England vs Wales LIVE: Rugby result and reaction after Owen Farrell red card in Rugby World Cup warm-up
Steve Borthwick’s side rallied late after going down to 12 men to edge Wales at Twickenham
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England fought back to edge Wales 19-17 in a World Cup warm up full of incident, injury and yellow cards - and notably a red card for captain Owen Farrell that could see him suspended for their opening game of the tournament in France next month.
A dull game burst into life in the second half amid a flurry of sin-binnings for both sides, with one for England‘s Freddie Steward leading to a penalty try for Wales. England were reduced to 12 men with further cards for Ellis Genge and Farrell - later upgraded to red - and Tomos Williams put them further ahead with a breakaway try. However, Maro Itoje hit back for battling England, replacement George Ford converted then kicked the decisive penalty four minutes from the end.
England‘s fans were left somewhat bewildered as they had spent a frustrating hour wondering just how their team were going to score a try and play some rugby but left delighted by the gutsy comeback. Relive all the action from Twickenham LIVE below:
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England 19-17 Wales, 79 minutes
England try to work the phases and see the game out, but continuity has been a problem all game. They go 15 yards backwards, though crucially do still have the ball.
George Ford doesn’t want to take too many risks, thumping a scudder out 15 metres from the Weslh line. The visitors will have to go from deep to steal it.
England 19-17 Wales, 78 minutes
Dan Cole then gives Mathias a scrum-time education. England’s penalty, with little more than two minutes left as George Ford finds touch.
England 19-17 Wales, 77 minutes
Suddenly, Wales need to find something - and that pressure shows instantly, Kemsley Mathias practically screaming at himself as he drops a pass from Gareth Davies cold.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 19-17 Wales (George Ford penalty, 75 minutes)
Straight and true. England, improbably, lead.
YELLOW CARD! Adam Beard is sent to the sin bin! (England 16-17 Wales, 75 minutes)
But repeat infringements mean Nika Amashukeli makes another visit to his pocket. The yellow is extracted and lifted up into Adam Beard’s face - Wales will play the last five minutes without their stand-in captain.
England point at the posts.
No try! England 16-17 Wales, 74 minutes
A cross-kick, Joe Marchant dives to take...and shells it! A pinpoint clip from George Ford’s right boot and all Marchant had to do was collect cleanly.
England 16-17 Wales, 74 minutes
Advantage England! They will have a kickable penalty, at the very least...
England 16-17 Wales, 72 minutes
And is the momenntum starting to turn - Jamie George punches the air after a George Ford mortar causes chaos in the Welsh backfield. England’s scrum in an excellent attacking position.
England 16-17 Wales, 72 minutes
England’s two other naughty boys are back out there, Ellis Genge and Freddie Steward returning from the sin bin. Gareth Davies replaces Tomos Williams in Welsh red; Max Malins is on for Ollie Lawrence in England white.
RED CARD! Owen Farrell’s yellow is upgraded (England 16-17 Wales, 70 minutes)
England back to within a point but, as expected, will be without their captain for the remainder. He trudges down the tunnel - surely his participation in England’s World Cup opener in Marseille, and possibly beyond, is now in doubt?
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