Wales will be aiming to pick themselves off the floor when they face Argentina at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
An eight-try pounding at the hands of New Zealand was exactly the start Wayne Pivac's team wouldn't have wanted to their autumn programme of matches. Pivac has responded by making changes for the visit of the Pumas, among them the selection of Louis Rees-Zammit at full-back.
How will his team fare this weekend? Our writers give them predictions:
Mark Orders: Wales to come up short against passionate Pumas
We’re in the thick of autumn. Halloween costumes have been used and packed away for another year, gardens are covered in leaves, and Wales have started their pre-Christmas rugby programme with a whimper rather than a bang.
It was once said the Welsh team had perfected the habit of coming out of the blocks in November like a tortoise with bunions. Sure enough, there wasn’t much of a show last weekend as New Zealand swept to victory in Cardiff.
Can we hope for better this weekend? It can’t be that much worse. Can it?
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Argentina beat England last week despite dining on relative crumbs of possession. They did so because they were clinical, taking their chances with ball in hand and with Emiliano Boffelli deadly accurate in front of goal. They also defended with attitude and passion.
To beat them, Wales will have to be much better at turning their pressure into points and they’ll need to be more physical. Dan Lydiate’s return should help on that front, but the scrum may be weaker with Tomas Francis absent. So much will depend on the front-five battle.
This Argentina side do not have the scrum power of famed Pumas sides of yesteryear — “100-head of cattle stampeding all over you” is how Jonathan Humphreys described the Pumas pack after an encounter in Llanelli in 1998 — but nor are Wales noted for their setpiece work. Also, Argentina were disciplined against England. Even Tomas Lavanini, a player who has been known to incur the displeasure of referees, made an effort on that front, conceding just the two penalties.
Wales need a victory to dispel the idea that things are going haywire 10 months out from a World Cup. But the Pumas have momentum and seem in a good place, something which cannot be said for Wayne Pivac’s team.
Wales 24-26 Argentina
Ben James: Argentina are more settled and Wales' autumn will get longer
Wayne Pivac's excuses about needing more time with Welsh players in camp doesn't really wash, given how often their gametime is managed at the professional clubs. You can hardly complain about how little match-hardened players are when their minutes at the clubs are largely dictated - more so when the English-based players you pick, like Saracens Sam Wainwright, have barely had any domestic minutes themselves.
So it's more the lack of minutes heading into camp, rather than time in camp itself, that might see another rusty performance from some. Pride alone though should see some sort of response, while the difference between New Zealand and Argentina - who are closer to South Africa in their carrying setup - should help Wales' defence a touch after an awful weekend.
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But, despite that likely response, Argentina head into this one as favourites. Both sides will likely look to make it an arm wrestle, with Los Pumas comfortable without the ball. Wales have shown signs they still enjoy that side of the game, perhaps more due to inefficiency with ball in hand, but Argentina just seem more settled in what they're doing under Michael Cheika.
I fear the autumn might just get a little longer.
Wales 18-23 Argentina
Simon Thomas: Pumas are ranked better for a reason
I would expect Wales to be more physical up front after all the criticism they received after the All Blacks game, with the inclusion of Dan Lydiate helping on that front and bringing a better balance to the back row.
But Argentina are three places above Wales in the world ranking for a reason. Their results this year have been far better overall and they will be bursting with confidence after their famous win at Twickenham. So while I think it will be close, I see the Pumas squeezing through.
Wales 21-23 Argentina
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