Geronimo Prisciantell gets the game under way

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Steve Tandy has already started trying to stamp his mark on this squad in a bid to change their fortunes on the pitch.

That has included switching the changing rooms.

After 26 years in the same dressing room, Wales are now using what was the old away room.

Given Wales have lost their last nine Tests at home, they're hoping any little thing may work.

"It isn't about streaks, it's more about the scope to redevelop and change that landscape and how we see that working," said Tandy.

"It wasn't about not winning for a certain amount of time, it's more if we're changing things and learning differently, that needs to be matched down at the stadium."

The Principality falls silent to mark Remembrance Sunday ahead of the two national anthems.

Image source, Getty

Ian Gough
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

We're underdogs here, I just want to see improvements, every game improvements in areas, consistency in areas and not stepping back. Once you've made that level you hold that level and push that level.

This early on if we can just start seeing those improvements.

You're gonna get a lot of heart today I'm sure, new coach, giving players who thought they'd been left out such as Rhys Carre a chance.

I'm expecting big hearty displays, but it's just getting that consistency in certain areas that might take a bit of time.

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The autumn internationals are under way as teams look to pick up vital ranking points before the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup on 3 December.

Teams will be drawn into six pools of four for the group stage of the tournament in Australia.

As things stand the top six sides in the world rankings - South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, France, England and Argentina - will be placed in band one for the draw and would therefore avoid playing each other in the pool stage.

Australia (seventh) and Scotland (eighth) will be eyeing up strong autumns to try to break into the top six, while Wales (12th) will want to avoid falling out of the second band of teams and facing an even trickier World Cup draw.

With the World Cup two years away, the autumn matches also provide head coaches with an opportunity to blood new players and develop their tactics.

Read about how there is something to play for across the board this month ahead of that World Cup draw.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

They've got to be patient, we've got to be patient as the Welsh public.

Argentina are a very very good team, they're hardened, they're coming out the back of the Rugby Championship and they've got some world class players and we've got a lot of new combinations as a Welsh team and it does take time.

It will be closer today than people think, I think it will be a Argentina victory by about six points but we've got to back the team and keep patient with them.

Image source, Getty Images

This game rounds off another cracking weekend of autumn international action.

Scotland failed to take a big opportunity to finally beat New Zealand when the All Blacks ran out 25-17 winners at Murrayfield.

The Scots fought back from 17-0 down at the break to level but paid the price for missing chances, with New Zealand's Damian McKenzie coming up with the crucial score in the 74th minute.

South Africa impressively overcame a red card for lock Lood de Jager at the end of the first half to beat France 32-17 in Paris.

Italy stunned Australia 26-19 in Udine while England and Ireland avoided banana skins by beating Fiji 38-18 and Japan 41-10 respectively.

Scott Williams
Wales centre on BBC Radio Cymru

Jac Morgan has said that there have been a lot of learnings over the last two weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing what things they have been working on.

It's likely to be some changes to the shape. We've seen a lot of teams change the way that they attack, so they will have worked in that area.

But also, they'll have worked on the kicking game. They need to kick well today to get them into the right positions on the field and attack from there.

Emyr Lewis
Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

Wales must have a positive attitude of going forward in possession.

They need to make sure they have plenty of possession and they are competitive and physical.

I would say for the last two years, we haven't been competitive at all in these fixtures. Teams have just brushed us aside.

I'm hoping with this new management that we are going to improve and see more breaks of the gainline but also use the ball more wisely than we have done.

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Having started Wales' slump in Marseille two years ago, Argentina now intend to deny Steve Tandy a morale-boosting start to life as national boss.

It has been 27 months and nine games since a Welsh Test win at Principality Stadium, a World Cup warm-up triumph against England.

Wales start a new era as underdogs today when Tandy calls the shots for the first time.

The head coach bids to follow up July's success in Japan, which ended a humiliating 18-Test losing streak that began with the World Cup quarter-final defeat by the Pumas.

Standing in their way are an Argentina side ranked sixth in the world and who are fresh from a tense and tight Rugby Championship during which they beat New Zealand and Australia and most recently pushed world champions South Africa to within two points.

Under head coach Felipe Contepomi they have earned the right to come to Cardiff with confidence as a genuine top-level team.

Argentina start as favourites against Wales - something that would have been unthinkable a decade ago - before tougher assignments against Scotland and England.

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Louis Rees-Zammit is back in a Wales matchday squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat by today's opponents.

The wing dropped a bomb when he quit rugby on the eve of the 2024 Six Nations to try his hand at American football.

He had spells on the practice squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not play a competitive game in the NFL and returned to rugby union in August when signing for Bristol.

By all accounts he has returned bigger and stronger and it's fair to say there will be plenty of excitement at his return today.

He has not played since damaging a toe against Saracens on 4 October but Steve Tandy previously said Wales were getting back a "special athlete and a special mindset".

"There's always a temptation to start someone like Zammo [Rees-Zammit], but we've got to do what's right by him and the group," said Tandy.

"He's probably played two games since he's come back and then he's had an injury.

"It's his first full training week this week has be and he has been awesome so it's an amazing opportunity for us to get him on the park."

