Wales opened the Steve Tandy era with a clear defeat as Argentina cruised to a record 52-28 victory in Cardiff.
Tandy became the first Welsh player to take charge of the men’s national team since 2007, but the scale of the task facing the former Scotland national team defense coach was set in clear terms.
For Argentina, Jeronimo Pulisianli scored a gold goal, Pedro Delgado, Benitez Cruz, Mateo Carreras Bautista Delghi and Santiago Grondona also scored, and the perfect Santi Carreras added 17 points with his boot.
Wales leveled the score at 14-14 after a disastrous opening 10 minutes, but Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Jack Morgan and Blair Murray completed crosses, Dan Edwards converted three times and Jarrod Evans converted one.
There were bright spots for Wales, with skipper Morgan performing before his injury while scoring and Louis Rees-Zammit showing tremendous pace after an 18-month adventure in the NFL.
However, Argentina continued their relentless attack and piled up points to surpass their previous biggest victory over Wales, a 33-11 victory in Cardiff in 2021.
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Wales’ players emerged from the traditional away changing room at the Principality Stadium, with Tandy swapping changing rooms.
Wales had ended an 18-game losing streak in Japan four months ago, but Cardiff, who had lost nine in a row and suffered a 68-14 defeat to England in March, had plenty of demons to exorcise.
Wales benefited from prop Delgado’s typical Pumas power game and Santi Carreras scored a goal to put them behind in the seventh minute.
Juan Martín Gonzalez then picked up the loose ball and Mateo Carreras chipped it through for Prisciantelli to score his first Test try.
Santi Carreras scored, giving Argentina 14 points in 10 minutes.
But just 12 minutes later Wales equalized when Tom Rodgers burst through midfield and Morgan, who was supporting him, sent Williams his 16th Test try.
Wales were successful in refusing to take an easy penalty and running the ball, with Williams setting up Dewi Lake, who slotted past Prisciantelli and over the line.
Edwards added a second conversion, but Ben Thomas fired a header into the bin after kicking out to Pablo Matera, who had his feet pinned to the ground.
Thomas’ failure to make contact with Matera spared the Welsh center a red card after review, but Argentina made the most of their extra player.
Santi Carreras converted a penalty from 30 yards and scrum-half Simon Benitez Cruz hit the post for a touchdown.
Matera caught the kick-off and within seconds Argentina attacked again, cutting through two tacklers and sending a left-footed kick towards Mateo Carreras.
The winger held off two defenders to form a line and his younger brother added another point.
The Blue and White’s streak continued in the second half, with Delgui dropping a point and Williams saving a man off the ball, leaving Wales down to 14 men again.
Morgan used his wits from a tap penalty to score his third try, but it was his last try as he watched the rest of the game from the sidelines with his arm in a sling.
Grondona secured a comfortable win after Thomas’ pass was collected by Prisciantelli, who intercepted it and Murray dived in to score Wales’ fourth try.