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:
England ensure Wales end week of woe with defeat in scrappy Six Nations clash
England posted a first statement win of the Steve Borthwick era as they heaped further misery on Wales with a 20-10 victory in Cardiff.
England’s success – only a third in the Welsh capital from their last eight visits – kept alive their nominal Six Nations title hopes – although tournament heavyweights France and Ireland now loom large.
It might not have been pretty, but tries from wing Anthony Watson, prop Kyle Sinckler and centre Ollie Lawrence underpinned a confidence-building victory on the road.
Owen Farrell landed a penalty and conversion – he also missed four kicks at goal – as England had enough in the tank to claim a first Principality Stadium triumph for six years.
Wales briefly led early in the second half through wing Louis Rees-Zammit’s interception try, converted by full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who also kicked a penalty, but a build-up that was engulfed by the threat of Wales players going on strike, which was only averted 72 hours before kick-off, ended with a third successive tournament loss.
PA
England ensure Wales end week of woe with defeat in scrappy Six Nations clash
Wales 10-20 England: England edged to a rare Cardiff win as Anthony Watson, Ollie Lawrence and Kyle Sinckler scored tries
Ken Owens reacts to Wales’ defeat
“We spoke about the emotion of the last two weeks and we gave a massive effort for 80 minutes. We were right in the game throughout - if we look back, we probably left a couple of opportunities out there.
“I can’t question the effort of this squad. We are in a bit of a rebuilding phase, and we have got to rebuild pretty quick, but the 23 that went out there today put in a massive shift.”
F/T: Wales 10-20 England
Wales will try to take the positives but without Louis Rees-Zammit’s intercept score, it would have looked rather ugly after another attacking misfire. England weren’t great, but didn’t necessarily have to be.
F/T: Wales 10-20 England
It was gritty, it was grim, and it was predictably kick-heavy, but ultimately it is England who emerge from a Cardiff scrap with the win. This was clearly a contest between two flawed sides, but English wins in Wales are not won easily, and Steve Borthwick’s developing team do deserve credit for gutsing it out to get the win.
Wales plunge into further bother - three defeats from three.
Wales 10-20 England, 79 minutes
Into the final throes with Wales in possession. Not for long! - Nick Tompkins cannot believe the decision of Mathieu Raynal, and Louis Rees-Zammit demands an explanation, too, after England are awarded a scrum having held up a Welsh carrier on the right.
A raft of changes for England, emptying their bench with the game won - enter messrs Arundell, Smith and Walker.
Wales 10-20 England, 77 minutes
Farrell took every second he could over that conversion, wisely given the circumstances. Maro Itoje takes the restart under significant pressure.
Freddie Steward earns the sponsor’s honours for player of the match - he hasn’t dazzled, but nor has anyone really, and the full-back’s his general solidity under the high ball and intelligent injections into the line have probably tilted things England’s way.
TRY! Wales 10-20 ENGLAND (Ollie Lawrence try, 75 minutes)
That ought to do it!
Alex Mitchell has injected that extra bit of fizz that England need, challenging the fringes to keep the guards honest.
His half-snipe sucks in an already flailing Welsh wide defence, allowing Henry Slade to cut through. The locks do the clearing work, Mitchell’s service is good and Freddie Steward puts in Ollie Lawrence on the wide outside.
Owen Farrell can’t convert, but it’s a long way back for Wales from here.
Wales 10-15 England, 74 minutes
Still England in control, though. Freddie Steward wins a collision on Owen Farrell’s shoulder, and again combines with his captain two phases later, this time on the fly-half’s inside.
Messy ruck ball slows things down, but Wales are beginning to narrow.
Wales 10-15 England, 73 minutes
England are moving nearer and nearer to putting Wales awway but still the hosts stay in it! A lineout overthrow gifts the ball to Ben Curry, and England spread it, but Henry Slade’s through kick has travels too far for a chasing Max Malins to attempt to retrieve it.
Alex Mitchell replaces Jack van Poortvliet.
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