Five stats you need to know

• Wales won seven of eight meetings against Argentina between 2007 and 2018 but have since won just one of four since - a 20-13 victory the last time the sides met in Cardiff.
• Wales won their most recent match - 31-22 vs Japan in July - ending what was the longest losing streak of any tier one team in men’s rugby - 18 Tests.
• Argentina have won just three of their last 11 games (L8), with three of their last five defeats coming in matches they led at half-time. The Pumas’ most recent victory came away from home in Australia, 28-26, during this year’s Rugby Championship.
• Argentina have lost each of their last four matches against European opposition after winning two in a row previously. They’ve not lost five in a row since a nine-game run from 2017 to 2019, which included two defeats to Wales.
• Argentina had the highest tackle success rate of any team in the 2025 Rugby Championship (86.0%), while Wales had the second-best rate of any side in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations (87.7%).

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

For the past two years, Rhys Carre was ineligible under the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) selection policy because he has 20 caps, five short of the required number for those playing for clubs outside Wales.

But there are loopholes, as demonstrated when Wales selected Jarrod Evans in the Six Nations earlier this year.

The Harlequins fly-half also has fewer than 25 caps but he was not given a reasonable offer to remain with former club Cardiff when his contract expired.

It seems the same applies to Carre, who left Cardiff last year to join Saracens for a second time.

Carre would have become available for rival home nations in 2026 because it will have been three years since he previously played for Wales.

Steve Tandy says that situation did not contribute to his decision to recall the prop and he has placed his faith in Carre, who was overlooked by previous Wales coaches Warren Gatland and Wayne Pivac with concerns over his fitness.

"I can't wait to see Rhys go out there and put that performance in," said Tandy.

"He's come into the environment and been excellent.

"A lot of times I think we can always focus on what people can't do but ultimately we can see what Rhys can do and he has played well for Saracens."

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After starting his rugby journey in his beloved Tonmawr, new Wales head coach Steve Tandy will take charge of his country for the first time today.

But he will be far from alone on the proudest moment of his career.

This morning, seven coaches carrying about 300 people left Tonmawr RFC dressed in the rugby club's green colours as they support their favourite son.

It has been a journey more than 40 years in the making as Tandy begins his bid to put the faith back into Welsh rugby.

Image source, Tonmawr RFC

Now Tandy is making his own history.

"There is a massive buzz around the club and the village," said Tonmawr president Shaun Hutchings.

"Steve is a genuine good guy, very humble with zero ego.

"He has never forgotten his roots and has always engaged with the club. He was only up here last week with our under-16s. Rugby is in his blood.

"It is an amazing achievement he has got the top job. We are proud of that and I'm sure his family are also."

Read all about the build up to Steve Tandy's special day

"Wales' losing run is history," said the Bristol and Leinster fly-half Felipe Contepomi.

"Where they are coming from doesn't matter and the last time that we came to Principality Stadium was 2022 when they were coming through a rough time and beat us.

"We've had some injuries but we are happy with the whole group that we have here - I would be very confident with playing any of the 32 that are training with us."

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

"I just want to see that squad express themselves and enjoy every moment of representing the country in such a unique and special jersey.

"I spoke to the boys, on our first day, of how as a kid the only thing I ever wanted to do was play for Wales.

"It passed me by but I loved every minute of playing and hopefully that has helped me become a coach because you want to give everything you can to these players to fulfil their dreams of and ultimately become better players."

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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.

However they have been hit with injuries. They stunned the British & Irish Lions in Dublin in their pre-tour Test but are without seven players - six of them starters - from that success.

La Rochelle tight-head prop Joel Sclavi, Exeter's Franco Molina and second-row partner Pedro Rubiolo, who plays for Bristol Bears alongside flanker Benjamin Grondona, Zebre scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia, Benetton fly-half Tomas Albornoz and Saracens centre Lucio Cinti are sidelined though injury.

The loss of Garcia, who started the first five rounds of the Rugby Championship, is considerable and leaves the inexperienced Simon Benitez Cruz and Agustin Moyano, who made their Test debuts in the summer, as the options today. First-choice fly-half Gonzalo Garcia is rested.

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

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Rhys Carre and Louis Rees-Zammit are set to make their Test returns after two years out - though for very different reasons.

Saracens prop Carre was dropped by Warren Gatland ahead of the 2023 World Cup and was then ineligible to play under the 25-cap rule when he moved to Saracens.

Rees-Zammit has returned to rugby since trying his hand at American football and is straight back into the Wales match-day squad.

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 after missing the Japan tour.

Former Ospreys back rower Cracknell was a late addition to the autumn squad for injured Taulupe Faletau and is set to make his international debut - at the age of 31 - from the replacements bench.

Tandy described selecting his first squad as a "privilege" and has made seven changes from the victory over Japan in July that ended a record 18-match losing run.

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.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Welcome to the Principality Stadium for the start of a new era for Welsh rugby.

It's the first game under new head coach Steve Tandy and the first time the national team has been led by a permanent Welsh coach in 18 years. Could that signal a change in fortunes for Wales?

Let's face it, it has been desperately miserable for Wales pretty much since the last time they faced Argentina.

That was in Marseille for the quarter-final of the 2023 World Cup and few could have imaged what would follow both on and off the field.

An 18-Test losing run brought about political chaos and was only ended this summer in Wales' last match against next week's opponents Japan.

To put that into perspective today, Argentina come to town having defeated both the All Blacks and Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.

So that's the setting for today's clash, now let's take a look at the teams.