WALES bounced back in style from their fifty points mauling against New Zealand to grind out a richly-deserved victory against the dangerous Pumas.
If Wayne Pivac’s team had suffered the same fate as England – who joined New Zealand and Australia among Argentina’s 2022 victims last week – it would have piled the pressure on the Wales coach.
His team had lost seven of their previous nine matches this year, and could not afford another defeat with the World Cup looming large.
But after allowing Argentina to race into a 6-0 lead, tries from Taulupe Faletau and Tomos Williams turned the tide, and Wales dominated the match.
It was also a much-improved defensive performance from the Dragons’ led by skipper Justin Tipuric and man of the match Faletau.
It seemed nothing went right for Pivac or Wales a week earlier. This time they could do little wrong.
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Pivac’s bold decision to switch Louis Rees-Zammit from wing to full back almost paid instant dividends, as the Gloucester speedster’s first touch saw him collect a long kick, and beat two men to launch a thrilling counter attack.
But it was the Pumas who struck first, taking advantage of poor Welsh discipline to ease into a 6-0 lead with two penalties from Emiliano Boffelli, the 25 point hero of last weekend’s shock win over England.
That dodgy opening spell revived painful memories of the penalty-riddled start that sent Wales crashing to another hammering from the All Blacks. But this time they came storming back.
The outstanding Faletau crashed over from a lineout drive and Gareth Anscombe’s conversion was followed by a simple penalty to give the home team a 10-6 half time lead.
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Tomos Williams stretched the Welsh lead to 11 points with a charge down try six minutes into the second half, with Anscombe again adding the extras.
And despite a yellow card for lock Will Rowland the Dragons moved 20-6 ahead with a penalty from replacement fly half Rhys Priestland.
A pushover try from prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparto, converted by Boffelli left the Dragons facing an anxious final 11 minutes, but they held on for a morale-boosting victory.
Tipuric paid tribute to the Welsh “defensive wall”, saying: “Argentina are a very good team, and if we hadn’t shown tons of character and the right attitude, there was a danger they could have steamrollered us the eway New Zealand did.
“But the boys all fronted up brilliantly. That is a testament to the spirit and determination in this squad.”
