Wales continue their Autumn Nations Series campaign on Saturday when they tackle Argentina at the Principality Stadium.
The game comes just seven days after a 55-23 defeat against New Zealand – the most points ever conceded by Wales in Cardiff.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some key talking points ahead of Argentina’s visit.
Pressure mounting on Wayne Pivac?
World rankings tell a story
⬆️ @lospumas ?? ⬆️ @AllBlacks ??
Plenty of movement in the Men’s Rankings powered by @capgemini after the action this weekend ?
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 7, 2022
Three years and three months ago, Wales were on top of the world, enjoying a brief stint as rugby union’s number one-ranked team. That status followed a 14-match unbeaten run under Gatland between March 2018 and August 2019. It is a distant memory now, though, with Wales dropping to ninth after Argentina and Scotland went above them following their New Zealand defeat last weekend. Wales’ Six Nations rivals Ireland, France, England and Scotland all occupy higher places approaching the end of a year that has so far seen Pivac’s team win just two Tests and lose seven.
Pumas on the prowl
Wales must get physical
Taulupe Faletau a class apart
26 – @WelshRugbyUnion‘s Taulupe Faletau made 26 tackles and 15 carries against New Zealand, no player made more in either category during the weekend’s Autumn Nations Series fixtures. Tireless. pic.twitter.com/ss9SjiOlKo
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) November 7, 2022
Eleven years after he made his Wales debut, number eight Faletau continues to perform at a level consistently higher than most of those around him. He will be 32 on the day Wales face Argentina, but his imperious powers show no sign of waning. In defeat against New Zealand last weekend, Faletau’s statistics were extraordinary. He made 26 tackles and missed none, while his 15 carries were three more than anyone else managed in the Wales team. The Cardiff forward delivers one world-class display after another, and a 92nd Wales appearance promises to be no different.
