Wales prepare for Argentina fixture
Wales lock Adam Beard is set to return to San Juan, Argentina, a location where he previously experienced a victory eight years ago. Beard was part of the starting lineup when Wales defeated Argentina in San Juan. This weekend, Wales will face Argentina again at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario.
Several players from that 2018 squad are still with the team, including wing Josh Adams and prop Dillon Lewis, who also started in the previous match. Aaron Wainwright made his Test debut from the bench in that game, while hooker Ryan Elias, who is nearing his 50th cap, was a replacement. Tomos Williams was an unused scrum-half in that fixture.
Beard reflected on the passage of time, noting how quickly eight years have passed since their last visit. He acknowledged Argentina as a proud nation with a strong rugby side and expressed hope for a positive outcome this weekend, despite changes to the squad since their last victory there. The Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario is described as an intimate venue with a capacity of just over 25,000.
Beard anticipates a potentially hostile crowd but views such environments as desirable for rugby players and sportspeople. He stated that experiencing different crowds and teams is beneficial, and the team is looking forward to the match.
Beard’s journey back to the starting XV
Beard has worked to secure his place in the Wales squad over the past year. He described his performance against France during the Six Nations as challenging, particularly after a mistake that led to a French try. Following this, he was moved to the replacements bench, with Ben Carter and Dafydd Jenkins forming the second-row partnership for the remainder of the tournament.
Beard acknowledged that his Six Nations start was not ideal and that he made costly mistakes he was not proud of. He used the time to reflect and adapted to a different role coming off the bench. With Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins unavailable for Wales’ summer matches due to a shoulder injury, Beard returned to the starting lineup against Fiji in the opening Nations Championship victory.
He emphasised that he did not take the opportunity for granted and felt he delivered a strong performance. Beard expressed his desire to enjoy playing in the Wales jersey again, noting the quality of second-row players in Wales. He mentioned being among the older players in that position, having accumulated a significant number of caps, but still feels he has much to contribute.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who previously coached Beard at the Ospreys, commended Beard’s response to adversity. Tandy described Beard’s performance in the recent match as one of his best and praised his character and drive to regain his spot in the team. Tandy highlighted Beard’s positive attitude and assistance to the team in preparing for opponents, even after the France defeat.
Beard is concluding a long season, with two more Wales matches remaining against Argentina and then South Africa in Durban. He recently joined the Wales squad after his first season with French club Montpellier, which included a Challenge Cup win and reaching the Top 14 final against Toulouse. Beard described his move to Montpellier as beneficial for himself and his family, calling it one of his best rugby decisions.
He found the decision to leave the Ospreys, where he had been since a young age, difficult but felt it was a move he might have regretted not making. Beard noted the physical demands of the French league, which involves playing many games in a season, but also highlighted the unique support and passion experienced in the Top 14, describing it as a different level of experience.
Team selections and upcoming challenges
Steve Tandy has announced changes to the Wales squad for the match against Argentina. Three alterations have been made to the team that defeated Fiji. Ellis Mee will start on the wing, replacing Louis Rees-Zammit, who moves to the bench. James Botham is selected at blindside flanker over Alex Mann, and Sam Costelow will start at fly-half.
Ryan Elias is listed among the replacements and is in contention to earn his 50th Wales cap. Kane James is also on the bench, aiming for his senior international debut. Tandy explained his selection decisions, noting that Joe Hawkins has played well for Scarlets in his position, and Max Llewellyn provides cover at both centre and wing.
Tandy expressed confidence in the selected group of players. He described Ellis Mee and Josh Adams as fantastic, and sees Rees-Zammit coming off the bench as an exciting prospect when the game opens up. Tandy acknowledged Argentina as a strong team with considerable depth, mentioning the return of Kremer, a highly experienced player.
He anticipates a passionate and potentially hostile atmosphere, viewing it as an exciting Test match and an opportunity for the team to embrace a different culture. Tandy praised Elias’s resilience and leadership, highlighting his dedication in training and his positive influence on younger players. He also spoke highly of Kane James, noting his energy and fearless approach since joining the environment.
Tandy mentioned the depth within the squad, acknowledging James Botham’s strong performance and the desire to freshen up the team while maintaining cohesion. He explained Mee’s selection, citing his strong performance against Italy and Rees-Zammit’s limited training last week. Tandy also commented on the competition between Costelow and Dan Edwards at fly-half, praising Costelow’s performance against Scotland and the healthy competition in training.
The coach indicated that the changes are part of a freshening-up process, balancing cohesion with new inclusions. The match against Argentina will be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app, with live text commentary also available. It will also be shown live on S4C.
The Argentina lineup includes S Carreras, Delguy, Cinti, Piccardo, M Carreras, Albornoz, Garcia, Wenger, Montoya (captain), Rapetti, Petti, Alemanno, Grondona, Kremer, and Oviedo. Replacements for Argentina are Ruiz, Vivas, Coria Marchetti, Molina, Matera, Benitez Cruz, Moroni, and Ignacio. The match is scheduled for Saturday, 11 July, at 20:10 BST.
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Source: bbc.co.uk