The date against a ‘vulnerable’ All Blacks team having been consigned to the pages of the history books, Wales this weekend head into a match against a side who are said to be in form.
Of course, New Zealand were never remotely there for the taking. They never are, a point made by Graham Price this week. And the 55-23 thrashing that unfolded duly confirmed as much. You can read about all Wales' problems here - and what should be done.
Let's see how the game with Argentina in Cardiff on Saturday goes.
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The Pumas' win over England at Twickenham suggests another testing encounter awaits Wayne Pivac's men.
Certainly, there's been no much of the V-word this week. Why would there be?
In 2022, the Pumas have beaten Scotland over a three-game series and taken Tests off New Zealand and Australia, as well as lowered the colours of Owen Farrell and Co last weekend.
Pivac has made five changes for the date with the South Americans, two of them positional.
Injuries have again been a factor for the coach. Here are the headlines from his pick.
Rees-Zammit’s new role
Leigh Halfpenny’s ongoing injury issues and the absence of Liam Williams for the entire autumn campaign has left Wales searching for a full-back. Some might argue they’ve spent the past 10 years without a third No. 15, but that’s another story.
They used Gareth Anscombe there last weekend against New Zealand with Rhys Priestland at fly-half. The arrangement yielded mixed results, with the back division as a whole not helped by the lack of quality ball sent back by the Welsh pack.
So there’s a rejig for the date with Argentina, a switch that has got a lot of people talking.
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Rees-Zammit moves from wing into the No. 15 role that he has filled just twice in senior rugby to date, on each occasion at club level with Gloucester.
The youngster will know that full-back involves much, much more than running from deep. It requires the ability to read play, excellent positional skills, a calm temperament, confidence under the high ball, solid defence and accurate kicking.
Even so, Argentina will be wary of the threat Wales' fastest player poses with ball in hand. Kick loosely and they could find a world of trouble coming back at them. There’s potential there, then, for the home attack to have an extra dimension.
One step at a time, though. Rees-Zammit’s first job as last line of defence will be to gain the confidence of his team-mates. Settle and demonstrate good decision making, showing he knows when to kick and when to run, for instance. A chat with Halfpenny could help hugely, if such a talk hasn’t already taken place.
A tank full of self-belief will further help the Gloucester player. With an eye to the World Cup and beyond, Wales will be hoping this pick, something of a gamble, comes off.
Cuthbert straight in after lengthy absence
No small roll of the dice this one, either. Cuthbert hasn’t played since the summer, when he picked up a shoulder injury on duty for Wales against South Africa.
Does he have the match sharpness to head straight into a Test? On the surface, no outing in four months would seem to answer that one.
There again, Pivac has had the chance to judge him in training and the coach is evidently of the mind that in-house work with Wales can be effective in bringing a long-term absentee back up to speed.
Wales like having Cuthbert in their ranks not just because he has vast experience and, on a good day, can cause major problems for an opposition defence. They also enjoy the 6ft 6in Osprey’s aerial skills which can be used to good effect in attack and defence. The concession of a try from a cross kick out wide to the 6ft 5in Jordie Barrett last Saturday would have double underlined to the selectors how important height is to a winger nowadays.
Stephen Jones and Pivac will want Cuthbert to impose himself on the game, as he did against England in the Six Nations. Play like that and the big man will keep any defence in the world honest.
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No. 10 door opens for Anscombe
The Ospreys man could have been forgiven for feeling his chance to show Pivac what he can do at fly-half for Wales would never again come. In 31 Tests since the coaching reins were handed over after Warren Gatland, Anscombe has started just once at No. 10, against New Zealand last year.
Injury has struck again this season, but he is a quality player who has vision as well as kicking and passing skills. He is a leader and he knows how to get the job done: With him at fly-half, Wales have won 10 out of 12 games, a record to stand comparison with most.
Pivac will want him to boss the game against the Pumas.
Steely Dan returns
A nasty rib injury reduced Tommy Reffell’s effectiveness before he left the field against New Zealand. Before he went off, the suggestion is he was in extreme pain.
For the young Leicester Tiger, then, it is a step back this weekend.
In his place, Wales have turned to Dan Lydiate, a player who can be guaranteed to add steel to any defensive line. South Africa were hugely impressed with the blindside in the summer Tests as he met them on the gainline and more than matched their physicality.
Because of the way he plays, with total commitment at all times, there’s always a concern that a knock is never far away, for either him or for the poor sap unfortunate enough to run down his channel.
But that is the nature of his trade and the nature of his game. He has been a warrior for Wales and a player they have kept recalling because no-one does what Lydiate does better than the mid-Wales farmer.
Change at No. 3
Not expected by too many, this one, with Dillon Lewis coming in at tighthead and Tomas Francis dropping out of the matchday squad completely. Mind you, Pivac did speak of “sore and battered bodies” after the game with New Zealand.
Francis wasn’t at his best against New Zealand, with the Wales scrum under pressure and the Osprey’s ball retention letting him down at times. But he is widely considered to be Wales’ foremost scrummaging tighthead, even if Lewis scores heavily for his work around the park, with his ability to win turnovers calling to mind Gethin Jenkins in his prime.
Scrummaging is a No. 3's primary job, though. Wales need Lewis to deliver on that front against the Pumas. It’s an area of the game where Wales have to perform.
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