Pumas run riot to crush Wales

ARGENTINA overpowered Wales 52-28 in Cardiff on Saturday as home coach Steve Tandy’s first game in charge of the national side ended in a comprehensive loss.

- 

The Pumas, sixth in the world rankings to Wales’ twelfth place, ran in seven tries, all converted by Santiago Carreras, who also landed a penalty for a match haul of 17 points.

Four of those tries came in a first half when Argentina led 14-0, were pegged back to 14-14, but turned round in command at 31-14.

Victory gave Argentina their highest score and largest winning margin against Wales, who also suffered a tenth successive home defeat.

Meanwhile, Scotland face a nervous wait to discover if star player Finn Russell will be fit to face Argentina in Edinburgh next weekend.

The influential fly-half needed several bouts of treatment for a knee problem during Saturday's agonising 25-17 loss to New Zealand before being replaced in the closing stages at Murrayfield following an ankle injury.

Huw Jones and Zander Fagerson, two of Russell’s fellow British and Irish Lions, missed the Autumn Nations Series defeat by the All Blacks through injury.