Wales' Nations Championship campaign hit a major speed bump yesterday as they were thrashed 35-21 by Argentina in San Juan. Despite prop Rhys Carre's scintillating form, which included his fifth try in six Test matches, the team as a whole took two steps back after an impressive run of results.
"Argentina had upped their game significantly since last week and we'd have to say it was a step back for us," Carre reflected candidly. "We'd been riding high on the back of three consecutive wins – including victories over Italy, Fiji, and the Barbarians – but Argentina's performance yesterday was simply better."
Wales got off to a flying start when captain Dewi Lake powered his way over from a driving line-out, but it didn't take long for Argentina to hit back with two quick tries that left Wales reeling. However, Carre levelled the scores with a mighty carry that showcased his power and agility.
Carre's fifth try in six Test matches was a testament to his growing influence on Welsh attacks under the guidance of attack coach Matt Sherratt. When asked about their recent good form, he acknowledged that it was still an ongoing process: "We're building momentum, but we need to keep pushing ourselves to be better." Despite the gruelling travel from Cardiff to San Juan, Carre dismissed excuses, saying: "The travel is what it is – we won't use it as a crutch."
Next up for Wales are the world champions South Africa in Durban on Saturday, 18 July 2026 (16:40 BST). With the Springboks widely regarded as the best team in the world, Carre and his teammates will have to dig deep to overcome this daunting challenge.