England make dream start to World Cup preparations with assured win over Wales
England 33-19 Wales: The victory ended the visitors' 14-match winning streak but the injury picked up by Tom Curry will come as a concern for Eddie Jones
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Your support makes all the difference.England got off to a dream start on their road to the Rugby World Cup by defeating Wales 33-19, ending their opponents’ historic 14-match winning streak in the process, but a shoulder injury suffered by standout flanker Tom Curry cast a shadow over the impressive victory.
Getting off to their characteristic fast start at Twickenham, England surged into the lead inside four minutes and never looked back, holding on to the advantage despite a Wales fightback early in the second half.
The victory was made all the more impressive given it was an experimental England side that knocked off a full-strength Wales, which featured 12 of the Grand Slam heroes that started in the Six Nations win over Eddie Jones’s side last February.
However, it was an England regular who got the ball rolling as man-of-the-match Billy Vunipola dived over for the opening try, with Joe Cokanasiga soon doubling the lead.
Wales fought back with a delightful solo effort from scrum-half Gareth Davies, only to fluff a five-metre lineout on their own line that allowed Luke Cowan-Dickie to dive over just before the break. Like in Cardiff six months ago, Wales started the second half emphatically, with George North and replacement prop Wyn Jones cutting the lead to just five points going into the final quarter.
But the boot of captain George Ford kept the scoreboard ticking over, and as England rediscovered their feet, the early-match dominance returned. The fly-half kicked three penalties after the break, and when Elliot Daly snapped off a reactionary drop-goal, England found themselves home and dry.
Twickenham went into full celebration mode in the final minute as the full house celebrated what looked to be a last-play try for Ben Youngs, but the television match official chalked the score off for Jack Singleton’s forward pass, much to the fans’ disappointment.
That said, it was the most pleasant victory possible for Jones’ side bar the injury to Curry, which will surely dominate the week ahead as he prepares to name his 31-man World Cup squad on Monday before travelling to Cardiff for next Saturday’s return fixture.
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