We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Tue 13 Nov 2012 | 03:12
Argentina beat Wales in Cardiff for the first time in eleven years

17
Comments

Argentina claimed a well deserved first victory in Cardiff for eleven years as they beat Wales 26-12 on Saturday. It gets worse for the hosts as it's been confirmed that they've lost more players to injury ahead of their meeting with Samoa.

Argentina, fresh from the Rugby Championship which saw them compete with the best of the southern hemisphere, showed how match-fit they were as they shut out the Six Nations champions.

"Their experience and their exposure to the Rugby Championship have taken them to another level," said Wales interim coach Rob Howley. "You have to play against the best to learn, and they’ve certainly learned from it."

Argentina's inspirational captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe said after the game that as a group, they were searching for the win for a long time.

"We are so happy to be able to win against such a good team, the Six Nations champions.. It's huge to get this win for this group, in this stadium, the best stadium in the world," he added.

An impressive game from flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez and excellent tries from Juan Imoff and Gonzalo Camacho proved the difference between the two sides, on a day that Wales would rather forget.

"Modern day rugby, you’ve just got to forget that loss now and concentrate on Samoa," said wing Alex Cuthbert, referring to their challenge with Samoa, who themselves beat Canada on Friday.

"It was quite a weird game really, obviously it is no excuse (but) Jamie Roberts going off quite early, maybe disrupted our back-line, and Alun-Wyn going off as well, left us without an option at the line-out and we had to go front ball a lot of the time which is hard.

"But no excuses because we have got quality players coming off the bench, it just seemed one of those days where it didn’t go right for us," he added.

Today it was confirmed that lock Alun-Wyn Jones, who went off with a shoulder injury, will be out for the rest of the autumn series, as will loose forward Josh Turnbell, who damaged knee ligaments.

Jamie Roberts, who took a big knock against Argentina, is continuing to be assesed for mild concussion and may be availale to face Samoa.

Wales face New Zealand and Australia after that this weekend's game against Samoa. Argentina travel to France next, then they face Ireland in Dublin on the 24th November.

Watch the full match

Posted By: Grant Constable

17 Comments

  • barthacrbv
    2:01 AM 15/11/2012

    Partidaso Pumas!! Vamos por Francia!

  • pretzel
    11:22 PM 14/11/2012

    In Matt Banahan's defence he did spend most of his rugby career as a second row. I'm not even sure whether he was still a second row when he was selected for pro rugby as a potential winger candidate...

    Well I remember hearing about a Wales game in July(?) August(?) and people were talking about Rhys Priestland being somewhere up high in the world rankings, or taking his position in the top 10's in the world or something, I get the impression the media in Wales drums up players a lot more than they would appreciate...

    I'm sure it's a lot of pressure to be labelled as "the next *anything*" when you're still in your first year or two of international rugby..

  • bnations
    8:08 PM 14/11/2012

    It appears that Argentina has finally found an accurate kicker in Sanchez. Had they made their kicks during the Rugby Championship, then they would have probably one 2 or even 3 of their games. This development could be bad for their foes :-)

  • reality
    7:49 PM 14/11/2012

    Ah, Matt Banahan was a monster winger though who was apparently the next Jonah Lomu. Matt who? Yeah, that'd be a lot of people's reaction. Anyway, North had a good Six Nations, and so was hailed as a future great. Cuthbert appeared at the same time as him, and has the same physical attributes, so I think people just unfairly said he was the same as North. He got a decent try in the Six Nations after cutting back inside, but aside from that I think he's pretty average. And there are so many first-season heroes that go on to be disappointments, so I think calling North the best winger in the world etc. is a bit much. Keith Earls had a great first year, and now he's just decent but not great. Lesley Vainikolo was another. Mathieu Bastareaud as well.

  • felipe
    7:22 PM 14/11/2012

    Big step from Argentina, huge defense and solid attack...

  • stroudos
    3:07 PM 14/11/2012

    I'm tipping a draw! Reckon it will be very very close. Should be a cracking game - can't wait!

  • colombes
    1:10 PM 14/11/2012

    Great perf by the pumas, just a confirmation that the 4N has given the experience and the rugby rhythm they needed.
    A lot of people thought that the farewells of Roncero and co would create less leadership in this squad, but young blood in the backs will continue to bring this grinta. The match vs France will be very interesting to watch. Latin derby.

  • 1:15 AM 14/11/2012

    It was a real shame to see Contepomi leave in that way, a truly fantastic player.

    Awful play by Wales, truly deserved the hiding they got. Halfpenny and Faletau were the only players who looked like they deserved to be wearing the shirt.

    I don't think Argentina played particularly well, they played better in the Championship but this is as bad as I've seen from Wales for 10 years. Awful and quite rightly booed off the field.

    Where did it go wrong? No idea as we don't know if they played by Howley's plan or whether the players were playing on their own. In all honesty, I don't care, they have to sort out wherever the problem originates though.

  • pretzel
    11:45 PM 13/11/2012

    I've always been keen to actually see what Cuthbert and North could do. There was/is a lot of hype surrounding them, I assumed it was sort of pre-best hype as to what they will become rather than what they are as I have expected 2 monster wingers (height and weight) to produce more damaging blows on the opposition...

  • reality
    11:28 PM 13/11/2012

    God Argentina were just great. Really a joy to watch. If Ireland weren't so crap, I'd say that when they play would be a potentially cracking match. But instead I'm just afraid that Ireland will get hammered.

    That catch from Comacho was abolutely sensational. Excellent try.

    Do people still think George North and Alex Cuthbert are the best in the world and definite Lions starters? I'd say they were made to look very average.. Although I thought Cuthbert always looked average.

  • frenchie
    10:01 PM 13/11/2012

    Oh God...that's not a good sign for the French team...Great victory for the Argies after a tough 4N. Sign that the hard work is working.

    Maybe the Welsh you play in Poland, spend a few minutes in their fridge before kick off?

  • joeythelemur
    9:57 PM 13/11/2012

    Great one handed catch to get that last try!

  • katman
    9:25 PM 13/11/2012

    Imhoff and Camacho were great, but the real star of this game was the captain, Fernandez Lobbe. He plays with so much enthusiasm and has some great touches when it comes to offloads. And he's been in sublime form throughout the Rugby Championship too. For me he represents everything that is good about Argentine rugby.

  • 8:25 PM 13/11/2012

    I could not get over how silent the crowd was, except for when they were booing. If you needed any indication of how poorly Wales were playing/how well Argentina were playing (and I'm not sure you can place this victory entirely on either), that was it. I think it takes quite a bit to silence the Millennium Stadium.

    Imhoff sure comes out from these highlights looking like a superstar, but what about Camacho? I love his work with Exeter, and liking what I see with Argentina

  • 6:38 PM 13/11/2012

    It shows that they've been playing a lot against the best 3 teams in the word!

  • rugbydump
    6:02 PM 13/11/2012

    Yes, very sad about Felipe. It was horrible moment seeing him go off, knowing that it would probably be his last game for his country. Hopefully he recovers well and we'll see him one last time for a proper farewell.

  • feddderico
    5:52 PM 13/11/2012

    I think rugbydump forgot to name the injury that suffered Felipe Contepomi in his knee, at the game. He will be out al least a few month.

    About the game.. being argentinian, im really happy with the performance of the team against Wales. Even with too new centers, and substitutions in the game for injures during the game (the base of the team changed), Argentina didnt loose his plan of play.

    Sorry for my not perfect english :P
    Cheers.






Related Articles