Wales v Argentina - all you need to know

Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright played in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in October 2023 in Marseille

Wales will begin their autumn international campaign this Sunday when they host Argentina.

It is the first game in charge for new head coach Steve Tandy, with further November Tests to follow against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa on the subsequent three Saturday's this month.

What time will Wales v Argentina kick off?

The match takes place at 15:10 GMT at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, 9 November.

How can I follow Wales v Argentina on the BBC?

There will be live audio commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

The commentary will also be available on the BBC Sport website where you can follow blow-by-blow action with our live text commentary.

For all the build-up and analysis, make sure to follow the Welsh rugby section on the BBC Sport website.

Who is in Wales team and is Louis Rees-Zammit back?

Prop Rhys Carre returns to Wales' starting side for the first time since 2023. Louis Rees-Zammit - along with uncapped Leicester number eight Olly Cracknell - is named among the replacements.

Tandy has made seven changes from the Wales side that beat Japan in July to end a record 18-match losing run.

Carre and fellow prop Keiron Assiratti, locks Adam Beard and Dafydd Jenkins, centre Max Llewellyn and British and Irish Lions duo Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams all return.

Rees-Zammit, if he comes off the bench, will make his first appearance for Wales for two years after returning from American football.

Rees-Zammit had spells with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, although he did not play a competitive game in the NFL before returning to sign for Bristol Bears in August.

The 24-year-old is included after suffering a toe injury sustained playing for Bristol earlier this month.

Argentina make four changes and a positional switch from last month's 29-27 loss to South Africa at Twickenham.

Wing Mateo Carreras and tight-head prop Pedro Delgado come into the side, while Marcos Kremer switches to lock from a back-row which now features incoming open-side flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and number eight Joaquin Oviedo.

How Wales and Argentina line up

Wales: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake, Assiratti, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Morgan (capt), Wainwright.

Replacements: Belcher, Smith, Griffin, F Thomas, Cracknell, Hardy, J Evans, Rees-Zammit.

Argentina: S Carreras; Delguy, Piccardo, Chocobares, M Carreras; Prisciantelli, Benitez Cruz; Vivas, Montoya (capt), Delgado, Petti, Kremer, Matera, JM Gonzalez, Oviedo.

Replacements: Ruiz, Gallo, Rapetti, Alemanno, Grondona, Moyano, Mallia, Isgro.

What the coaches say

Wales head coach Steve Tandy: "It's a privilege to announce my first match-day 23 for Wales.

"I just want to see that 23 go out there and express themselves on Sunday and enjoy every moment of representing the country in such a unique and special jersey."

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi: "It has been a challenge because many of our guys came through the Rugby Championship, went straight into club rugby, had a camp with us, went back to their clubs and now play this weekend.

"We won't use that as an excuse.

"Wales have a very good coaching ticket so I expect them to be a very knowledgeable team. We admire Wales' passion and how they never give up."

Who is the referee?

New Zealand referee Ben O'Keefe will be the man with the whistle in Cardiff on the weekend. He will be assisted by England's Karl Dickson and Anthony Woodthorpe

South African Quinton Immelman is the television match official (TMO) with Frenchman Eric Gauzins in charge of the foul play review process (FPRO).

What form are Wales and Argentina in?

Argentina are ranked six in the world rankings, while Wales are 12th.

Felipe Contepomi's side will be favourites having been more than competitive during the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship.

The Pumas might have finished bottom behind winners South Africa, New Zealand and Australia but they held their own against some of the best sides in the world.

Argentina managed two victories in six games with an away success in Australia and a first ever home victory against New Zealand, before running the Springboks close in October.

An Argentina XV lost to Munster last weekend but that will have no bearing on this weekend's Test.

The Pumas are battle hardened whereas Wales have not played since July, although they did end a record 18-match international losing sequence last time out beating Japan in Kobe.

They have, however, lost their past nine home Test matches in Cardiff and are playing for the first time under Tandy.

Past meetings between Wales and Argentina

The first meeting between Argentina and Wales took place in 1968, when they played two matches as part of a Welsh tour to south America.

Only Argentina awarded full caps for the two matches, with the hosts winning the first game 9–5 and the second drawn 9-9.

They met again in Cardiff in 1976, when Wales won 20–19 in another uncapped fixture for the home side.

The first match for which both teams awarded full caps was in the 1991 World Cup pool stages when Wales won 16-7 in Cardiff.

The two sides have met in full internationals on 22 occasions with Wales winning 14 times, Argentina claiming seven victories and one draw in 2021.

The most recent international between the nations was Argentina's 29-17 win in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final game in Marseille.

Why are Wales starting autumn games later than other nations?

Wales are playing a week later than other nations, with all last weekend's games played outside World Rugby's international window.

The window is a designated three-week period, which starts this weekend, where international matches take precedence over club fixtures and all players are made available.

The likes of Ireland, Scotland and England chose to stage matches a week before the window opened.

The extra games are organised to raise revenue for governing bodies with the success of the fixture depending on how many tickets are sold.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has opted to play their extra match on the weekend after the window closes. They take on the Springboks on Saturday, 29 November when no other international matches are taking place.

The match in Cardiff clashes with league fixtures in the United Rugby Championship (URC) which will involve sides from Wales and South Africa.

Both Test teams are set to also be without players who play for clubs in England and France, while the Springboks also have players involved with sides in Japan.