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Wales humbled at home by Argentina

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Wales suffered a Test series defeat at the hands of Argentina as they were beaten 33-11 by a strong Pumas side in Cardiff.

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Wayne Pivac’s men – who were without their British and Irish Lions stars – drew with Argentina in the first game of the two-match series, but they were lucky to only be 17-8 down at half time in the second.

They were second best in the forward exchanges, made too many basic errors and came nowhere near Argentina’s tempo.

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Owen Lane did open the scoring, but Argentina capitalised on Welsh mistakes to score through Matias Moroni and Tomas Cubelli.

The kicking of Nicolas Sanchez guided Argentina home and to a fully deserved win in the second half, while Pablo Matera grabbed a third Pumas try in the 79th minute.

Wales v Argentina - Summer Series 2021 - Principality Stadium

Sanchez missed a simple early penalty attempt on a gloriously sunny Cardiff afternoon.

Wales soon made the Pumas pay. Leon Brown’s lovely tip on pass allowed Jarrod Evans to set Jonathan Davies free and he passed to Lane who finished well in the corner. Evans’ touchline kick hit the post.

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Argentina seemed angered by the score and, after a series of powerful forward carries, Moroni crashed over. Sanchez, unlike Evans, was successful from wide out.

Wales v Argentina - Summer Series 2021 - Principality Stadium

Wales’ attack initially looked promising – Tom Rogers dropped a simple pass to stem one move – but there were too many Welsh penalties and Argentina’s forward power was dangerous.

Their scrum-half Cubelli sniped for the line but spilled the ball.

Wales’ defence was too passive and it allowed Argentina’s forwards a foothold.

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Sanchez kicked a simple three points a few minutes after prop Brown popped up at a scrum and was penalised.

Wales v Argentina - Summer Series 2021 - Principality Stadium

Argentina grabbed their second with Cubelli making it second time lucky.

It came after Moroni kicked ahead down the left wing and caught Evans in possession. Referee Luke Pearce initially penalised him for a knock on, but the ball came off the Argentine’s head.

The Pumas were given the scrum put-in as a result and Cubelli went over from there.

Sanchez converted and, while Evans responded with a penalty, Wales were up against it. They did have a good attacking position before half-time, but Elliot Dee’s line-out throw went wrong.

Sanchez missed with a long-range drop-goal attempt but his team deservedly led at the break.

Evans had to get back and stop Sanchez from scoring at the start of the second half and Wales captain Davies kicked out on the full. Rogers then passed to the floor with Lane in space.

Pivac had seen enough and replaced Brown, Dee and Ben Carter. Matthew Screech came on for his Wales debut. Evans then kicked a penalty and Willis Halaholo replaced the struggling Rogers.

Sanchez responded with three points of his own to make it 20-11.

But Hallam Amos was then yellow carded for taking out Santiago Carreras in the air as he looked to reclaim his own kick and Sanchez kicked Argentina further clear.

Wales could not come back with a man light as their handling errors continued in the final quarter. Sanchez kicked another penalty after he had hit the post with a monster earlier effort before Matera added insult to injury for those of a Welsh persuasion.

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T
TT 16 minutes ago
Jason Ryan unpacks selection changes and their future impact

AB forward pack solidifying & experimenting nicely. Yes need all combinations, including back ups, tested & solidified asap.


The backline's down the other end of the spectrum, from 9 back ups to wings is all up in the air. Mainly because to many have been given too many chances to prove themselves for too long, ie while NZ other backline riches languish… or move to Japan, eg the 1 thing that has to be stopped, if it can, is NZ's most powerful centre, & exactly what ABs need, move to Japan, ie Peter Umaga-Jensen.


Add backline talent like Fakatava, D.McKenzie (permanently), Josh Jacomb, Tavatavanaw, Q.Tupaea, again Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, AJ Lam, Narawa, Tangitau, Naholo


This is the AB squad & team to win every future test, including the next RWC.


Order in preference /{1st pick}/ [ONJ=Once Not Injured ] / (back up)


1 {De Groot} [ONJ - Williams, Tu’ungafasi] Ollie Norris


2 { Taylor } Taukei’aho [ONJ - Aumua]


3 {Tosi} [ONJ - Lomax ] (Newell )


4,5 Locks {[ONJ - S.Barrett], Holland, Tuipulotu }, ( Vaa’i , Antonio Shalfoon, Isaia Walker-Leawere, [ONJ - Oliver Haig] )


6,7,8 Loose forwards { A.Savea, [ONJ - Lakai, Sititi], Finau, Kirifi } (Christian Lio-Willie, Vaa’i )


9 {Roigard } Ratima (Fakatava)


10 {D.McK} B.Barrett (Josh Jacomb)


12 {Tavatavanawai} Q.Tupaea (Billy Proctor)


13 { Peter Umaga-Jensen} Billy Proctor (AJ Lam)


11, 14 { W.Jordan, Narawa } [ONJ - Tangitau, Naholo] (Reece , C.Clarke)


15 {J.Barrett} B.Barrett (Love)

2 Go to comments
J
JW 36 minutes ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Common now, I checked, and I have also seen your replies to Graham just now. You know the AB tests rated higher. A ‘Friendly’! You know they go back in history even further, right?


So I can’t believe you are correct when you say it brings in the money. I can understand though playing better nations than those in the 6N but which don’t have a profile (like how Argentina is still a hard rate in NZ even after years of high performance), don’t generate the same interest as Wales etc. You’re also not going to have a SA or a NZ touring every November, and Wallabies are no longer the benchmark.


I mean I wouldn’t doubt that the most obvious revenue factor is a 6N component, not trying to say that it isn’t, just that fans show that it needn’t be. November test should still generate a high amount of revenue. As a topic it is all redundant now as the November tests (and July) are going to have a competitive factor.


Hopefully the quality of nations continue to rise and you can have three blockbuster teams touring every year in the not too distant future. 10 or 11 games might be right around the perfect number for a minimum tier 1 test nation too. I’m sure you’re going to make the rest of your season fit around that (those aren’t 100% things at all).


So although WR have already implemented change, I do still agree with your opinion that things are pretty good as they are. I only see a little improvement needed before France can really step up to All Blacks or Springbok level. You might think that a joke and that you will always look up to these teams but as a nation you really can do/go one better.

344 Go to comments
J
JW 53 minutes ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

It was a reply to both your posts sorry, I mean stuff you replied to NB about only focusing on 6N and hoping that.. narrowness will benefit a WC campaign.


I think WCs are harder to win than that (requires many factors other than being able to play the best winning rugby), and 5 matches that aren’t must win and are broken up is not a good test (especially compared what the All Blacks offered).

I’m fully aware that French International players participation into Top 14, European Cups & 6 Nations will hinder their preparation for a WC.

So I wasn’t saying suggesting that. Your competitions are fine, they just aren’t going to provide everything.


Interesting insight on the last campaign, and again, those components they’re adding are also practical and sensible attempts to improve their chances at a WC. So they question remains, why go to those lengths and throw it all away by not picking a better team to travel to New Zealand?


I’ve suggested in other topics they are really close to making it work, but also the data that’s been presented in this articles shows that even now they could have also made the tour to NZ work.


That is both in the view as presented here by NB and what other players were available, and in the long term planning that you say Galthie has undertaken, in not taking the opportunity to make it work even better (factors like the dates of these tests could have seen finalists available from test 1) for a tour like this.


TBH, I can understand if Galthie made a calculated decision to undervalue the tour. Many have had a bad opinion about the All Blacks ability/level under Foster, and even in test 1 he might have shown such an attitude to be correct still under Razor.

344 Go to comments
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