"We need a bloody stand-off," cried one dejected supporter as he headed for the exit 10 minutes before the end. Iestyn Harris's honeymoon had been brief, even for a Wales outside-half, and the fact that only 39,000 spectators turned up for his debut told its own story.
The problems besetting Welsh rugby and the national coach Graham Henry are so profound that they go beyond who fills the outhalf jersey. Wales on Saturday were a reflection of their clubs, who have this season been an abject disappointment, and face the prospect of failing to provide a Heineken Cup quarter-finalist for the first time.
Henry is adamant he will not resign from his £250,000-a-year job, but Wales were booed off yet again. Their past four home games have finished in defeat and should they fail to convince against Tonga on Saturday and Australia eight days later, it would surely spell the end of the New Zealander's 40-month reign.
Wales were expected to start with energy and fizz after their 36-6 wake-up call at the hands of Ireland last month, but they came to only in stoppage time in the first period having given Argentina a 13-point start. Henry's dilemma is that it was not a case of the wrong game plan or selection, but a team completely lacking in desire. The Pumas, playing for no financial reward, had a desperate hunger for success.
Instead of bringing the players around him up to his level, Harris found himself dragged down. Though he made a few half-breaks he had two kicks charged down and gave away the two tries Argentina scored. The forwards provided the flimsiest of foundations, with little quick ball from the breakdown, and they were bullied out of it by the Pumas, who achieved their first win over Wales in a full international.
His Lions experience in the summer has undermined Henry. Several of the Welsh players on the trip were unhappy with they way they had been treated and had a meeting with the coach at the start of the season, but the grumblers have done nothing since to justify their stance.
Take away Scott Quinnell, Gareth Thomas, Kevin Morgan and Anthony Sullivan on Saturday, and Wales had next to nothing. Argentina were physical and aggressive with a game plan based on stopping the opposition rather than attack, and though Wales had the bulk of the possession, most of the game was played in their half. They tried to run their way out of trouble but succeeded in finding it.
"There will be calls for Graham Henry's head, but that misses the point," said the team manager Alan Phillips. "Graham is a victim of his own success because he succeeded in papering over the cracks in his first 18 months here. The national team is reflecting the club scene. The players looked slow, lethargic and tired. Question marks have to be made about their fitness levels, which are the clubs' responsibility.
"Chickens are coming home to roost as far as the structure of our game is concerned. The clubs and the Welsh Rugby Union are both vying for the control of the players and the national interest is not being put first."
Bristol's halfbacks Felipe Contepomi and Agustin Pichot dictated the play. The outhalf Contepomi finished with 25 points and harried Harris all afternoon.
"The space was there but we lost a lot of ball and had little quality possession," said Harris. "I made mistakes and I always said it would not happen at once for me." His time will come. Whether he blossoms under Henry is a different matter.
WALES: Morgan (Swansea); Williams (Cardiff; Bateman, Neath, 62min), Gareth Thomas (Bridgend; Robinson, Cardiff, 80), Jones (Llanelli); Sullivan; Harris, Howley (all Cardiff); Morris (Swansea; I Thomas, Ebbw Vale, h-t), McBryde (Llanelli), Young (Card iff, capt), C Quinnell (Cardiff; Wyatt, Llanelli, 62), Moore, Charvis (both Swansea), Gavin Thomas (Bath; Sinkinson, Neath, 70), S Quinnell (Llanelli).Try: Morris. Conversion: Harris. Penalties: Harris 3.
ARGENTINA: Corleto; Carmardon, Orengo, Arbizu (capt), Albanese; Contepomi, Pichot; Reggiardo (Ledesma, 79), Mendez, Hasan (Grau, 64), Fernandez Lobbe, Alvarez, Phelan (Ostiglia, 70), Martin, Longo. Tries: Contepomi, Carmardon. Conversion: Contepomi. Penalties: Contepomi 5. Drop-goal: Contepomi. Sin-bin: Ostiglia 80min.
Attendance: 39,000.
Referee: J Dume (France).
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