Player ratings: Perfect 10
Argentina got their November campaign off to the perfect start, a 26-12 win over the Six Nations champions Wales.
Having finished last in the Rugby Championship, Argentina showed the value of playing regularly against the top three countries in the world.
It was a very scrappy game on a shocking surface at the Millennium Stadium, but the Pumas didn't care – they outscored the Welsh by two tries to none.
Jan de Koning rates the Argentinean players!
15 Juan Martin Hernandez:
Solid at the back, but showed little variation. His touchfinders was his best asset.
6/10
14 Gonzalo Camacho:
There was a mistake from early restart – just poor skills – but he worked hard on defence. Then he bounced back brilliantly with a sublime try midway through the second half.
7/10
13 Gonzalo Tiesi:
Goods field kicks and strong on defence – took his tackle count into double figures and slipped just one.
7/10
12 Felipe Contepomi:
Nervous start and left the field with a knee injury in the 12th minute. Not enough time to be rated.
11 Juan Jose Imhoff:
Show his blistering pace and good vision throughout the match – not to mention some great soccer skills.. While it was a pity the support failed to round off what looked a certain first-half try, he again showed up the Welsh defence when he scored the game's opening try in the 55th minute.
9/10
10 Nicolas Sanchez:
Neat drop-goal, his first in Test rugby, in the first half and another in the second half. While his options were poor and at times in the first half looked out of his depth, he improved in the latter stages of the second half.
6/10
9 Martin Landajo:
Snappy service and some handy grubbers. He will grow in confidence as he gains experience.
6/10
8 Leonardo Senatore:
He had his moments and made a few decent tackles, but also tended to drift in and out of the game.
6/10
7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon:
He did his best work on defence and had a few decent carries. Hard working and played a huge role in the match's opening try with a sublime off-load.
8/10
6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain):
His workrate – both on defence and in taking the ball up – was simply the best. He remains his team's most productive player – as he was throughout the Rugby Championship.
10/10
5 Julio Farias Cabello:
Took the ball up well, took his line-outs and worked hard at the breakdown. Not as spectacular as he was as a loose forward earlier in the year, but still a very valuable forward.
7/10
4 Manuel Carizza:
Plenty of carries, but never really made much ground. His biggest value was in the line-outs, where he was the team's mainstay.
6/10
3 Juan Figallo:
His competing and counter-rucking at the breakdown was invaluable to his team. Also had a huge tackle count.
6/10
2 Eusebio Guinazu:
He tried hard, but conceded a few penalties and his workrate dropped later in the game.
6/10
1 Marcos Ayerza:
Penalised in an early scrum and cost his team three points early on. However, he came back with a big tackle count.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Agustin Creevy (on for Guinazu, 48th min):
Plenty of carries and a big tackle count – did everything you expect of a tight forward.
6/10
17 Bruno Postiglioni (on for Ayerza, 78th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Juan Gomez (on for Figallo, 66th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Tomas Vallejos (on for Cabello, 64th min):
Some sublime offloading and a high workrate in his short stay on the field.
7/10
20 Tomas Leonardi (on for Senatore, 56th min):
A few decent carries, but his best work was on defence in the final quarter.
6/10
21 Nicolas Vergallo (on for Landajo, 66th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Horacio Agulla (on for Hernandez, 45th min):
Made some decent tackles, but was rather quiet.
6/10
23 Joaquin Tuculet (on for Contepomi, 13th min):
Made some good ground with ball in hand and while his workrate was not the best, he did the basics well.
