Wales set stall out for World Cup as Pumas pay for indiscipline
Argentina 12 Wales 30
Fly-half Rhys Patchell kicked 20 points as Wales beat Argentina 30-12 in Santa Fe in the second Test to clinch the series 2-0.
Patchell kicked a conversion and six penalties to ensure Wales won a series in Argentina for only the second time, and moved to third in the world rankings, ahead of England.
Wales sent a clear warning to opponents at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. They have beaten South Africa once and Argentina twice this month and, rotating selection, have built a deep pool of talent.
In contrast, Argentina’s World Cup prospects look bleak, after a 23-10 defeat in the first Test. The Pumas were fourth at the 2015 World Cup, third in 2007, and finished in the top eight in 1999 and 2011. But recent Test performances point to a decline which might be hard to reverse in the year left before the tournament.
The Argentina pack, once the source of their strength, are no longer the force they once were, which was reflected last night when coach Daniel Hourcade replaced captain Agustin Creevy, lock Tomas Lavanini, and flanker Pablo Matera after 48 minutes.
The Pumas once again centred their play around the forwards, using the pick-and-go style which has served them well. But they were unable to retain possession, due mainly to the performance of the Wales back row, who competed superbly at the breakdown.
Argentina’s indiscipline was again a major issue as they gave away a steady stream of penalties inside their own half. Patchell’s unerring boot ensured they paid heavily.
The match ended on a sour note for Wales when No 8 Ross Moriarty received a red card in injury-time after putting a choke hold on Pumas fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, which he refused to release when ordered by the assistant referee. It was an ugly incident, even more so when a member of the Argentina medical staff became involved.
If there was a further concern for Wales, it was that they managed only one try in each half from a dominant performance – the first from an opportunist effort by wing Josh Adams.
Argentina scored two tries, the first through wing Bautista Delguy, his first Test try. But they appeared to lack the confidence to use the ball out wide until Wales’ mounting score forced their hand. After Moriarty’s dismissal and in the fifth minute of injury time, they managed a consolation try by replacement hooker Julian Montoya.
Wales opened the scoring with two penalties to Patchell before Adams’ try made the score 13-0. The wing received a loose pass near the right touchline, retrieved the ball then darted infield, piercing a huge gap in the Pumas’ midfield and scoring untouched after stepping the final defender.
Further penalties to Patchell made the lead 19-0 before Argentina gave themselves a flicker of hope with Delguy’s try just before half-time. Wales sealed the match with a try by full-back Hallam Amos midway through the second half, moving the ball wide to George North then infield to Amos.
Argentina E Boffelli; B Delguy, M Orlando, J de la Fuente, R Moyano; N Sanchez, M Landajo; S Garcia Botta, A Creevey (capt), N Tetaz Chaparro, G Petti, T Lavanini, P Matera, M Kremer, J Ortega Desio. Replacements J Montoya, J Diaz, S Medrano, M Alemanno, T Lezana, G Bertranou, S Gonzalez Iglesias, S Cancelliere. Wales H Amos; J Adams, S Williams, O Watkin, G North; R Patchell, A Davies; R Evans, R Elias, T Francis, A Beard, C Hill (capt), E Jenkins, J Davies, R Moriarty. Replacements E Dee, N Smith, D Lewis, B Davies, J Turnbull, T Williams, G Anscombe, T Prydie. Referee Jaco Peyper (South Africa)