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S4C pundit and former Wales captain Gwyn Jones gives his view on Wales’ win over Fiji and the match against Argentina this weekend
11:55, 10 Jul 2026
What a start to the inaugural Nations Championship.
For the first time, the summer tours felt connected. It wasn’t just Wales in Argentina, Scotland somewhere else and England on another continent. It felt like one competition, one story, with the Northern Hemisphere taking on the South. That matters.
Let’s be honest, summer tours have often been a hard sell. Unless your own side was playing well, there wasn’t much reason to get excited. This is different. Every result has context. Every game means something. It already feels bigger than the old tour format, and I suspect it will only grow. Free to air makes a massive difference.
There is another reason I like it. There is freedom. This isn’t yet a Six Nations or a World Cup where one defeat creates panic and coaches are immediately under pressure. We saw teams willing to play. The rugby was ambitious, entertaining and refreshing. More of that, please.
Now Wales face the real examination.
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Argentina in Argentina is one of the toughest assignments in world rugby. They have beaten just about everyone there, and after losing to Scotland they will be hurting. That usually makes them even more dangerous.
Wales deserve huge credit for the comeback against Fiji. The character was outstanding. At half-time they looked beaten. The scrum, the lineout and superior fitness dragged them back into the contest.
But let’s not ignore the obvious.
The defence was poor. Wales slipped off one tackle in every four and allowed 25 offloads. Fiji are dangerous, but they are not that dangerous. Every coach watching that game will have made a note. Argentina certainly will have. Wales have to tackle the ball, not just the player. If that means double hits to kill the offload, then so be it. You won’t survive many afternoons at Test level defending like that.
The scrum, on the other hand, deserves enormous praise.
Dillon Lewis and Rhys Carre answered plenty of critics. Both have had questions asked about their scrummaging over the years. Against Fiji they were outstanding.
But nobody wins medals for dominating Fiji.
Argentina are the benchmark. Their pack will attack Wales’ scrum all afternoon after failing to dominate Scotland. If Lewis and Carre front up again this weekend, then people will start looking at them very differently.
The driving lineout was equally impressive. Danny Wilson has clearly done an excellent job. The body positions, the angles and the ball protection are first class.
The problem is everyone knows it is coming.
Felipe Contepomi will have spent all week working out how to stop it. If Argentina shut down Wales’ driving maul, then what?
That is still the unanswered question. What is this Welsh team’s identity?
Aaron Wainwright carried brilliantly against Fiji, but players like him and Eddie James need more ball in better areas. Wales had quality possession from the set-piece but never really imposed themselves through phase play. It came in flashes rather than sustained pressure.
I’m still not completely convinced by Joe Hawkins at inside centre. He still looks caught between being a fly-half and a No.12. Sometimes he kicks when I’d like him to trust the attack. One kick brought Josh Adams’ try, but the midfield still lacks rhythm.
Sam Costelow deserves his chance.
He was desperately unlucky to be injured against Scotland when he was producing the best rugby of his Wales career. He plays flatter than Dan Edwards, organises a game well and is probably the better defender. Edwards offers more pace and running threat. It is a healthy battle and Wales need competition in key positions. A big performance this weekend and Costelow could make that No.10 shirt his own.
The biggest surprise, though, is Louis Rees-Zammit starting on the bench.
I wouldn’t have gone that way.
He has been shifted between wing and full-back since returning, yet his attitude has never been questioned. Alongside Dewi Lake, Jack Morgan, Dafydd Jenkins and Tomos Williams, he is one of the players Wales should be building around.
Steve Tandy’s relationship with him matters.
By all accounts Tandy is an outstanding man-manager. He will need to be. Because players like Rees-Zammit have to feel valued. You can improve decision-making. You can improve positioning. But as the old saying goes, you can’t put in what God left out. Genuine pace is a gift, and Wales don’t have many players who possess it.
The bigger picture remains the same. I’m still waiting to see the blueprint.
Matt Sherratt wants a side that plays edge to edge, moves the ball quickly and stretches defences. But when the pressure comes, Wales retreat into a more conservative game built around the set-piece. It worked against Fiji. It won’t be enough against the very best.
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Scotland showed the way against Argentina. They played with ambition. They moved the point of attack. They asked questions.
Steve Tandy deserves huge credit. He has lifted the mood, restored belief and created a squad that clearly enjoys playing for him. That should never be underestimated after what Welsh rugby has been through.
But his biggest challenge is only just beginning.
Great international teams know exactly who they are. They know what they turn to when the game gets messy. Wales aren’t there yet.
Until they find that identity, they will remain a team with potential rather than one capable of consistently beating the world’s best.
Gwyn Jones is part of the S4C commentary team for Argentina v Wales. Coverage starts at 7.30pm ahead of the 8.10pm kick-off.
