Wales vs England LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations grudge match in Cardiff
Wales 10-20 England: England edge a scrappy clash in Cardiff as Anthony Watson, Ollie Lawrence and Kyle Sinckler score
Tries by Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler and Ollie Lawrence propelled England rugby to a nervy 20-10 victory over Wales rugby in a scruffy Six Nations encounter that showed how much both teams have to do to become competitive in the championship.
England started strongly with an Owen Farrell penalty and a well-crafted try for Watson, making his first start for two years, but Wales briefly led after an intercept try by Louis Rees-Zammit at the start of the second half.
England regained the lead when Sinckler burrowed over and though they were on top for most of the second half, they made the game safe only 10 minutes from the end with another well-crafted try finished off by Lawrence.
It was England’s second successive win following the home victory over Italy but made it three defeats out of three for Wales, who rarely looked dangerous, to complete a wretched week where the fixture was in doubt after the players threatened to strike in their row with the Welsh union.
Relive the action from Cardiff below:
Wales 3-8 England, 38 minutes
Penalty to England! “Great job Alex” roars Owen Farrell, saluting the work of Alex Dombrandt, but Ollie Lawrence was right there, too as a Welsh pick-and-goer rather went on his lonesome.
Wales 3-8 England, 36 minutes
A better sustained attacking effort from Wales, challenging England with ball movement to defeat the visitors line speed.
Louis Rees-Zammit makes a break! He’s hauled back by the elastic of his shorts but Wales are building into the England 22...
Missed penalty! Wales 3-8 England, 32 minutes
Away to the right! A disappointed toss of the tee from Farrell to one of England’s backroom team. That’s four errors from the boot in the first half-hour or so for the fly-half, two missed opportunities for points alongside a charged down clearance and over-cooked cross-kick.
Wales 3-8 England, 31 minutes
Jack van Poortvliet lifts his arms in victory - I’m not quite sure how much the scrum half contributed to the penalty at the set-piece, but Mathieu Raynal is certain that Gareth Thomas’ bind on the loosehead was long. Ken Owens argues, but Raynal won’t be changing his mind.
Owen Farrell will have a go for goal from right of centre, 40 metres out...
Wales 3-8 England, 29 minutes
Jamie George’s lineout doesn’t click, though, and England therefore can’t launch any kind of attack.
Wales 3-8 England, 27 minutes
Very strong defence from England. Their forwards lead the defensive blitz, winning three or four successive collisions, with Kyle Sinckler and Maro Itoje providing a thorough manhandling of Alun Wyn Jones. A Welsh clearer comes in at the side to secure the ball soon after - penalty to the visitors.
Wales 3-8 England, 26 minutes
More like it, and England are able to play away. Ollie Lawrence crashes into ex-Worcester teammate Owen Williams, which opens the space for England to kick long.
Vintage Leigh Halfpenny! Calm take, dart into space, and Wales are on the attack. Penalty to the hosts - and Tomos Williams is in no mood to dally, off and away with a quick tap.
Wales 3-8 England, 25 minutes
An unplayable ruck 30 metres from the England line will allow the front rows another chance to tangle. Jack van Poortvliet waits to feed, and waits some more as referee Mathieu Raynal orders a reset. Jamie George inspects his studs, scraping away the turf caught between them; Justin Tipuric does likewise.
They’ll do it all over again in the hope of a steadier set.
Wales 3-8 England, 23 minutes
That’s another moment of uncharacteristic inaccuracy from Owen Farrell - a club or two too many for that length of approach shot, a crossfield kick cutting flatly through the Cardiff evening air and out on the full by some distance.
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