This post was originally published on this site.
Wales and Lions legend Graham Price looks ahead to Wales’ match in Argentina after the victory over Fiji
10:37, 08 Jul 2026
Wales fought hard for their win against Fiji(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Wales began the Nations Championship with the result that mattered.
A six-try bonus point win in the first game of the championship against a team who are higher placed in the rankings shouldn’t be complained about. It was exactly the sort of opening statement a new competition demands.
However, it was not all straightforward.
The opening stages were exactly what we all had anticipated. Fiji again showed why they remain one of the game’s most dangerous attacking sides, scoring early through Pita Sowakula and asking awkward questions of the Wales defence whenever the ball became loose.
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more
Despite spending long periods on the back foot, Wales stayed in the contest and, for much of the first half, managed to keep their noses in front on the scoreboard.
There was plenty of defensive work to do, and although Wales missed more tackles than they would have liked, they never lost their composure.
The last-ditch tackles were made when it mattered most, preventing Fiji from turning promising attacks into points.
However, the first-half statistics made uncomfortable reading, reflecting Fiji’s ability to ask questions in attack.
But Wales raised their intensity after the interval, tightened their defensive organisation and looked a far more cohesive side, ultimately taking control of the contest.
Fiji were often their own worst enemies in truth, squandering promising positions through handling errors, bad decision-making and indiscipline.
Wales, by contrast, remained composed throughout, refusing to panic under pressure and steadily increasing the intensity of their defence as the game progressed.
As the game wore on, Wales’ superiority up front began to tell. The forwards gradually took control of the set-piece and won the physical battle, forcing Fiji to work harder for possession.
Although the Pacific Islanders remained dangerous whenever they found space, their attacks gradually lost some of the sharpness and fluency that had caused so many problems in the opening exchanges.
The offloads that had found their mark in the opening stages became less precise, support runners arrived a fraction too late, and Wales were able to reorganise their defensive line far more effectively.
There were several moments when the game threatened to slip away from Wales, but they remained composed, waited for their opportunities and produced spells of rugby that ultimately proved decisive.
Fortunately for Wales, Fiji conceded a string of penalties that allowed us to kick into the corners.
From there, our forwards gradually tightened their grip on the contest, with the driving line-out providing an effective platform to turn sustained pressure into points.
By the final quarter, Wales looked the fresher and more controlled team, and deservedly pulling clear on the scoreboard.
Fiji’s attacking shape was often excellent and they created enough danger to worry Wales throughout, but handling errors poor decisions and indiscipline at key moments blunted their threat.
That, ultimately, was the difference. Wales were more composed under pressure and more ruthless when chances appeared.
A difficult opponent was beaten, the campaign began with a properly earned win.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was a performance that will have pleased Steve Tandy no end. Jac Morgan was just outstanding again.
And it was definitely progress.
However, the Pumas will provide a much sterner examination. They have developed into one of the toughest opponents in international rugby and by the final whistle Wales should have a far clearer idea of where they stand. That alone gives this match real edge.
They possess a well-drilled pack, a powerful scrum and a back line capable of punishing the slightest lapse in concentration.
Argentina are never a side to be taken lightly, particularly on home soil, where they make every opponent fight for every inch.
In their 47-38 defeat by Scotland, they still scored five tries, including from a rolling maul and several sharp finishes.
It is a reminder that they can threaten in both structured and open play and, even in defeat, they can put points on the board and keep asking questions.
Wales need only look at Argentina’s recent display against New Zealand, where the All Blacks were restricted to just 40% possession and territory, to appreciate the scale of the challenge awaiting them.
We will need to approach the contest with real test match discipline, by establishing a solid platform at the set piece, by winning the territorial battle and by keeping penalties to a minimum.
If the game becomes loose, Argentina are more than capable of turning it into a dogfight on their own terms. That is the danger Wales must manage.
Keeping possession and forcing the Pumas to defend for long periods could expose one area where they can sometimes be vulnerable.
For Wales, this is also a chance to measure progress after the opening fixtures and see whether the new shape of the team can hold up under pressure away from home.
A strong showing in San Juan would do more than add points to the table. It would send a real message that Wales can compete properly in a tournament built on consistency rather than isolated flashes.
This is the kind of match that can either confirm progress or expose the gaps that still need filling.
