Argentina snuffed out the brief Welsh revival on Saturday with a 35-21 win in San Juan to close out round two of the Nations Championship. The Pumas had already secured a four-try bonus point by half time and finished with five tries, while Wales crossed three times, all through front-row forwards.
After two rounds, only three of the 12 teams remain unbeaten: Ireland, who top the Northern Hemisphere table, and South Africa and New Zealand in the South. Argentina had lost a high-scoring opener at home to Scotland the previous week, whereas Wales had edged Fiji in Cardiff for their first back-to-back Test wins since 2023.
On Saturday the hosts, with five changes from the defeat, exploited Wales' defensive frailties exposed by Fiji. Wales skipped into a second-minute lead when hooker Dewi Lake barged over from close range, but Joaquin Oviedo replied for Argentina within five minutes. Further tries from Justo Piccardo, Marcos Kremer and Santiago Carreras built a commanding lead before Oviedo crossed again after the break. Replacement prop Ben Warren scored Wales' final try in the 65th minute.