​Wales failed to capitalize on an encouraging start as Argentina surged to a comfortable 35-21 victory in their Nations Championship clash in San Juan on Saturday. The visitors drew first blood when Dewi Lake crossed early in the match, but the Pumas responded swiftly, producing the first of their five tries to seize the momentum. Rhys Carre levelled the scores for Wales with a try of his own, yet Argentina hit a decisive spell around the interval, scoring three tries in a 13-minute window either side of half-time to open up a commanding lead before Ben Warren’s late consolation for Wales.
Sam Costelow added the extras for all three of Wales’s tries, but Argentina, with Joaquin Oviedo shining in particular after scoring twice, deserved the win as they recovered from their earlier defeat to Scotland. The Pumas dominated long phases of play, adding further tries from Justo Piccardo, Marcos Kremer, and Santiago Carreras, with Tomas Albornoz contributing 10 points through penalties and conversions.
Wales, buoyed by last week’s victory over Fiji, started strongly with Lake’s try in the fourth minute, but Argentina quickly struck back as Oviedo finished off a break to level the scores two minutes later. Piccardo put Argentina ahead for the first time, yet his score owed much to Bautista Delguy’s improvisational brilliance, catching a high ball and offloading in one motion to set up the move. Wales thought they had responded when Jac Morgan burst over in a ruck-filled scramble, but the try was disallowed after a lengthy review for an infringement at the ruck. The visitors soon struck again, as Carre powered over from close range to bring the scores level once more.
Argentina then intensified, adding two more tries to lead 28-14 at half-time. Kremer powered over, and Carreras completed a flowing move after a sustained spell of pressure, extending the hosts’ advantage. The Pumas did not relent after the break, with Piccardo delivering the assist for Oviedo’s second try of the match, further cementing Argentina’s grip on the encounter.
Wales refused to roll over and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Warren found space to score, reducing the deficit and briefly reigniting hopes of a comeback. However, Argentina steadied themselves and saw out the closing stages with relative ease, sealing the 35-21 victory. The result reflected a disciplined and composed performance from the hosts, who controlled large swathes of the game and executed their plan effectively.
In a match that showcased Argentina’s resilience and attacking flair, Oviedo’s two-try performance stood out, supported by Piccardo, Kremer, and Carreras, while Albornoz’s boot provided the steady scoreboard pressure. For Wales, Costelow managed to convert all three of their tries, but the overall performance left them with a challenging lesson as they look ahead in this Nations Championship campaign.