The story of the game was written on the faces of the Wales players as they weaved their way through the Principality Stadium’s narrow corridors near the home dressing room an hour or so after the game. Smiles were to the fore.
Smiles of relief, maybe, after a win which partially erased memories of the heavy defeat at the hands of New Zealand a week earlier — or simply expressions of satisfaction after a gutsy effort brought about a 20-13 victory over a dangerous Argentina side who had beaten England at Twickenham the weekend before? A bit of both, perhaps.
The match was not a classic, but Wales did enough, led by their outstanding back-row duo of Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric, with replacement Jac Morgan complementing the pair perfectly off the bench.
How did the wider media view the game? We took a look:
Steffan Thomas, The Sunday Times
Wales would be nowhere without their inspirational captain, Justin Tipuric, who was at the forefront of everything the hosts did well. The all-action openside was nothing short of sensational and seemed to be everywhere with his relentless work-rate and all-round excellence the decisive factor in this test. Wales lack depth in most positions but one area where they have players growing on trees is at openside, but even with their embarrassment of riches there, Tipuric stands above everyone else. There is no player in the British Isles who has as complete a skill-set as the Ospreys man.
But it wasn’t just Tipuric who stood up for Wales with his fellow forwards Gareth Thomas and Taulupe Faletau giving them the go-forward they lacked against New Zealand, while number nine Tomos Williams was electric. [Wales] will almost certainly beat Georgia next weekend but the acid test will be against a wounded Australia side, who lost to Italy, in a fortnight. That game will be a measure of where they stand 10 months out from the World Cup.
James Corrigan, The Telegraph
All of a sudden Wayne Pivac’s task does not seem so forlorn a year out from the Rugby World Cup and his tenure not so blighted by the desperate state of the Welsh domestic game. Perhaps Pivac like his countryman and predecessor, Warren Gatland, can paper the cracks at a national level after all. At the very least, this spirited victory has given hope.
It has also presented Pivac some breathing room. This fully deserved triumph over an Argentine side buoyed [by] the heroics at Twickenham of the weekend means that in Wales’s last four games they have accounted for two of the Rugby Championship heavyweights. Tries change games, wins change reigns, just as, of course, success transforms perceptions and affords stats that had appeared damning so much more of a generous hue. Now the Dragons exhale a breath of belligerent fire again, with Pivac apparently vindicated by his pre-match assertion that the longer he spends with his squad — and pertinently, the less time they spend with their regions — the greater the return.
Dan Matthews, The Daily Mail
One win will not soothe all of the wounds and silence all of the grumbles. It cannot undo all of the lows in 2022 or assuage all of the concerns around Wayne Pivac and the direction in which Wales are heading 10 months out from the World Cup. But, good grief, how one win can lift the mood. Defeat here didn’t bear thinking about. Not after last week’s mauling by New Zealand. Not with Georgia and Australia still to come.
Another setback and frustration could have blown the roof off this place. Instead, a Mexican wave swept around the Principality Stadium as Wales jumpstarted their autumn campaign with a pivotal win over Argentina. This turned into an arm-wrestle to test grit and pride. Credit Wales, then. Faletau, Tipuric and Williams led a brilliant defensive effort.
Andrew Baldock, (Press Association), Independent
Just seven days after shipping 55 points against New Zealand, Wales produced a strong response as tries from No 8 Taulupe Faletau and scrum-half Tomos Williams saw them home. Argentina, recent conquerors of the All Blacks, England and Australia, were kept at bay by a defensive red wall as Michael Cheika’s men endured an evening to forget. It was a welcome result for Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, who oversaw only a third win this year.
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