Wales were comprehensively defeated by Argentina, going down 28-52 in what was Steve Tandy’s first match as head coach, exposing the scale of the task ahead to restore the team to its former glory.
The match began with Argentina dominating early, scoring two quick tries, but Wales fought back with scores from Tomos Williams and hooker Dewi Lake, momentarily lifting the home crowd. The intensity, however, was short-lived as a yellow card for centre Ben Thomas allowed Argentina to regain control. The incident, in which Thomas kicked towards Pablo Matera’s head while being held in a ruck, sparked debate over whether a harsher sanction was warranted, though he ultimately avoided a red card.
Wales’ captain Jac Morgan provided a bright spark, scoring a try, but his efforts came at a cost as he dislocated his shoulder. His injury is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the autumn internationals, forcing Tandy to call in reinforcements. Despite the heavy loss, Morgan and full-back Blair Murray offered glimpses of resilience and attacking threat.
The return of Louis Rees-Zammit also offered some encouragement. The 24-year-old wing, who had left rugby to pursue an NFL career, returned to the field as a replacement, bringing pace and energy to Wales’ attack. His last Test appearance was against Argentina during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, making his return particularly symbolic.
Argentina’s winger Mateo Carreras was influential throughout, exploiting gaps and finishing opportunities with clinical precision. Further tries from Bautista Delguy and Argentina’s forwards ensured the visitors maintained their dominance, while sin-bins for Wales players compounded the host side’s struggles.
Fan morale appeared low, with thousands of empty seats at the Principality Stadium and pre-game discussions highlighting growing frustration with the team’s results. The match underscored the work required under Tandy, who will aim to regroup ahead of Wales’ next fixture against Japan.
While it was a challenging opener, the caveats include this being Tandy’s debut and Wales’ first match since July, contrasting with Argentina’s ongoing Rugby Championship campaign. Nonetheless, the heavy defeat sends a clear signal that Wales have a long way to go before reclaiming their previous standing in world rugby.
