| Wales (10) 20 |
| Tries: Faletau, T Williams Cons: Anscombe 2 Pens: Anscombe, Priestland |
| Argentina (6) 13 |
| Try: Tetaz Chaparro Con: Boffell Pens: Boffelli 2 |
In the second game of the Autumn Nations Series, Wales defeated Argentina.
Tomos Williams and Taulupe Faletau both scored.
The All Blacks scored eight tries against Wales.
Argentina responded with two penalties and a try, but Wales held on for victory.
The Argentines had defeated England at Twickenham last Sunday but could not beat Wayne Pivac's team in Wales.
Wales will host Georgia and Australia in their final two November games.
In the calendar year of 2022, Wales have won three games out of ten.
The home side were indebted to an outstanding performance from the back row of captain Justin Tipuric, player-of-the-match Faletau and flanker Jac Morgan.
Going into the game, it was sixth against ninth in the world rankings and the Argentines were riding high.
Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and England were all defeated by Argentina.
After initially naming an unchanged 23 man squad, head coach Michael Cheika was forced to change his mind due to a rib injury to the captain.
The three changes made by Pivac were at flyhalf, prop and flanker.
Lydiate was in the back-row with Tipuric and Faletau.
The Wales players wore black as a mark of respect for John, who died last weekend.
A switch from wing to full-back for Gloucester's Louis Rees-Zammit was the most interesting selection call.
The first attack of the game was launched by Rees-Zammit who linked up with George North and Faletau.
The young back three had the crowd on its feet as they counter- attacked.
The visitors took the lead through a Boffelli penalty.
New Zealand referee Ben O'Keeffe gave Wales a yellow card in the opening quarter for being too close to the ball and Tipuric received a warning from the official.
After Ken Owens spilled the ball over the line under pressure from Thomas Gallo, Wales regained their composure and hammered away at Argentina's line.
The hosts spent time in the opposition 22 but failed to score points and lost Lydiate to an arm injury.
Faletau scored on his birthday after Wales turned down a kickable penalty to go for a try.
It was a fitting reward for the straight and hard running by the centres, aided by Faletau.
The home side led 10-6) at half-time thanks to a penalty and conversion by Anscombe.
An opportunist try from scrum-half Williams extended the hosts' lead after Rees-Zammit showed his pace with an early counter- attack.
Williams ran down a kick from Juan Cruz Mallia and scored.
Argentina responded with a burst towards the Wales line, but home lock Adam Beard forced a penalty turnover on his own line and some typical Tipuric inspired defence also repelled them.
The same center change was made for the second week in a row by Pivac.
It was 50 minutes before Priestland was brought on.
The closed roof made the slippery conditions at the stadium difficult for both teams.
Will Rowlands was shown a yellow card for a professional foul at a ruck after he played the ball out of an Argentine hand.
The home side didn't allow a point while they were down to 14 men, and Priestland kicked a penalty.
The visitors were back in the game after Boffelli converted a replacement prop's try.
Ben Carter was brought on for Beard because Alun Wyn Jones wasn't in the squad.
Faletau moved to lock and Ryan Elias came on in the back row after Rowlands was injured.
It was a nervy victory for Wales, but they held onto it.
Wales: Anscombe, T Williams, G Thomas, Owens, D Lewis, Beard and Lydiate.
R Jones, Carter, Morgan, and Priestland were added to the roster.
Argentina: Mallia; M Carreras, Moroni, De la Fuente, Boffelli; S Carreras, Bertranou.
There are replacements for the likes of Ruiz, Talbornoz, and Molino.
The referee was Ben O'Keeffe of New Zealand.
The assistant referees are:
The person is Marius van der Westhuizen.
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