"Disappointed with the result"- Steve Tandy reacts as Wales overpowered by Argentina: 5 Talking Points
Rugby NewsSunday, 12 July 2026 at 00:03
Following beginning their inaugural Nations Championship campaign on the front foot with a victory against Fiji, after a 7,000-mile journey, Wales were brushed aside by a determined Argentina at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan.
Steve Tandy’s side made a bright start early in the contest with first-half crosses from Dewi Lake and Rhys Carré, but after Joaquín Oviedo scored twice, he proved to be the difference as Los Pumas claimed the spoils 35-21.
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Also scoring for Felipe Contepomi’s side in this dominant five-try display were Justo Piccardo, Marcos Kremer, and Santiago Carreras, with outside-half Tomás Albornoz remaining 100% from the tee.
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Dewi Lake of Wales gestures during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
Ospreys’ Ben Warren, who made his debut against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium last Saturday, powerfully crossed in the final quarter, as Wales found positives, but it proved insufficient.
Scroll down for the talking points from Tandy’s post-match press conference in San Juan.
1- Wales Return to Losing Ways
This was always going to be a much tougher Test match than against Fiji last Saturday, with Argentina being ranked four positions above Wales in the World Rugby rankings in seventh.
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Players of Wales line up for the national anthem prior to the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
Despite starting their summer campaign with two wins against the Barbarians and the Flying Fijians, this outing in the southern hemisphere proved to be a reality check for Wales, who were hunting for a third successive Test win.
“Obviously disappointed with the result, despite some of the performance in the first-half,” began Tandy.
“I thought the boys stuck in and potentially could have got four tries and a losing bonus point pop out of the back end, but there are a lot of lessons in there for us.
“They’re coming away from home and need to be a bit more accurate. Argentina dominated the physicality piece early doors, which is something that we definitely need to have a look at going forward.”
2- Wales suffers from brutal travel?
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Rhys Carre of Wales celebrates scoring his team's second try with teammate Jac Morgan during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
Following the victory against Fiji, Wales made the 7,000-mile journey, crossing four time zones to Buenos Aires, which was an 18-hour flight as Tandy’s side arrived on two separate flights.
Then they had only one training session on Wednesday in the Argentinian capital, before taking a short flight to San Juan on Thursday evening.
“They’re a good team; they have had more time together off the back of the Scotland game as well,” continued Tandy, who stated that the brutal schedule would not be an excuse for his side.
“Away from home, we know they are an outstanding team. We felt in a good place coming in, and it is disappointing the way the game had finished for us.
“It’s a great lesson for us.”
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Aaron Wainwright of Wales is tackled by Tomas Rapetti, Julian Montoya and Marcos Kremer of Argentina during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
When Wales last faced Argentina, it was Tandy’s first game in charge, and that afternoon in the Welsh capital, his side were beaten comfortably 52-28.
This time around, albeit still on the losing side, Wales have shown a great deal of progress since that meeting in Cardiff, but with a slimmer scoreline, it is a backward step in performance after positive results.
On the performance, which started with so much promise, Tandy added: “We fell off a few tackles in the first half, and then that creates momentum.
“It is hard to get that wrestle back and that sort of gain line back. There’s something there we will have to go away and look at.”
3- Kane James Makes Debut
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Kane James of Wales looks on prior to the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
Exeter’s Kane James came on as a second-half replacement to win his first international cap. He replaced Aaron Wainwright, who had also made his Test debut in San Juan in 2018.
When he came on, Wales enjoyed further possession, and tight-head replacement Warren scored as he, along with his teammates, enjoyed some encouraging signs in the closing moments
“It’s a disappointing result, but the experiences that we are creating as a young group- getting Kane his first appearance is brilliant for us; he’s been awesome in the group.
“It’s a brilliant achievement,” said Tandy.
4- Wales to make changes
With the travel aspect taking centre stage for much of this inaugural Nations Championship, Tandy will undoubtedly make changes.
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Dewi Lake of Wales celebrates scoring his team's first try with teammate Jac Morgan during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
As tiring as it must be for Wales and other nations this summer, even drinking 3 litres of Red Bull (other energy drinks available) may not help with the fatigue likely to be faced.
For this contest alone, Tandy had made three changes, with Ellis Mee replacing Louis Rees-Zammit on the wing, Dan Edwards replaced by Sam Costelow, and James Botham starting at open-side over Alex Mann.
On whether he will make changes for next Saturday’s clash against the Springboks, Tandy added: “Everyone might not get a chance, but we will definitely make some changes from the game.
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JULY 11: Sam Costelow of Wales kicks a conversion during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and Wales at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on July 11, 2026 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
“It’s a lot of travel. It is physical. Playing Fiji and the Barbarians as well, which has been big for us.
“Argentina was a huge game; we will assess everyone and see how they pull up, and then we will make a decision Sunday evening / Monday on the team.”
5- Double World Champions Up Next
Wales will now travel across five time zones to face world champions South Africa in Durban next Saturday, while Argentina will host England in Santiago del Estero.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Jesse Kriel of South Africa and Handre Pollard of South Africa following victory in the 2026 Nations Championship match between South Africa and Scotland at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag - Nations Championship/Getty Images)
“Get back to the hotel and recover, and get ready to travel,” said Tandy, whose side will fly to South Africa on Sunday.
“The next 24 hours, we will be travelling. Get back to the hotel, see and assess everybody, see where they are at and then get a good night's sleep and get ready to travel to South Africa.
“How good (to play South Africa in their own backyard).
“It’s brilliant for us. I talk a lot about us, where we are going, from the first, second, and third campaigns, and we had a great result last week.
“We would like more from our performance, but I think that is the expectation we got as a group going forward. Again, there is disappointment.
“Then, going to face the world champions, we know that they could probably put out two or three different teams that are really impressive.
“It is something that is good for us to learn from today, and then assess how we are going to attack the game next Saturday.”
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