Wales 10 – 20 England: Dominant England punish error strewn Wales to gather Six Nations victory

Wales (3) 10
Tries:  Watson, Sinckler, Lawrence   Cons: Farrell     Pens: Farrell

England (8) 20
Tries: Rees-Zammit   Cons: Halfpenny    Pens: Halfpenny

Tries from Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler and Ollie Lawrence proved to be enough to edge England to victory, despite Louis Rees-Zammit providing Wales with a glimmer of hope with a score just after the half-time interval.

The result now leaves Wales bottom of the Six Nations championship, winless after three matches, whilst coach Warren Gatland is still looking for his first taste of success in his second spell in charge.

The tournament is now Wales worst start to the competition since 2007, with defeat meaning it is now 12 defeats in the last 15 internationals. 

Two matches now remain with only pride to play for against tournament holders France and a prospect of a battle for the wooden spoon with Italy potentially on the horizon for Gatland’s side.

After a difficult week of controversy off the pitch, strike action was averted as Wales confirmed late Wednesday evening that their Six Nations match would go ahead against England.

Attention was firmly back to Warren Gatland’s wounded Wales sides on field woes. Back-to-back heavy losses against both Ireland and Scotland had left the Welsh bottom of the competition, pointless and in desperate need of a response against their old rivals.

Wales record 35-7 defeat against the Scots in Murrayfield a fortnight ago was a new low for Gatland’s beleaguered team, also overseeing the Kiwi’s first defeat against the opposition in charge of the country.

Gatland had mentioned previously about looking to the future, whilst still utalising the experience he has within the camp ahead of September’s World Cup in France. 

This saw the Welsh coach shuffle his pack making nine changes for the matchup with first starts for both Mason Grady at centre and a Six Nations debut for Owen Williams at fly-half.

A bold move by the experienced coach, with the duo of George North left out of the squad totally, with Toulon’s Dan Biggar having to make do with a place on the replacements bench. Arguably justifiable with both players below par in the tournament so far, whilst an opportunity for the Welsh coach to look at competition for places. 

There were also returns for Talupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones missing a fortnight ago, whilst a welcome sight for Welsh fans was the return of Rees Zammit to the wing, having spent the last two months out with an ankle injury.

England, like Wales, have been a team in transition under new coach Steve Borthwick. Having lost the Calcutta Cup in their last-gasp opening round defeat against Scotland, Borthwick’s side bounced back to run in five tries in a 31-14 bonus point win against Italy at Twickenham to assert themselves back into the competition.

Looking for continuity, Borthwick made minimal change bringing back Watson for the first time in two years to the starting XV. The Leicester player replacing the injured Ollie Hassell-Collins on the wing, whilst there was a place on the replacements bench for Courtney Lawes for the first time in the campaign.

In what was a frantic competitive start, it was the visitors who dominated the opening stages playing within the Welsh half.

Borthwick’s side were rewarded for their efforts scoring the game’s first try. Quick hands from the England forward line setting up an opening for Alex Dombrandt to feed the returning Watson of the left wing to go over the Welsh try line.

With Owen Farrell missing the resulting conversion, Wales stayed in touch with the score board with the boot of Halfpenny reducing their arrears to five points, much to the satisfaction of the vocal Cardiff crowd.

Galvanised, Gatland’s side started to build tempo and pressure in the England half. Fly-half Owen Williams injecting pace with ball in hand on the counter attack, but only to be held up within the England twenty-two.

Wales try to push towards the break but struggled to break through into the English final third, with Lawrence crucially gaining a turnover, as a lack of a clinical edge from several phases of play failed to make an impression on the scoreboard. 

After a slow first period, the game came to life after the break. The momentum shifting to the Welsh as England gifted an opportunity straight from the restart to find a way back into the match. 

Steward showing a rare lapse in composure, casual in possession only finding Rees-Zammit to gleefully intercept the full backs loose pass in the midfield to sprint clear and score Wales’ first try and edge the home side ahead for the first time.

It proved to be short-lived, however, as England bounced back immediately, as their physicality in the maul outmuscling the Welsh defense. The Welsh speed and aggression in the break down not quick enough with England turning the ball over.

Farrell, ignoring the option of a penalty to keep ball in hand, feeding Genge to drive towards the Welsh line, before Sinckler recycling in the next phase of play powered over from close range to put England back in the ascendancy.

Wales would fight and stay in the match as the game became flat, fly-half Farrell’s usually reliable kicking letting himself down as England failed to take the chance to go further in front. 

Borthwick’s side had the chance to put the game to bed as the game entered its final ten minutes. It was the Welsh forwards turn though to turn over a promising opening as the game became error-strewn. 

The game management from Wales in the final minutes, however, was poor and proved to seal their fate as England showed composure to gather numbers into an attack to break through the Welsh defense to score the game’s decisive fourth try. Lawrence finishing a neat passing move to cross over the Welsh try line in the corner.

It proved to be the game’s final moment, with England comfortable winners on a day where again Wales were found to be second best in many areas lacking decisive leadership and creativity in attack. 

Wales XV: 

Halfpenny, Adams (Tomkins 54), Grady, Hawkins, Rees-Zammit, Owen Williams (Biggar 54), Tomos Williams (Hardy 68), Gareth Thomas (Carre 55), Owens (Captain) (Roberts 68), Francis (Lewis 55), Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (Jenkins 63),  Tshiunza (Reffell 63), Tipuric, Faletau.

England XV:

Steward, Malins (Arundell 79), Slade, Lawrence, Watson, Farrell (Captain) (Smith 79), Van Poortvliet, Genge (Vunipola 54), George (Walker 79), Sinckler (Cole 64), Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, Willis (Curry 59), Dombrandt (Lawes 68).

(Lead image: PA / WRU)