Argentina snuff out Welsh hopes of debut win for new coach

CARDIFF :Argentina denied Wales a winning start under new coach Steve Tandy with an emphatic 52-28 victory in their test at the Principality Stadium on Sunday.

Argentina outscored Wales seven tries to four, quickly ending hopes of a change in fortune for the beleaguered Welsh, who had suffered a record-breaking 18-match losing streak before victory in their last international in Japan in July.

But it is now one win in their last 20 tests as Geronimo Prisciantelli (2), Pedro Delgado, Simon Benitez Cruz, Mateo Carreras, Bautista Delguy and Santiago Grondona scored tries for Argentina, while Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Blair Murray went over for Wales.

Santiago Carreras had a 100 per cent return with his kicking, slotting over seven conversions and a penalty, while Dan Edwards was successful with his three conversions and Jarrod Evans another.

Argentina sped into a 14-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes as Delgado bulldozed over for a first test try and Prisciantelli outsprinted the home defence to get onto the end of a chipkick.

Wales responded with two tries of their own, the first from Williams and then Lake bursting over from short distance, allowing the home crowd some optimism after 20 minutes.

THOMAS CAUTION HANDS ARGENTINA CHANCE FOR TWO TRIES

But when Ben Thomas was sin-binned for kicking out at Pablo Matera, Argentina took advantage, with Benitez Cruz stretching over from close range to score. From the kick-off, Matera burst through the Wales midfield before kicking out to the left where Mateo Carreras sped onto the ball to score for a 31-14 halftime lead and a sucker punch to Welsh hopes.

This was increased when Delguy scored four minutes after the break before Wales skipper Morgan lifted home spirits by