Wales 10-20 England: Steve Borthwick's steady revolution continues
Wales 10-20 England: Steve Borthwick’s steady revolution continues with convincing win over Warren Gatland’s side against backdrop of tumult in the Welsh game
- England dominated Wales throughout and were worthy winners in clash
- Tries from Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler and Ollie Lawrence ensured victory
- Game came on backdrop of chronic uncertainty and tumult in the Welsh game
They feared this game would never start and at times here they feared it would never end.
It rounded off a week that rugby would rather forget. A scrappy kick-fest that offered little to put a smile back on the face of a Welsh crowd that have witnessed strike threats and earthquakes in Cardiff over the last few days.
It was Freddie Steward’s day. As high balls rained under the open roof of the Principality Stadium, the full-back delivered a majestic performance in the back-field.
For Warren Gatland’s side, it is a 12th defeat in 15 Tests. For Steve Borthwick’s side, it is a small step forward but leaves questions about England’s ambition in attack. Why did Marcus Smith and Henry Arundell only get 14 seconds at the end?
Outside on Westgate Street, kids were hoisted up onto the top of walls for to catch a glimpse of the team busses on their way in. Wales were given a hero’s welcome, the locals in solidarity with their militant players. A few minutes later, England were greeted with hand gestures from fully grown men wearing daffodil hats.
England defeated Wales in Cardiff to maintain steady progress under coach Steve Borthwick
Kyle Sinckler crossed over in the second half to put England ahead after Wales had briefly taken the lead
Borthwick will be delighted with the way his side made their pressure tell over the 80 minutes
Wales had only been two days of proper preparation. Mutiny in the ranks. So much talk at the negotiating table that their captain Ken Owens lost his voice. How much had it taken out of them? Would spirit trump adversity? No, was the answer.
The match defined by kicking. Almost a kick a minute during the first half. Owen Farrell was charged down by Toby Faletau in the second minute and Freddie Steward had his pants pulled down as he tried to clear up the mess. The front-row seats quickly got their money’s worth.
Kick, kick, boom. It was like watching two sides desperate to avoid defeat. Two teams still finding their way under new coaching regimes. Low risk, focussing on territorial gains. Farrell and Jack van Poortvliet quickly notched up their kicking metres. They chased hard and offered the Welsh no chance to escape. Poor Leigh Halfpenny’s ribs will be sore on Sunday morning.
The home crowd grew frustrated. ‘Get on with it,’ they shouted as the ball seared high under the open roof. Farrell kicked the opening three points and within 20 minutes, England’s kicking metres had reached 500 metres. Wales hoofed it back but every time it went straight into the unflappable arms of Freddie Steward.
Losing patience, Christ Tshiunza attempted to run out of his own half and lost control of the ball. England attacked from the subsequent scrum, coming alive in the 22. Speed over shape, Max Malins cut a line off Farrell and Van Poortvliet provided lightning quick ball from the ruck. Alex Dombrandt threw a miss pass and Anthony Watson scored to mark his first England start in two years.
Leigh Halfpenny kicked three points when England were penalised at the restart. They came to life after a quick tap-and-go penalty from Tomos Williams but they were repeatedly frustrated at the breakdown. Jack Willis, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Dombrandt all won key turnovers to stunt Welsh attacks. Punishing the sluggishness in Welsh legs.
Travelling across to Cardiff, England were conscious of the fact they lost the second half in their opening fixtures under Borthwick.
Freddie Steward was named man of the match after dealing with Wales’ high kicks brilliantly
England rarely allowed Wales to build consecutive phases their defence stood firm in the face of some second half pressure
England might have felt that they could have added a few more points – with Owen Farrell’s kicking wayward
Louis Rees-Zammit gave Wales the perfect start to the second period when he crossed over
The winger made what turned out to be one of seldom Wales forays into the English 22
Ollie Lawrence’s try late on – capping sustained English pressure – confirmed the result
Resorting to type, Williams kicked away the first possession of the second half and England launched a half-hearted move from midfield. Max Malins threw a weak pop pass but Louis Rees-Zammit was ready and waiting for the intercept. No one was going to catch the flying winger as he sprinted clear to give the hosts the lead.
Any hopes of a swing in the momentum were short lived. Wales were pinned back in their own 22 after the restart and found themselves defending an English lineout. The visiting pack threw bodies towards the line, pushing on inch by inch, before Kyle Sinckler forced his was over to score in the eighth phase.
Somehow Wales found themselves just five points down going into the final quarter. Farrell’s goal kicking continued to let him down, missing six points from the kicking tee. Borthwick unloaded most of his bench, with Alex Mitchell let loose to inject some fluency into the backline. How the travelling English support pined to see the other two bacs on the bench.
Wales threatened but their attack was undone by a loose pass, which bounced into the arms of Ollie Lawrence who relieved the pressure. Wales overthrew a lineout, fluffed their lines and moments later Lawrence scored to move his team 10 points clear. The atmosphere was sucked out of the open roof, not even the roar of the Welsh crowd could paper over the cracks of a match that will be remembered for the wrong reasons.
FACT BOX TITLE
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Owen Williams; Tomos Williams
Forwards: Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens (capt), Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones’ Christ Tshiunza, Justin Tipuric; Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Nick Tompkins
Tries: Louis Rees-Zammit
England: Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson; Owen Farrell (capt); Jack van Poortvliet
Forwards: Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis; Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell
Tries: Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Lawrence
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