Rugby World Cup: Wales 17-29 Argentina - as it happened & reaction

Wales captain Jac Morgan told S4C: "This hurts a lot, we didn't want to go home, we're gutted with that result. Mistakes and poor discipline let them in.

"For 30-35 minutes of the first half we controlled the game, just the final five minutes we gave some penalties away and they got some points, we came out in the second half and made more mistakes.

"We've come a long way from the Six Nations but we're all gutted and devastated to lose today as we felt we could push on.

"Dan Biggar has been great with the boys in all the camps, he's a great bloke and deserves all the praise he gets, he's had more than 110 caps for Wales and deserves them but it's sad it's ended in this way.

"He's been an inspiration to so many kids in Wales throughout his career, there's loads I could say about him!"

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Argentina's head coach Michael Cheika told ITV: "I'm pretty happy, I suppose. These players are such good people, without getting too emotional. They have worked really hard and I think that hard work showed at the end of the game today.

"They wanted to fight for it, they wanted to earn it. We were behind so it takes a bit of leg work. The whole 23 along with the 10 who didn't play put in a huge effort."

On whether they can go all the way: "I don't know if we'll go with the sweeping statements just yet. We will wait and see. We are just thrilled to be going to Paris, we haven't had a taste of it yet at this World Cup.

"We will look at tonight's game and I know we won't be favourites [in their semi-final] but we'll be giving it our best."

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On having to travel to Paris for the semi-final where their opponents are already based, Cheika said: "We knew this was the situation.

"We have to prepare for the battle that is coming and we can't complain about this or that because it's the way it was always going to be. We don't want to cause trouble.

"We will need to rest and recover but we can't use that as an excuse. It's what the organisers have put in place."

Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland on S4C: "I can't believe we're talking about Wales losing, in the first half we looked so clinical, understanding what was happening and then the momentum changed.

"It's so hard sometimes to stop the momentum in the opposite direction, Argentina made it difficult for Wales and I'm gutted."

Cheika added in his press conference: "There hasn't been a dramatic turnaround from that England loss, we've just learned as the tournament has gone on.

"We had quite a light preparation, we hadn't played a lot of games and we had a few players in their first ever World Cup game [vs England] learning what it's like to be in a big game.

"However it's pretty much been knock-out rugby since that game and we've learned and developed to get better and better.

"There will always be ups and down but it's the work you put in that you bank on as a tournament goes on.

"But we always show fight and passion. Even in that England game, we didn't give up a try, it was nine kicks."

In a World Cup year, Warren Gatland came in with a lot of stuff going on off the field which I felt had a big hindrance on the Six Nations.

There's going to be boys leaving now so there will be a lot of youngsters coming through, it's all about getting the boys some exposure to those games now because it's a different kettle of fish when you come to a World Cup.

I think starting with the Barbarians, give the boys who haven't had game time a run-out.

Then at the Six Nations we need to slowly build the squad for the next World Cup because at the end of the day it's not going to come over night.

There's going to be times where we do have dark moment but it's that exposure to the young players which is what I've always been a big fan of, just them having that little exposure.

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika said in his post-match press conference: "We're so happy with this.

"We conceded some tries but the important thing was to respond straight away and make sure we got points on the board as quickly as possible. That was so important.

"The work we did on our physicality really paid off because Wales were very strong but we just kept going.

"I'm very content but in a couple of days we will start preparing for the semi-final because we don't want that to be the final step."

Former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap on S4C: "I think the referee got the Guido Petti incident wrong.

"It's shoulder to the head. Yes Nick Tompkins is falling but the way the game is going, we say we don't want to see those sort of incidents so I think the referee got it wrong."

Wales coach Warren Gatland on ITV: "We gave away a couple of soft penalties just before half time when we were 10-0 up and looking alright which let them back in the game but fair play to Argentina, they are a tough side and hung in the fight.

"When Rio Dyer made that break late on, if we get the ball away we'd have scored and it would have probably been a different result.

"We played too much rugby around halfway, Argentina kicked a lot more and we gave too many turnovers when we should have kicked more and controlled territory.

"We've made a lot of progress with this group and hopefully the learnings will get us to move on, we're going to lose some experience but we've got some exciting young players.

"We'll have to learn from this going into a Barbarians game in a few weeks and then the Six Nations."

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Former Wales hooker and coach Robin McBryde told S4C: "Wales' young players will learn from this experience, the only way to learn is out there on the pitch.

"Don't forget this Argentinian side beat New Zealand last year in New Zealand.

"I wouldn't focus on the Guido Petti decision, in my opinion he's gone in there recklessly but that's out of our control.

"Warren Gatland must be thinking how good this Wales side can be, the defence, the pack they were heroic, the combination in the back row worked.

"From listening to Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake they're in good hands."

Gatland finished his press conference by saying: "Yes it's a missed opportunity.

"You can't take anything away from Argentina, they've beaten top teams, including New Zealand.

"They're a dogged side who stay in it, so if you don't take your chances and keep the scoreboard ticking over then they're going to beat you.

"We are really disappointed because the way we trained, we went into this game thinking if we can be accurate then we can get to the semi-finals.

"It wasn't to be and that's sport!"

We should have been 15 to 20 points up if I'm honest.

But as I said earlier, credit to Argentina, they changed their tactics a little bit and they deserved the win.

I was comfortable coming into this game but I was also a little bit worried because you didn't know what Argentina were going to bring.

They have beaten big teams and you never know what can happen.

It was just one of those games where we just felt like the favourites going into the game and when we are the favourites, stuff like this happens.

I think that was a worry, all the hype was about Wales and the side of the draw that they got.

They got a favourable side, playing Argentina and everyone is talking about the semi-final, that was the only danger - that we take our mind off the ball and not worry about Argentina.

I'm not saying for one second that Wales were not worried about Argentina but I think a lot of us were focused on the semi-final before we even got there!

On Sam Costelow's late interception, Gatland said: "It's rugby. We've practiced that moved but they defended narrow and anticipated it.

"We could have gone wide given their narrow defence but it's a huge learning for him.

"I don't want him to be too disappointed. It happens. I don't want him to dwell on it. I want him to learn and think what he can do in the future for this team."

Gatland added in his press conference: "A lot of people wrote us off saying we might not get out of our group. That was the first goal. We've worked so hard to achieve this.

"The players are down and disappointed but they should be proud.

"We've got to make sure we continue to grow. There are some exciting players coming through and others who aren't here who can be inspired by this team."

On Dan Biggar, Warren Gatland said: "He's been a great servant to Welsh rugby, including high and lows.

"For a youngster to come in and mature the way he has has been special.

"It's his decision [to retire from international rugby] and we won't have Gareth Anscombe but we think Sam Costelow will be a bit special as he grows.

"Dan is so competitive, wants to win and wears his heart on his sleeve. He has brought that to this team."

On his contract situation with Wales, Gatland said: "There's a clause but I don't know exactly what it is.

"I want to see this group through but if the WRU [Welsh Rugby Union] want to get rid of me then that is up to them.

"It's slipped away from us but we'll take learnings. We need to look at how do you improve from this

"We played too much and needed to be more conservative.

"But I'm incredibly proud of the effort everyone has put in. We've made really good strides and we need to make sure we continue with that and not go backwards."

Gatland continued in his press conference: "We got 10-0 up but the change of referee didn't help. That was a disruption.

"We gave away soft penalties and allowed them to get the scoreboard ticking over and back into the match.

"It will be interesting to see the feedback on that [Petti] challenge. I thought it was at least a penalty.

"I also thought Dillon Lewis was on the ball before they scored. Those big moments can swing things in big matches."