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

Six Nations week one round-up: England struggle as Ireland make statement

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:

Six Nations - Wales vs England

• England edge past Wales 20-10 in a scrappy Six Nations clash
• FULL-TIME! Wales 10-20 England
• 75’ - TRY! Patience from England rewarded with Lawrence going over out wide (WAL 10-20 ENG)
• 45’ - TRY! Sinckler burrows over from close range (WAL 10-15 ENG)
• 42’ - TRY! Rees-Zammit intercepts and races clear to put Wales ahead (WAL 10-8 ENG)
• 18’ - TRY! Great finish in the corner by Watson (WAL 0-8 ENG)
• Six Nations 2023: Full fixtures, results, schedule and TV channel guide
• Six Nations bonus points system explained

[25 February 2023 17:50 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Wales 10-15 ENGLAND (Kyle Sinckler try, 45 minutes)

England answer! A penalty from the restart and immediately they can attack inside the Welsh 22. The visitors trust their forwards and Kyle Sinckler delivers, just about smuggling the ball to ground as he topples over the line with muscular support from a mate.

Owen Farrell converts - just how Steve Borthwick would have wanted his team to respond to that soft concession of the try.

[25 February 2023 17:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! WALES 10-8 England (Louis Rees-Zammit try, 41 minutes)

INTERCEPTED! You aren’t catching Louis Rees-Zammit!

A horrible moment for Max Malins, double-clutching fatally. The wing pauses before passing at the line, waiting to pull the trigger until Rees-Zammit is right there to snare it.

He takes cleanly, and from there the conclusion is foregone. The conversion pushes Wales into their first lead of the evening.

[25 February 2023 17:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Second half underway

Owen Farrell restarts proceedings.

[25 February 2023 17:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Wales 3-8 England

Intriguingly, Mako Vunipola is out doing an extended early warm up for England at half time, with all of Wales’ replacements out on the Principality surface with him. Vunipola is soon joined by his England bench pals - Steve Borthwick stressed this week how disappointed he was with how England faded in the final quarter against Italy, so their involvement may be key.

Wales have plenty of quality among their substitutes, though - you fancy this might be the sort of day for Dan Biggar...

[25 February 2023 17:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Wales 3-8 England

A stat that perhaps explains some of Wales’ struggles in that first half - England have made 12 dominant tackles so far to the hosts’ one. The lack of collision winners up front remains a concern for Warren Gatland.

[25 February 2023 17:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Wales 3-8 England

This score showed the potential of England’s attack - multitudinous threats off first phase causing issues for the Welsh inside defence, and then sweeping around the corner quickly to ensure the chance was taken.

[25 February 2023 17:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Wales 3-8 England

A bitty half that rather summed up where two flawed sides are. England had the better of it, threatening at times in attack with smart, sharp handling, but faded a little and still inaccurate with their basics too often. Wales have stuck in the fight and grew into the action, but you can’t say it is a surprise that the hosts have again missed a handful of chances in the opposition 22. They just look short of carrying punch when required to build on a few cutting breaks.

Five points is no margin at all, though, really - still very much anyone’s game.

[25 February 2023 17:32 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

HALF TIME! WALES 3-8 ENGLAND

(Getty Images)

[25 February 2023 17:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 3-8 England, 41 minutes

Louis Rees-Zammit has roamed a lot so far today, often into the channel outside Mason Grady. Jack van Poortvliet manages to haul him down this time.

But where is Gareth Thomas going? Cutting a line up the centre like his namesake used to! The prop is felled ten metres out.

England scrambling, Wales building...penalty to the visitors! Lewis Ludlam with a timely jackal to force Adam Beard to hold on, and that’s that for the first 40.

[25 February 2023 17:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 3-8 England, 40 minutes

England try to run out the remainder of the half by burying the ball in the mass of the maul, but neither gain momentum nor keep control, enabling Wales to stall it and bring it legally to floor to earn a scrum feed.