'Breath of fresh air’, glimpses of identity but Argentina defeat highlights plenty of work ahead for Wales
Dan Edwards and Ben Thomas’ 10-12 partnership could be something Wales look to hone moving forward
©www.inpho.ie
Wales opened their Quilter Nations Series with a heavy 52-28 defeat against Argentina at the Principality Stadium - a result that underlined both Los Pumas’ attacking sharpness and work-ons for the hosts.
It was a clinical display from the visitors, led by fly-half Geronimo Prisciantelli, who scored twice while Pedro Delgado, Simon Benitez Cruz, Mateo Carreras, Bautista Delguy, and replacement Santiago Grondona all crossed for tries in a record-breaking win for Felipe Contepomi’s side.
Wales, for their part, managed four tries through Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, and Blair Murray, but some defensive frailties and discipline issues proved costly.
Injury overshadows Tandy’s first game in charge
While an Argentine victory might have been predicted - their forward power and incisive backline were always likely to pose problems - the real talking point was the sight of Wales captain Jac Morgan leaving the field injured.
The Ospreys flanker was forced off after scoring Wales’ third try, later confirmed to have dislocated his shoulder, ruling him out for the rest of the autumn campaign.
Head coach Steve Tandy admitted the setback was a significant one: "It’s a blow to lose any player, but losing Jac, he was outstanding out there and the try he scored was unbelievable from that distance. It’s not looking good for the rest of the autumn.
"It is a massive blow. He's a world-class player, he's huge for us and we know how much he loves playing for Wales and how he leads the team. I've seen him in the changing rooms. He's devastated. Ultimately, it's just about Jac now recovering."
Tandy confirmed a replacement will be called up, with Leicester Tigers’ Tommy Reffell and Ospreys’ Harri Deaves among those in contention.
Dewi Lake, who also crossed the line for Wales, echoed his coach’s sentiments: "I’m gutted for Jac, he’s been excellent, he’s a great man, a great leader, he’s massive to this group. It’s just important for us to be around him and hope that he will be alright for us."
Pumas halfbacks in total control
Argentina’s tactical superiority was most evident in their kicking game - an area where Wales struggled throughout.
Tandy described the visitors’ aerial strategy as "outstanding," acknowledging it exposed the inexperience of Wales’ back three. Despite being without first-choice halfbacks Gonzalo Garcia and Tomas Albornoz, the combination of Benitez Cruz and Prisciantelli caused constant problems with their precision and variety.
The pair, who had just nine caps between them before kick-off, controlled the tempo and repeatedly targeted fullback Blair Murray. Small details, such as Prisciantelli’s early grubber kick that pinned Wales deep in their half and set up the opening try, typified Argentina’s sharp game management.
Their second try came from a tactical ploy that backfired on Wales.
Dan Edwards’ up-and-under for Tom Rogers was intercepted by Juan Martin Gonzalez, who released Carreras to chip ahead. Prisciantelli was again on hand to finish, outpacing Murray to score.
Benitez Cruz added another before half-time, dummying past Tomos Williams, and later created Delguy’s try with a deft chip. His late interception of a Ben Thomas pass echoed Nicolás Sánchez’s famous read in the 2023 World Cup clash between the sides.
Signs of progress despite the scoreline
Despite the 50-point concession - and the fact that the defeat marked Wales’ 10th consecutive home loss over 27 months - there were flashes of improvement.
Tandy’s side showed defensive grit when Ben Thomas was yellow-carded in the first half, holding Argentina out despite sustained pressure. Their attack also showed signs of structure and intent, particularly from transitional play, where they looked to move the ball wide and attack space.
Two of Wales’ tries came from tap penalties, with the first built around a clever decoy run from Aaron Wainwright.
The new Dan Edwards-Ben Thomas partnership at 10 and 12 showed promise, with Edwards reflecting positively on the mood within camp despite the result: "I’ve absolutely loved it. I think Steve and the coaching group and the boys have been outstanding, and it’s been a breath of fresh air.
"We’ve all actually loved being around each other - company has been great, the attitude of the group is brilliant and the attitude of the coaches is great as well.
"We just want to go out there and put our game on the field and express ourselves and enjoy playing for your country and I think that is what it’s about."
Argentina’s power, precision, and intelligence were too much for Wales on the day, but there were glimpses of identity and belief beginning to form under Tandy. The loss of Jac Morgan, however, casts a long shadow - both over this series and Wales’ longer-term rebuilding effort.
