In the Pumas first match of the November international window, they beat Wales 52-28 away, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

The team coached by Felipe Contepomi came into the clash against Wales after a demanding participation in The Rugby Championship, which ended with two wins and four defeats. The match represented an important challenge for Argentine to consolidate its place in the top six of the world ranking, key to the draw for the next World Cup.

In an entertaining first half, both teams took the opening minutes to study each other and move the ball cautiously. However, Los Pumas’ confidence grew quickly and they began to exert more and more pressure in the Welsh half. In this way came the first points for the Pumas: after a good play originating from a line-out and maul, Pedro Delgado scored a try after a series of pick & go, in the seventh minute.

Just two minutes later, a new attack on the left by the Albiceleste ended in a debut try for fly-half Gerónimo Prisciantelli, who was able to capitalize on a great kick by Mateo Carreras. Despite the blow, the home side would respond five minutes later with a quick counterattack and a try after a quick combination between Tom Rogers and Tomos Williams. A few minutes later, Wales drew the match level after a long siege of the Argentine goal line that saw hooker Dewi Lake score from close range.

Unfortunately for Wales, Ben Thomas then received a yellow card for foul play on Pablo Matera. From then on, everything would be Los Pumas’: 10 minutes from half-time, Santiago Carreras  put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and three minutes later, scrumhalf Simón Benítez Cruz scored the third try for Felipe Contepomi’s team, after a great job of cleaning Santiago Chocobares’ ruck.

When it seemed that there would be no more scores before the break, Pablo Matera took an aerial ball, beat the Welsh first line of defense and made a masterful left-foot kick deep into the Wales half where for Mateo Carreras was on hand for another Argentine try a minute from the end. Carreras kicked his fourth conversion of the match for Los Pumas to go to the break up by 31 to 14.

The tone of the match did not change in the initial moments of the second half and only three minutes were enough for Los Pumas to add a new try from the hand of Bautista Delguy. For an infraction in the same play, Tomos Williams received a yellow card and left Steve Tandy’s team with a man less once again. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Welsh team replied again and managed to score in the 13th minute thanks to a try by captain Jac Morgan.

Then with Wales attempting to run from deep Prisciantelli took an intercept and the fly-half had a free run to the line to score his second try of the match and Argentina stretched the lead again. With eight minutes to go, the Welsh did not give up and after a series of attempts on the  Argentine goal line, Blair Murray scored a try. However, the match would end with Argentina back on the front foot and the Pumas scored a final try through Santiago Grondona, who put a definitive stamp on the match and a 52-28 victory.

After the match, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, MVP in Cardiff, said: “We knew they were a very tough opponent and difficult to analyse because they came with a new coach and team. It was a huge challenge to come to the Principality Stadium, but the team focused and had a great week of training. We knew what we had to do and I’m happy because we did it on the pitch. We have a lot to correct and improve from here on out, but the important thing is that we stayed true to our game and took a nice victory from here.”

Wales 28 [Tries: Williams, Lake, Morgan, Murray; Cons: Edwards 3, Evans] Argentina 52 [Tries: Delgado, Prisciantelli 2, Benitez Cruz, M.Carreras, Delguy, Grondona; Cons: S.Carreras 7; Pens: S.Carreras]

Yellow cards: Ben Thomas (Wales, 27′), Tomos Williams (Wales, 43′)

Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Carre

Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz , 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera (vice-captain), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Tomas Rapetti, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Rodrigo Isgro

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)