The start of a new Welsh rugby chapter left fans reading the same old story, Argentina claiming their biggest victory against the host side and consigning Wales to their 19th defeat in 20 Tests.
Welsh supporters had hoped the team had turned a page in the summer after they ended their losing run with a win against Japan and had since given the reins to their new head coach, Steve Tandy. But it is clear there is still a lot of work to do to get this once formidable Wales side back to its glory days.
Alongside their torrid form, discussions will be focused on the Wales centre Ben Thomas after he escaped a red card. Thomas was being held in a ruck and kicked a leg towards Pablo Matera’s head, for which he was shown a yellow card.
The incident was referred to bunker review but remained at the sin‑bin threshold, the fact he did not make contact with Matera’s head a large part of the reason why. However, the decision was heavily discussed with the former referee Nigel Owens putting the case forward on S4C that Thomas should not have even had a yellow card, while many fans believed the punishment should have involved him being shown a straight red.
Tandy said of the incident: “There is not a real angle that I have seen that is conclusive to what it is. I think there is lots going on. If it is lashing out, you can’t do that. But also when I am looking at it in a broader sense, there is a lot of holding on the floor so if you are trying to free yourself [that can happen]. We will probably get a proper angle so I can assess it better.”
The result was not the only bad news for Wales as their stalwart captain, Jac Morgan, who was the team’s brightest spark, dislocated his shoulder in the process of scoring a try. Tandy confirmed the back‑row was “not looking good for the rest of the autumn” and that they would be calling someone else up.
There were some positive aspects to Wales’s game, predominantly through Morgan and the full-back Blair Murray, but another encouraging detail for Wales was the return of Louis Rees-Zammit. The wing left rugby in early 2024 to pursue his NFL dream but came back to rugby in August, signing for Bristol Bears. He has been struggling with injury which meant his return at the Principality Stadium was one as a replacement off the bench. The 24-year-old, whose last Test appearance came against Argentina in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, came on in the 45th minute and he brought some much-needed voracity in attack.
For Argentina, the winger Mateo Carreras was a star all afternoon and was at the heart of everything good the visitors produced.
Chatter on trains pre-game underlined the pressure this Wales team are under. Two groups of fans met on a packed carriage and started talking about recent results.
“It’s embarrassing isn’t it,” one said, while the other replied: “I know, you don’t like to say you’re Welsh sometimes.” Thousands of empty seats at the Principality Stadium was further evidence of how many Welsh fans currently feel about their team.
The roof was firmly shut, blocking out the wet weather and amplifying voices, and the anthems ignited a tantalising atmosphere. Argentina were out of the blocks quickly with two sensational tries but Wales levelled the scores through Tomos Williams and the hooker Dewi Lake, which had supporters in a full chorus of “Wales, Wales, Wales”. However, those chants were soon muted when Argentina regained their lead after Thomas’s yellow card.
Wales Murray; Rogers (Rees-Zammit 44), Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards (J Evans 65), T Williams (Hardy 76); Carre (Smith 44), Lake (Belcher 55), Assiratti (Griffin 44), D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Morgan (Cracknell 55), Wainwright (F Thomas 65).
Tries Williams, Lake, Morgan, Murray. Cons Edwards (3), J Evans
Argentina S Carreras; Delguy, Piccardo, Chocobares (Mallia 59), M Carreras (Isgro 61); Prisciantelli, Benítez Cruz (Moyano 65); Vivas (Gallo 45), Montoya (Ruíz 67)), Delgado (Rapetti 45), Petti, Kremer (Alemanno 61), Matera, JM González, Oviedo (Grondona 59).
Tries Delgado, M Carreras, Cruz, Delguy, Prisciantelli (2), Grondona. Cons S Carreras (7). Pen: S Carreras
Referee Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
Attendance 50,185
The hosts needed to be the next to score but a stop-start run finished off a try for the wing Bautista Delguy, which strengthened Argentina’s grip on the game. A sin‑bin for Williams for an off-the-ball tackle saw Wales reduced again but Morgan scored next. However, it was the visitors who polished off the game with two more tries.
There are some caveats to this result. It was Tandy’s first game in charge and it will take time to change Wales’s fortunes. It was also the hosts’ first game since July, while Argentina have some miles in their legs after competing in the Rugby Championship. But only time will tell how long such caveats excuse results and Tandy faces his next test on Saturday when his team face Japan.
