Pumas well and truly tamed by Gat’s lads
WALES secured their first series win in Argentina since 1999 as Warren Gatland’s side claimed a second straight victory over the Pumas with a comfortable success in sunny Santa Fe.
This was supposed to resemble a developmental tour for the next generation of young Welsh talent, but three straight wins means a delighted Gatland has got more than he bargained for.
Victory by more than 15 points also means Wales have jumped to third in World Rugby’s rankings above bitter rivals England.
After an impressive 23-10 victory in the first Test in San Juan, Wales produced the goods once again at the Estadio Brigadier Lopez.
Tries from Josh Adams and Hallam Amos did the damage against a woeful home outfit who, if they replicate this form in the upcoming Rugby Championship, look like they will be in real trouble.
Argentina’s points came from a Bautista Delguy try, but their woeful discipline allowed Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell to end the game with six penalties in a 20point haul.
The only sour note came with a red card for Ross Moriarty after a scuffle broke out after the final hooter.
Gatland has placed player development as the most important aspect of this tour and made five changes to his team with Patchell edging Gareth Anscombe for the pivotal fly-half spot.
Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Ellis Jenkins, Aled Davies and Owen Watkin also began the game with Argentina making one change too. Martin Landajo replaced Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half.
Wales made a fine start. A positive early driving maul was only stopped when referee Jaco Peyper hit the ground in the process, but Patchell – after being smashed by Pablo Matera – stepped up to open the scores.
For the second straight week, Argentina were error-prone. They coughed up a needless free-kick at a scrum on the Welsh line and were then penalised for double movement in kicking territory.
Patchell brushed off boos from the home crowd to make it 6-0 but then pushed his third effort of the day wide after Wales had got another impressive shove on at scrum time. It mattered little. A loose Patchell pass fell to Adams and with little on, the Worcester wing delivered a moment of pure magic out of nothing. With little on, he ran the ball back, seating two Argentine defenders on their backsides before racing to the line. Peyper sent the score to the TMO as it looked like Francis was guilty of blocking, but the score stood and Patchell nailed the conversion. A 13-0 lead was just reward for Wales’ dominance.
It was now one-sided. Watkin touched down a Patchell cross-kick and although Jenkins was penalised for blocking, Wales already had the advantage.
Peyper brought the play back for a penalty in front of the posts and Patchell did the rest, then added another kick after Jenkins won a shot at the sticks with some fine breakdown work.
At 19-0 up Wales looked out of sight, but Argentina gave themselves a lifeline just before the break.
Ross Moriarty jumped out of the defensive line and the galloping Guido Petti charged through to give the try-scoring pass to wing Delguy. Sanchez failed to add the extras.
Patchell kicked a monster penalty from inside his own half to settle any Welsh nerves on the game’s resumption and it forced Argentina into early forward changes.
The Pumas had been chasing their opponents almost since the first whistle and even though the game was more fractious, it suited Wales whose setpiece was excellent.
Props Rob Evans and Francis were excelling and another scrum penalty saw Patchell step up to slot another long range three points. It made it 25-5 and then Amos ended the game as a contest.
Wales’ first try was a sublime individual effort. Their second was a fine team score, Patchell starting things but Moriarty and George North played crucial roles with some lovely hands.
North sent Amos over although Patchell couldn’t convert in the 56th minute.
Argentina scored an 84th minute consolation try through Julian Montoya, their replacement hooker.