“You’re my hero,” a local 20-something fan told a bemused Mefin Davies after the Test between Argentina and Wales in Tucuman in 2004.
“What’s my name, then?” said the Welsh hooker.
“James,” came the reply.
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The man, part of a group of boisterous souvenir hunters besieging Wales’ dressing room in Tucuman, wanted Davies’ socks.
He didn’t get them. He moved on to the next player to see if his brand of pushy flattery worked with him.
Argentinians can be a determined bunch. On and off the field.
Last weekend, they defied the odds to gain a shock win over England at Twickenham, while Wales came badly unstuck against the All Blacks.
How will Wayne Pivac’s men fare against the Pumas in Cardiff on Saturday?
Here’s how the teams compare.
Back three
Louis Rees-Zammit, Alex Cuthbert, Rio Dyer v Juan Cruz Mallia, Mateo Carreras, Emiliano Boffelli
An optimist will be cheered by the potential in Wales’ back three, with the lethal pace of Rees-Zammit, the return of the experienced Cuthbert and the flair, speed and energy of Dyer.
A pessimist, though, might worry that Rees-Zammit has played at full-back just twice in senior rugby, Cuthbert is heading into his first game in four months and Dyer is so new to the Test scene the paint might still be fresh.
The Pumas’ wings are dangerous — Mateo Carreras has lit up the English Premiership and everything Emiliano Boffelli touched turned to gold against England, with the Edinburgh player contributing 25 points, including a try. They also have a solid full back in Toulouse’s Juan Cruz Mallia who will run if given the chance.
Wales 7 Argentina 8
Centres
Nick Tompkins, George North v Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente
Wales' centres emerged with credit from the mauling at the hands of the All Blacks, with North denting the opposition defence and Tompkins busy in all areas — no surprise there. They are started to gel nicely, with North, in particular, boasting the potential to cause opponents real problems.
Where the Pumas score heavily is with their finesse.
Indeed, Moroni’s pass to Santiago Carreras for Boffelli’s try against England last weekend was a work of art to the extent that if it’s not being shown on repeat on a big screen in the Louvre right now, then someone isn’t doing his job. It called to mind French back play from the 1970s. The former wing is also an intelligent reader of play. Alongside him, de la Fuente is solid.
Wales 7 Argentina 7
Half backs
Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe v Gonzalo Bertranou, Santiago Carreras
Former Cardiff team-mates Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe are reunited for Wales. On paper they look an exciting partnership. How Wales need them to deliver.
Last week’s misadventure up front against New Zealand meant Williams and Rhys Priestland were up against it from the word go. There were odd flashes of encouragement, from Williams in particular, but Wales will be looking for more against Argentina.
Carreras is normally a wing but he added pace and zest from fly-half against England and kicked well, and often. Dragons man Bertranou also put boot to ball often, with some of his box-kicks having a perfect hang time.
Wales 7 Argentina 7
Front rows
Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis v Thomas Gallo, Agustin Creevy, Francisco Gomez Kodela
Two very good hookers in Owens and Creevy, each of whom can be relied on to lead the way, the Welsh No. 2 with courage and no reverse gear and his counterpart with turnovers, strong defence and powerful carries. Creevy is a replacement for Julian Montoya, who has pulled out, but the London Irish man is an excellent player, not so long ago talked about as one of the best No. 2s in the world.
Both front rows were bettered in the scrums last weekend.
Wales are without Tomas Francis for this one, which is interesting as some would see him as the strongest scrummaging tighthead in their squad, and Thomas Gallo will look to test Dillon Lewis. On the other side, Gareth Thomas will want to impose himself on Francisco Gomez Kodela, who didn’t have his best afternoon last time out.
Wales 6 Argentina 7
Locks
Will Rowlands, Adam Beard v Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini
Not much in it here. Rowlands has a high workrate and looks to carry and defend. He didn’t manage to trouble the All Blacks lineout or achieve turnovers but he is a player who’s important to Wales. Alongside him, the 6ft 8in Beard is a good defender who’s a secure lineout option and good at disrupting opposition mauls. If there’s an area where he has room to improve it’s his carrying.
There are no wanted posters out when it comes to the 6ft 7in, 20st 7lb Tomas Lazanini, but he has a history of straying beyond the law when he's on the pitch. Indeed, last year he became the first man to pick up three red cards in Test rugby. Happily for the Pumas, he’s cleaned up his act this term and was good against England. Gloucester forward Alemanno is a rugged operator who will be grafting when others have tired.
Wales 7 Argentina 7
Back rows
Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau v Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera.
Wales came off second best in the back-row battle against New Zealand, albeit they had a rickety platform behind a well-beaten front five. Their trio looks better balanced this week, with Dan Lydiate the hitman at six, Justin Tipuric the creator and all-round grafter at openside and Taulupe Faletau the class act in all areas at No. 8, shining in bleak adversity for his team against the All Blacks.
Wales will hope Lydiate can make a difference. Against New Zealand they lost the physical battle to the point where they had to commit multiple tacklers to try to halt All Black ball-carriers. They’ll hope the presence of the iron man from mid-Wales will help improve matters on that front. You can read about the renaissance of Welsh rugby's great gladiator here.
Argentina’s back-row has enough power to light up the national grid.
Pablo Matera is a world-class loose forward, though perhaps better employed as a blindside rather than a No. 8, while the openside Marcos Kremer is 6ft 7in and 18st 4lb of raw physicality who underlined his worth by playing the game of his career in the win over New Zealand in Christchurch in the summer, dominating the collisions and nullifying the threat of Ardie Savea, a player who led the rout of Wales last week.
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Kremer also excelled against England, with Juan Martin Gonzalez a reliable operator with the ability, like Kremer, to play on either flank.Wales need to edge this area, but it won’t be easy.
Wales 8 Argentina 8
Replacements
Argentina’s reserve front row got on top in the scrums against England and further back Facunda Isa put himself about with some solid tackles. Expect Jac Morgan to make a mark for Wales, with the Osprey in from at regional level and having a point to prove.
Wales 6 Argentina 7
Totals: Wales 48 Argentina 51
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