It was not a classic, but Wales won’t care after securing a much-needed victory against Argentina.
As ever, certain individuals and elements of the day can be classed as a success or failure.
So here are our winners and losers from the second round of the autumn series.
WINNERS
Gethin Jenkins
If Welsh rugby has a character to compare with Roy Keane, it’s probably Gethin Jenkins.
Manchester United legend Keane infamously didn’t – and doesn’t – suffer fools, demanding the highest standards from himself and those around him, and never tolerating any drop in levels.
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Defensive coach Jenkins has the same reputation in his field of expertise, so to see Wales concede eight tries against New Zealand in a powder-puff rear-guard display will have stung him.
But, whatever was said and done at the Vale during the week clearly worked. Wales were transformed in both attitude and organisation when it came to repelling a Pumas attack which, while not as threatening as New Zealand’s, still posed the questions you would expect of a team ranked sixth in the world.
Jenkins may even have cracked a smile in the home dressing room afterwards. Or maybe not.
Wayne Pivac
Loser last week, winner this.
Pivac will not suddenly be feted by a Welsh rugby public still sceptical about his credentials. But perhaps the bigger picture is that Pivac got a response from his players in the wake of a dreadful defeat.
The same happened in the Six Nations when Wales were battered by Ireland in Dublin and a week later beat a Scotland team who were convinced they were going to win in Cardiff.
It suggests that while Pivac may have his shortcomings, the squad is still playing for him, he still retains the support of the dressing room. What he now needs is consistency.
This was only a third win of the calendar year for Wales, which means you have to dig deep for evidence of long-term progress.
But wins against Georgia and Australia, especially, may start to change the narrative around Pivac heading towards the Six Nations and then the World Cup.
Wales’ back row
After being put in the shade by their All Black opposite numbers a week earlier, this was manifestly better by Wales’ loose forwards.
Taulupe Faletau claimed the man of the match award and rightly so given the all-court dynamism he displayed.
But he had company in that area. Ospreys Jac Morgan, who replaced the injured Dan Lydiate in the 28th minute, was hugely effective.
Morgan got through a phenomenal 17 tackles in just 52 minutes and also made some precious yardage with ball in hand.
Captain Justin Tipuric also led by example back in his favoured openside position. Tipuric’s work rate was Trojan, his 17 tackles were only bettered by hooker Ken Owens who registered one more in another impressive performance.
The contribution of the back row was symbolic of Wales’ overall improvement.
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LOSERS
Juan Cruz Mallia
Anyone can have a kick charged down.
But for Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia, the circumstances of his blocked attempted clearance in the 47th minute were distinctly aggravating.
Mallia completely fluffed his contact on the ball, spooning it low when he should have been hitting row Z.
Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams couldn’t believe his luck when it cannoned off his thigh because he was nowhere near enough to Mallia to even expect to make contact.
And the incident was so costly for the Pumas. Williams ran through for a try that, with Anscombe’s conversion, took the score to 20-6.
It was a long, long way back from there for the visitors.
Principality Stadium ground-staff
There is no suggestion those in charge of preparing the pitch are anything other than great at what they do.
But when you see players slip over as much as they do on this surface at present, questions inevitably come back to how the field is readied for Test rugby.
Players lose their balance everywhere, but, without having specific data to hand, it seems the problem is more acute at the Cardiff arena.
It matters, too. A slip can be the difference between winning and losing, a player scoring or missing a tackle.
It’s also profoundly frustrating for spectators when a promising attack breaks down, not because of a tackle or player error, but because a pair of studs have failed to grip sufficiently.
Without being a horticultural expert, you wonder how the closed roof affects the grass. Commentators speak of a “sweaty surface”, but presumably that doesn’t imply the soil and turf is actually perspiring?
If something can be done to remedy this problem, then it must be done. Even if it means leaving the roof open. It’s gone on too long.
Santiago Carreras
It was a day to forget for the Argentine fly-half who plies his trade with Gloucester. He should have been yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on in the first half that spoiled a gilt-edged try scoring chance for Wales.
Carreras was turned over four times throughout the match and made schoolboy errors like planting a restart straight into touch.
The Pumas back-line didn’t really function, Carreras couldn’t get them going.
Head coach Michael Cheika will want something far more influential from his No10 against Scotland next weekend.
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