Wales Hand Hourcade’s Argentina a Reality Check

Wales handed Daniel Hourcade’s Argentina a reality check. With Mario Ledesma having taken Los Jaguares to six consecutive Super Rugby wins there was reason to believe Argentina would impress today. Instead an organized and smart Wales was no match for a poor Pumas side, winning 23-10.

The result was salt into the wound for Daniel Hourcade and the UAR. Both had been set to select European-Based players again for Los Pumas. Their reversal came ahead of the June Internationals and saw a poor showing with Wales winning battles across the board.

Argentina did, however, score first. Slotting a 2nd minute penalty was Nicolás Sánchez. It would be his only score of the afternoon and Wales would quickly gain the lead and maintain it throughout the match.

Wales would open their scoring in the 8th minute. They did so via flanker James Davies who touched down in right corner. Davies received a magnificent pass from Hallam Amos who was up from fullback to link brilliantly with Davies. Try try caught Los Pumas off-guard with three men marking Amos despite Davies being outside him.

The try had come following two penalties against Wales in the opening six minutes. Both were for Los Pumas not releasing on the ground. Four identical penalties would be committed by Argentina in the match.

In the 10th minute Los Jaguares were awarded a penalty while attacking. Already in Wales’ 22 they turned down a regulation kick at goal to go for a try. Sánchez’ kick for the corner went dead, letting of Wales lightly.

Several minutes later a second kickable penalty would be turned down. This time around the kick was accurate and Los Pumas set-up a 5 meter lineout. Having won the ball and mauled ahead repeated raids followed with Argentina closing in on a try. Over went Marcos Kremer though the TMO was unable to confirm he grounding.

An additional change would go begging minutes later, this time due to Wales again winning a breakdown penalty with Argentina failing to release.

Now out of their own 22 Wales had a lineout on halfway. A simple move off the top saw scrum-half Gareth Davies darting through and linking with George North who scored untouched.

The 27th minute try was telling as was a Sánchez error in the 29th minute. With Argentina moving upfield, Sánchez kicked the ball out on the full.

Argentina continued to press but their domination of possession was not changing the scoring. Warren Gatland’s superior coaching saw Argentina shut-down again. This time after Matías Orlando had broken into the Welsh 22 Cory Hill would see his side being awarded a scrum. From there Gareth Davies would run 40 meters to a quick tap. 

A minute later Wales would be lining up a shot at goal. It came from an unnecessary knock-on from Matías Orlando who received a tough off-load pass from Jerónimo de la Fuente. The pass was a clear differential between Ledesma and Hourcade with such passes not happening in Los Jaguares. Patchell landed the 40 meter penalty from in front for Wales.

With two minutes remaining in the opening half Argentina had a penalty and kicked for the corner. Their lack of patience and execution was again present with a forward pass seeing their attack ended.

The second half began with Argentina 17-3 behind yet the South Americans had had 65% possession. Matters were not helped by Sánchez not playing in the second half. Instead Santiago González was fly half. The same player has not started at 10 all year for Los Jaguares.

The injury was a reminder of the missing players. The same heroics shown by Benjamín Urdapilleta for Castres were required today for Argentina. Additional impact from Europe was also missing with Hourcade unable to get Ledesma’s Jaguares to perform.

Wales, meanwhile, were in firm control. The second half scoring opened in the 44th minute. Landing a penalty was Patchell.

With Wales out to a 20-3 lead Argentina’s injury concerns grew. Marcos Kremer took a bad shoulder hit but played on. Pablo Matera was not so fortunate with he being forced off in the 46th minute.

No team would score again until the final minutes. Patchell’s 100% kicking record ended in the 51st minute when he missed a long-rage penalty. In the 63rd minute Los Pumas went close but were let down by a knock-on from replacement winger Sebastián Cancelliere 5 meters out.

The quest for a try would also see Julián Montoya denied. His score was disallowed by the TMO after he crawled over. The try would eventually come but was far too late. Scoring was Tomás Lezana two minutes from full-time. The replacement charged over after Los Pumas had been camped in front of Welsh try line.

With time up Wales officially made it a 23-10 result. Replacement Gareth Anscombe’s penalty concluded what was a good win for the Europeans. Wales had handed Hourcade’s Argentina a reality check and they now have a tough week ahead of them before the rematch in Santa Fé.

Attendance: 23,200

SCORING

ARGENTINA
Try: Lezana
Conversion: González Iglesias
Penalty: Sánchez

WALES
Try: J Davies, North
Conversion: Patchell (2)
Penalty: Patchell (2), Anscombe

ARGENTINA
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Emiliano Boffelli

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Javier Díaz, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Sebastián Cancelliere

WALES
1 Rob Evans, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Adam Beard, 5 Cory Hill (capt.), 6 Seb Davies, 7 James Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 9 Gareth Davies, 10 Rhys Patchell, 11 George North, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Scott Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 15 Hallam Amos

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Owen Watkin