’s Franco Molina and second-row partner Pedro Rubiolo, alongside flanker Benjamin Grondona, Zebre scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia, Benetton fly-half Tomas Albornoz and Saracens centre Lucio Cinti all would all miss the match through injury.
Wing Mateo Carreras and tight-head prop Delgado would come into the side, whilst Marcos Kremer switched to lock from a back-row featuring open-side flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and number eight Joaquin Oviedo.
It would be the visitors who would come out of the blocks the quickest, as Wales would be penalised for errors early on. A cheap offside from Jenkins leading to an Argentina penalty which would be dually kicked to the corner.
Delgardo then would open the scoring after a driving maul would be initially halted by Wales, but after recycling the ball, the tight-head prop would go over with the extras converted by scrum-half Mateo Carreras.
Tandy’s side would fall further behind minutes later as Wales would struggle to get going, a chipped kick over the top by Delguy gathered by fly-half Prisciantelli , stunning the home crowd with the Pumas doubling their advantage.
After a sticky start, Wales would settle and, led by the inspirational Morgan, they would fashion a try of their own. Williams replying for Wales after Scarlets Tom Rogers’ initial burst gained yards in the 22, before a brilliant pop-up offload from skipper Morgan fed the scrum-half to sprint under the posts.
It would be a good period for the Welsh as they would work their way back into the game. Carre edged close to the line but held up illegally, earning a penalty. Quick thinking from Morgan with a quick tap and go would see Williams denied, but not hooker Lake, who would make sure, bulldozing his way over the line, before Ospreys Edwards conversion would level the scores.
Crucially then Wales would lose centre Ben Thomas to the sin bin for lashing out on Argentine co-captain Pablo Matera. The flanker would be the instigator, but the centre would take the bait with an ugly reaction leaving his side with 14 men to see out the remainder of the half.
With the error count amassing, Williams would be penalised with Carreras’ penalty nudging the Pumas back ahead from just outside the 22. Desperate defending for Wales would hold back Argentina temporarily, but the away side would press home the extra man advantage into points before the break.
Pressure eventually told, and after inroads were made by Delgado, Benitez Cruz would appear from a pile of bodies to put daylight on the scoreboard.
The clinical Pumas would then add a fourth as Tandy’s half-time team talk all of a sudden looked to be a whole lot harder. Straight from the restart, Carreras scoring after a break from one end of the pitch to another. Flanker Matera ducking and weaving through two or three Welsh tacklers before feeding the wing, who would scramble over the line.
The Argentinians would start the second as they finished the first. Prisciantelli and Delguy combing to break through the Welsh defense with the wing dodging through a few challenges to go over in the corner.
With groans starting to be heard from the Welsh crowd, Tandy would change things up, sending on Louis Rees-Zammit amongst a spate of changes in the hope of producing a much-needed spark.
Wales rallied and stuck to the task and after a period of pressure, Morgan would go over from close range, albeit hobbling away in the process. Rees-Zammit then showed a bit of magic with a kick-and-go which would almost see Rogers go over in the corner, but moments later the Pumas would pounce with fly-half Prisciantelli intercepting Williams’ pass 25-yards out to sprint under the posts for his second of the match.
There would still be time for a fourth Welsh try with Murray diving over for his third Test try, Williams fizzing a flat pass across three players, handing the Scarlets back an easy finish.
It would be the Pumas, however, who would have the last laugh on another chastising day for Wales as they would pass 50 points. Replacement back-row Grondona scoring with the last play of the game to conclude a 11-try thriller.
Wales XV:
Murray, Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; D Edwards, T Williams, Carre, Lake, Assiratti, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Morgan (captain), Wainwright.
Replacements:
Belcher, Smith, Griffin, F Thomas, Cracknell, Hardy, J Evans, Rees-Zammit.
Argentina:
S Carreras, Delguy, Piccardo, Chocobares, M Carreras; Prisciantelli, Benitez Cruz; Vivas, Montoya (captain), Delgado, Petti, Kremer, Matera, JM Gonzalez, Oviedo.
Replacements:
Ruiz, Gallo, Rapetti, Alemanno, Grondona, Moyano, Mallia, Isgro.
