Argentina power past Wales 35-21 with five-try Nations Championship win in San Juan
Joaquin Oviedo scored twice as Argentina rebounded from an opening-weekend loss to Scotland with a convincing home victory, while Wales suffered their first defeat of the tournament after early promise.
Match overview
Argentina opened their Nations Championship account with a 35-21 victory over Wales in San Juan on Saturday, outscoring the visitors five tries to three. The Pumas had lost 47-38 to Scotland in Cordoba last weekend but never looked likely to drop a second straight home game after taking control midway through the first half. Fly-half Tomas Albornoz landed all five conversions for a 10-point contribution from the kicking tee, while Sam Costelow replied with three conversions for Wales. The win lifts Argentina into mid-table ahead of a home fixture against England next Saturday; Wales travel to world champions South Africa in Durban.
How the tries unfolded
Wales struck first when captain Dewi Lake drove over from a lineout maul in the fourth minute, but Argentina answered two minutes later through number eight Joaquin Oviedo's first try. Centre Justo Piccardo then crossed after a spectacular one-handed offload from wing Bautista Delguy, giving the Pumas a lead they never surrendered. Prop Rhys Carre levelled at 14-14 with a close-range finish, yet Argentina pulled away with further scores from flanker Marcos Kremer, on his return to the side, and full-back Santiago Carreras to lead 28-14 at the break. A disallowed try for Wales flanker Jac Morgan, ruled out after a long review for a ruck infringement, proved a turning point in a 13-minute spell either side of half-time that also brought Oviedo's second touchdown.
We made a superb start but their pace and power cut through us in that middle period.
Argentina's response
Argentina controlled the second half and threatened a runaway win when Piccardo sent Oviedo over again soon after the restart. The home scrum and driving maul, which had been targeted by Scotland the previous week, stood firm and gave the backs enough front-foot ball to keep Wales pinned deep. Albornoz's accurate kicking from the tee kept the scoreboard ticking and maintained a margin that Wales could not bridge.
- Dewi Lake try (Wales lead 7-0)
- Joaquin Oviedo first try (7-7)
- Justo Piccardo try (Argentina lead 14-7)
- Rhys Carre try (14-14)
- Marcos Kremer try (Argentina lead 21-14)
- Santiago Carreras try (28-14 halftime)
- Oviedo second try (Argentina lead 35-14)
- Ben Warren try (35-21 final)
Wales injuries and late effort
Lake limped off injured in the second half, adding to the touring party's concerns before the trip to Durban. Replacement prop Ben Warren scored his first international try on only his second cap with 13 minutes remaining after sustained pressure close to the Argentina line, narrowing the gap to 14 points. Wales refused to fold but the hosts managed the closing stages without panic.
Tournament context
Argentina are ranked seventh in the world, four places above Wales, and had beaten Steve Tandy's side 52-28 in Cardiff in November 2025. Wales arrived with back-to-back Test wins over Italy and Fiji under their belt, the first such run since 2023, but the step up in class proved decisive. Argentina's next assignment is a home date with England, while Wales face the back-to-back world champion Springboks.
