Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez scored 18 points as Argentina streaked to victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
One week on from a 20-20 draw at the same venue, the Pumas scored three tries to one for a 33-11 win over the reigning Six Nations champions.
While coach Wayne Pivac, already without several first-choice players on the British & Irish Lions tour, fielded a new-look team, Argentina’s match-day squad featured nine of the players who started their impressive win over New Zealand last year.
Wales opened the scoring through a try from Owen Lane but Argentina responded with tries from wing Matias Moroni, scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and flank Pablo Matera, while Sanchez kicked the Pumas’ remaining 18 points.
Pivac had made it clear he saw the Argentina series as a chance to develop Wales’ squad depth ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France but his team was dominated at the scrum – a traditional strength of Argentina’s rugby – and in the air, with the Pumas deploying a simple but effective ball-carrying game to make far fewer errors than Wales.
Argentina made two changes, with wing Bautista Delguy and centre Santiago Chocobares starting following last week’s red card for fullback Juan Cruz Mallia.
Cardiff wing Lane finished well to open the scoring before Argentina hit back as Moroni surged across for a try converted by Sanchez.
Sanchez punished Welsh indiscipline with a penalty before Cubelli, who would have scored earlier but for a knock-on, crossed for a try that was duly converted.
Jarrod Evans kicked a penalty for Wales but Argentina were well worth their 17-8 lead at half time.
Evans’ second penalty did move the hosts close to within a score, but fresh indiscipline gifted Sanchez another penalty before Wales fullback Hallam Amos was yellow-carded for taking out opposite number Carreras in the air.
Taine Basham’s late tackle on Carreras had English referee Luke Pearce award Argentina another penalty, with Sanchez adding three points to the Pumas’ tally.
Sanchez hit the post with a long-range penalty attempt before the No 10 was back on target again.
The dynamic Matera then crossed for Argentina’s third try, with Sanchez’s conversion completing the scoring.
© Agence France-Presse
