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It was a difficult evening for Wales who were second best in Santa Fe
09:46, 12 Jul 2026
There were few positives for Wales after a comprehensive 35-21 defeat by Argentina in Santa Fe.
Steve Tandy’s side were outplayed for much of the contest and now head to Durban, where an encounter with back-to-back world champions South Africa promises an even tougher examination.
Here are the winners and losers.
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Winners
Jac Morgan
Yet again the Gloucester-bound backrower was Wales’ best player.
Morgan finished the game as the top tackler with 22 while he was into everything at the breakdown.
The Wales star did his best to slow down the speed of Argentina’s ruck ball and won a crucial penalty shortly after the break.
There was also a handful of powerful carries while he had a try disallowed in the first-half.
Morgan is a player who consistently performs at international level.
Wales scrum
The scrum was the one area of the game where Wales held the ascendancy.
Scrum coach Paul James will be delighted with how his side scrummaged and there were times in the game where they looked dominant.
Both starting props Rhys Carré and Dillon Lewis more than held their own but Wales looked even more dominant when Nicky Smith and Ben Warren entered the fray in the second-half.
Ospreys tighthead Warren did very well both in the scrum and around the park on just his second cap and scored his first international try.
James Botham
The Cardiff backrower was one of Wales’ best players and got through a mountain of work.
Often an unsung player in the side, Botham made 17 tackles and finished the game as Wales’ top carrier with 15.
He also put in a terrific try saving tackle in the first-half to hold an Argentinian player up over the try line.
The 28-year-old’s work rate is through the roof and he deserves an extended run of games in the Wales number six jersey.
Losers
Peter Murchie
Wales’ new defence coach has his work cut out.
This is only his third game in charge of Wales’ defence and you would expect this facet of the game to improve in time but as things stand they are way off the pace.
Wales missed 32 tackles compared to Argentina’s 11, resulting in a tackle success rate of 86%.
Argentina made far too many easy metres with ball in hand and while Wales did scramble well at times they were nowhere near the required standard.
It does not bear thinking about what the Springboks could do to Wales in Durban next Saturday.
Wales’ defence is in need of drastic improvement.
Tomos Williams and Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker is a talented player and it was always going to be difficult playing behind a pack that was on the back foot.
But this was not his best game and he failed to grasp his opportunity to make the number 10 shirt his own.
Costelow kicked out on the full and dropped a high ball in the opening exchanges which led to Argentina’s second try.
There was also a lack of control from the halfbacks while the backline did not threaten whatsoever with ball in hand.
He will bounce back, but a starting place in Durban next weekend is by no means guaranteed.
But Costelow did put his body on the line and made 15 tackles.
The experienced Williams was also short of his best and there was a lack of direction from the halfbacks while the tactics were questionable.
The Wales midfield
The Wales centre pairing of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James doesn’t seem to be threatening defences.
While both are solid players there is a lack of creativity.
There are many pundits who are of the opinion that James is wasted at 13 and that his talents would be better utilised at inside centre.
Attack coach Matt Sherratt prefers to play with a second playmaker at 12 whether that is Hawkins or Ben Thomas.
But would Wales be better with a powerful carrier like James at 12 to suck in defenders and get over the gainline?
Wales’ attack was simply not good enough in Santa Fe making only three line breaks in comparison to Argentina’s 12.
This is another area of the game in need of drastic improvement.
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