Argentina captain brands new Wales star ‘unbelievable’ as Steve Tandy’s two demands emerge

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Tandy has been quick to establish his philosophy within the Wales camp(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

These are your evening rugby headlines on Saturday, November 8.

New Wales star hailed as ‘unbelievable’

Argentina captain Julián Montoya has heaped praise on his Leicester Tigers teammate Olly Cracknell as he prepares to win his first Wales cap on Sunday, describing him as “outstanding” and “an amazing man”. Cracknell has been named among the replacements in Steve Tandy’s first match day squad as Wales boss and is now set to come off the bench to make his international debut at the age of 31 in his side’s autumn opener.

The back-rower was a late call-up to Tandy’s squad for the autumn campaign as he was brought in for the injured Taulupe Faletau. But having caught the eye with a series of impressive performances for Leicester, he has been tipped for an international call-up for some time and Montoya says he’s “not surprised at all” to finally see his fellow Tiger called up.

“Yeah, I love Crackers,” he told the BBC. “I have a really nice relationship with him, we’ve shared a changing room for a few years and he’s an amazing man.

“I’m really happy for him and I love to see him there. He’s been outstanding at Leicester and the way that he plays and the way that he carries himself as a guy, he’s unbelievable.

“[I’m] looking forward to playing against him but yeah, massive respect. He’s a really, really good man and the way that he’s been playing and how he prepares, how he approaches the game, I’m happy for him and I’m not surprised at all that he’s been picked.”

Tandy tells Wales to ‘be brave and smart’

By Phil Blanche, PA

Skipper Jac Morgan says Wales plan to implement Steve Tandy’s rugby philosophy of being “brave and smart” in their new head coach’s first game against Argentina.

Tandy has a difficult baptism in Cardiff on Sunday with Los Pumas – ranked sixth in the world rankings and six places above Wales – impressing in the Rugby Championship with wins over Australia and New Zealand.

Wales won their last Test match four months ago in Japan under the caretaker charge of Matt Sherratt, with that series-squaring victory ending a run of 18 straight defeats that began at the 2023 World Cup.

“Being brave, being smart,” British and Irish Lions flanker Morgan said when asked about Tandy’s philosophy at the pre-match captain’s run in Cardiff. “Taking opportunities when they’re there, but also being smart with that.

“Steve’s brought a lot (to the squad). His energy and enthusiasm has been great and he’s been speaking about an identity we want to build as a squad. That’s something we’ve been working on over the last couple of weeks, and hopefully we can build on it throughout this autumn campaign. That’s exciting. It’s been good to get the training in and now we look forward to the games.”

Tandy hails from the village of Tonmawr – around four miles east of Neath – and is the first Welshman to be in charge of the men’s national senior team for 18 years. The 45-year-old former flanker never played for his country but has stressed this week the importance and honour of wearing the Wales jersey.

Morgan said: “You see how passionate Steve is about Wales and what a proud Welshman he is. He’s mentioned Tonmawr to us. What he’s brought as well is, and I know how proud we are to put on the jersey and represent Wales, is how much communities mean to us.We all come from these communities and that’s who we’re representing. It’s been brilliant.”

Wales’ autumn schedule also includes games against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa before the end of the month. Japan are ranked one place below Wales in 13th, with world champions South Africa and New Zealand first and second respectively.

“It’s four tough games, definitely, but they’re great games to be able to play,” said Morgan. “Argentina are a real tough team, they’re a very physical team, and we know that’s something they’re going to bring.

“They’re also a team who can create in attack and be physical in defence, and it’s going to be a tough old battle. But hopefully we can put our stamp on it and our way of playing will come through in these games.”

Ireland beat Japan after sluggish start

By Edward Elliot, PA, Dublin

Ireland bounced back from defeat to New Zealand by beginning their home autumn internationals with a 41-10 win over Japan in Dublin. Following last weekend’s deflating 26-13 loss to the All Blacks in Chicago, tries from Jack Crowley and Nick Timoney helped Andy Farrell’s much-changed side overcome a slow start at the Aviva Stadium.

Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms trailed only 17-10 at half-time following Sato’s score and five points from the boot of Lee Seung-sin. But the hosts, who face upcoming appointments against Australia and world champions South Africa, improved significantly in the second period.

Andrew Porter crossed to increase Ireland’s lead before wing Tommy O’Brien sealed victory after Gus McCarthy and Paddy McCarthy each came off the bench to touch down. Crowley also kicked seven points, with replacement fly-half Sam Prendergast slotting two conversions.

Captain Caelan Doris started for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in May as part of eight changes following the setback at Soldier Field, while 32-year-old Munster centre Tom Farrell made his international debut.

Ireland were eager to right some wrongs but Japan – thrashed 61-7 by the Springboks last weekend – began brighter and looked dangerous with ball in hand amid a subdued Saturday lunchtime atmosphere. An early Crowley penalty put Ireland ahead before the Brave Blossoms’ lively start was undermined by a 17th-minute yellow card for centre Charlie Lawrence following a lifting tackle on Test newcomer Farrell.

Fly-half Crowley burst on to a Doris pass to finish a fine team try three minutes later and then added the extras as Ireland capitalised on their temporary numerical advantage. Flanker Timoney crossed in the left corner and Crowley nailed the tricky touchline conversion shortly after Lawrence’s return to increase the advantage.

Yet disjointed Ireland led by only seven points at the break as Japan’s attacking enterprise was eventually rewarded. Hooker Sato bulldozed over from a maul three minutes before half-time, with fly-half Lee converting and slotting a penalty, either side of Jacob Stockdale being sin-binned following head-on-head contact with Kippei Ishida.

Ireland were far more fluid in the early stages of the second half. Prop Porter stretched for the line to shift scoreboard momentum back in the home team’s favour before wing Stockdale was denied a 20th Test try on review due to an offside decision.

Aided by a big impact from the bench, Ireland gradually began to dominate. Replacement hooker Gus McCarthy powered over in the 67th minute to put them in complete control, before substitute prop Paddy McCarthy marked his second Test outing with a maiden international try five minutes later.

Wing O’Brien then capped an impressive individual display by bursting on to a Prendergast pass to claim Ireland’s sixth – and final – try of a satisfactory afternoon.

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