Paul James provides Wales squad update ahead of Argentina clash
Rugby NewsWednesday, 08 July 2026 at 20:16
Wales have landed in Buenos Aires ahead of their second Nations Championship outing against Argentina at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan.
Steve Tandy’s side arrive in South America off the back of an impressive 39-24 win against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium.
This was Wales’ first time recording consecutive victories since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, following their 2026 Six Nations campaign, which concluded with a victory against Italy.
CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: Eddie James of Wales celebrates scoring his team's sixth try with teammates during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on July 04, 2026, in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images)
The 33-man squad travelled 7,000 miles and 17 hours to the Argentine capital, where they are spending most of the week preparing for the upcoming Test before travelling on to San Juan.
In his post-match press conference following their win over Fiji, Tandy insisted there would be no excuses from his squad, despite having only one training session ahead of the Test.
"The boys work really hard, and they’ll go to another level for eachother," said scrum coach Paul James, a former Wales international who featured in the 2012 Grand Slam and 2013 Six Nations Championship successes.
"You don't even have to mention that to them, they have got each other's back, and they are willing to work really hard."
Wales’ Dominance Against Fiji
Wales were far more dominant in their discipline and set-pieces last Saturday against Fiji.
Throughout the contest, Wales were penalised only six times to Fiji’s 13, allowing Wales to gain control after an early onslaught of constant pressure from the Fijians' attack.
CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: Aaron Wainwright and Dillon Lewis of Wales celebrate victory at full-time following the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on July 04, 2026, in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images)
Rhys Carré was Wales’ standout performer at scrum time, and tighthead Dillon Lewis also showed his worth in the absence of regulars Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, and Keiron Assiratti.
"There are boys who have missed out on the summer through injury, so it has opened the window for other boys, you know to develop some strength in depth. Happy days for us," said James.
Last weekend also saw Ospreys’ Ben Warren make his international debut as a second-half replacement for Lewis. He played in the uncapped fixture against the Baa-Baas and impressed off the bench, and against Fiji, he impressed.
“I’ve been fortunate to see Ben come through down at the Ospreys," added James, who awarded the 26-year-old his first international cap.
"He is young and brings lots of energy. He has scrummed really well in training; that's why he had his opportunity last weekend. I thought when he came on against Fiji, he was class.
"He got go-forward on the tighthead side. If he gets the opportunity again, it will be good to see him back it up.”
Wales will aim to continue their impressive showing against a strong Argentine front row, which includes captain Julián Montoya at hooker and props Mayco Vivas and Pedro Delgado.
On what he expects from Argentina's front-three, James added: "I think it is a front-row male chest-off, really isn't it?
"In fairness to our boys, they are loving scrummaging at the moment, and we are in a good place. All the boys can't wait for the challenge.
"After the loss last week against Scotland, we know Argentina will come out really hard and fast, and our boys are ready for the challenge.”
James’ New Role
Wales appointed James, eight days out from the uncapped fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham, as the national team’s permanent scrum coach.
The former Ospreys and Bath prop, who won 66 caps for Wales, had already taken on the role temporarily during the 2026 Six Nations following a training injury to former teammate Duncan Jones.
"It has been great. I had a little bit of a taste of it during Six Nations, but to get the job on a full-time basis has been class," said James on his new role.
"It's been really good being back in with the boys, had a couple weeks with them, and we are building something nice.
"I am very proud, even though I am coaching, not playing.
"It is nice to have that buzz of representing your country but just in a slightly different way."
Before joining Tandy’s coaching team, the 44-year-old had been coaching with the Ospreys since 2018 and, in 2021, was the scrum and set-piece coach for Wales U20s.
James, since joining the Wales coaching team, has been working closely with Danny Wilson, who has responsibilities for the lineout and contact area.
Something worth noting about James’s new role: outside of international campaign windows, he will also coach players to continue their development and progression. This will be incredibly important for Wales with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
"It’s massive," insisted James on the importance of the scrum coach role.
"If you haven’t got a set-piece, you haven’t really got a game.
“You can use it in attack, but you can also use your scrum then to get you out of sticky situations.
“The boys have worked hard over the last couple of weeks. The Fijians are big, powerful men. To scrum the way we did, very happy."
CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: Dan Edwards of Wales celebrates victory at full-time following the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Harry Trump - Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images)
Can Wales Make It Four Wins?
Wales head into the contest on Saturday evening having begun to get their act together on the field, after a hat-trick of consecutive wins.
Argentina started their inaugural Nations Championship campaign with a 47-38 home defeat to Scotland in Córdoba, but still have fond memories of facing Wales in Cardiff, when Felipe Contepomi’s side scored more than half a century of points.
However, Los Pumas are buoyed by the welcome returns, as Marcos Kremer missed the Test against Scotland because of the birth of his child, while Toulouse’s Efrain Elias and Montpellier’s Justo Piccardo return to the squad following the conclusion of the Top 14.
On what he expects from Argentina, James said: "For myself, it's my first time in Argentina. For a lot of the boys, it'll be their first time as well. Proper rugby nation.
"Every time we have played them over the years, you always have a great battle with them. It's great.
“I watched a bit of the Scotland game once I got home. They had a great win, but Argentina are a proud team, and they’ll be up for it on their home turf.
"This week has got to be all about us, understanding our roles, we’ve got less time in training, but we aren’t using that as an excuse.
"We are all focus, gone over the plan today, and we're ready to go for Saturday."
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