Rugby Union Match Report | Wales 28 - 52 Argentina
Steve Tandy's reign as Wales head coach began with a heavy defeat
Argentina powered to a record victory in a match that had eleven tries
Author | Steffan Ingram
Stadium | Principality Stadium
Wales suffered their tenth consecutive home defeat, compounded by the loss of inspirational captain Jac Morgan, who Tandy later confirmed had a suspected dislocated shoulder. Morgan picked up the injury while scoring one of Wales’ four tries, with number eight Aaron Wainwright also forced off.
Argentina crossed for seven tries, with fly-half Geronimo Prisciantelli scoring twice, and further tries from prop Pedro Delgado, scrum-half Simon Benitez Cruz, wings Mateo Carreras and Bautista Delguy, and replacement Santiago Grondona. Full-back Santiago Carreras added 17 points with the boot. It marked both the highest score Argentina have ever recorded against Wales and their largest margin of victory.
Wales responded with tries from scrum-half Tomos Williams, hooker Dewi Lake, Morgan, and full-back Blair Murray. Centre Ben Thomas was shown a first-half yellow card for kicking out at Argentina flanker Pablo Matera, narrowly avoiding a red card for the reckless challenge.
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The second half saw the international return of Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit after a two-year absence. In front of 50,185 spectators, Argentina’s win was no surprise, having arrived in Cardiff as strong favourites.
Ranked sixth in the world, six places above Wales, Los Pumas had impressed in the Rugby Championship, including historic victories over Australia and New Zealand. Felipe Contepomi’s experienced matchday squad carried a combined 944 caps, 400 more than the Welsh side.
An international education for the new boss
It is now 27 months or 827 days since Wales won an international game in Cardiff, a triumph against England in a World Cup warm-up match in August 2023.
Wales had ended an abysmal record run of 18 straight defeats with victory in their last summer Test in Japan, so Tandy was coming in with a fresh slate.
He became the first Welshman to become the men's permanent head coach since Gareth Jenkins left office in 2007.
Tandy has risen from the small village of Tonmawr with more than 300 of the village side's supporters travelling to Cardiff to cheer on one of its favourite sons.
Tandy left his previous role as Scotland defence coach for this challenge and has had to cope with the latest off-the-field turmoil with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announcing they were planning to cut a men's professional side, leaving players worried about their job security.
If Tandy did not know the magnitude of the challenge he has taken on before this first game, he certainly will now.
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