Dream Debut Turns Sour for Tandy and Wales
On Sunday, the hopes of a nation and a small Welsh village rested on Steve Tandy's shoulders as he took charge of the Welsh rugby team for the first time. More than 300 residents from Tandy's home village of Tonmawr made the journey up the M4 to Cardiff's Principality Stadium, wearing their club colours with immense pride. However, the occasion ended in bitter disappointment as Wales succumbed to a record 52-24 defeat against a formidable Argentine side.
Promising Start Unravels Amid Defensive Woes
The match began ominously for the new head coach, with his young team conceding two quick tries to find themselves 14-0 down within the opening quarter. Despite showing early promise through Blair Murray on the wing, Wales struggled to contain Argentina's forward dominance and aerial game. Pedro Delgado and player of the match Geronimo Prisciantelli crossed for early scores, continuing a worrying trend for Welsh supporters.
To their credit, Wales mounted an impressive response. Neat handling sent Tomos Williams between the posts, with Tom Rogers and Jac Morgan playing crucial roles in the build-up. The 50,185-strong crowd, though fewer than capacity due to Wales' recent struggles, nearly "took the roof off" when Dewi Lake crashed over to level the scores after Wales turned down an easy three points.
Turning Point: Thomas Yellow Card Proves Costly
The game's momentum shifted decisively when Cardiff centre Ben Thomas received a yellow card for a reckless attempted kick on Pablo Matera. Despite not making contact, referee Ben O'Keeffe deemed the action worthy of a sin-binning, leaving Wales with 14 men. Argentina capitalised immediately, scoring two quick tries through Simon Benitez Cruz and Mateo Carreras just before half-time to establish a commanding 31-14 lead.
Wales' first-half statistics made for grim reading: 19 missed tackles and a wobbly line-out undermined their efforts, while their defence appeared too passive - particularly concerning given Tandy's reputation as a defensive specialist.
Morgan's Brave Performance Overshadowed by Injury
Captain Jac Morgan delivered an inspirational performance, whirling around the pitch "like a dervish" and demonstrating why he was Wales' only Test Lion during the summer tour. His efforts were rewarded with a deserved second-half try, but the celebration turned to concern as he appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the act of scoring and was forced to leave the field.
The sight of Morgan watching the remainder of the game from the bench will worry Welsh fans, with the captain now a significant doubt for Wales' remaining three autumn internationals. To compound Welsh woes, Aaron Wainwright also limped off as Tandy's men ended the game "not only beaten but battered and bruised".
Although Blair Murray grabbed a late Welsh fourth try and Louis Rees-Zammit made his return to rugby, the outcome had long been decided. Santiago Grondona completed the scoring with Argentina's seventh try, cementing a record Pumas victory over Wales that will give Steve Tandy plenty to ponder as he begins his tenure as national coach.
