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As it happenedended

Wales vs England result: Hosts win to move top of world rankings ahead of Rugby World Cup

The two met in a Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in Cardiff

Jack de Menezes
Principality Stadium
Saturday 17 August 2019 18:15 BST
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Wales went top of rugby union's world rankings for the first time after beating England 13-6 in Cardiff.

Wales' rise to the summit, which ended New Zealand's unbroken 10-year occupation, comes just 34 days before the World Cup kicks off in Japan.

It was an impressive warm-up performance for the tournament as they reeled off an 11th successive home win, with George North's first-half try ultimately proving the difference as Wales took full advantage of Anthony Watson's yellow card to make the most of England's lapse in concentration to score.

The rest of Wales's points came from the combined boots of Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, while England could only must two penalties in response to suffer defeat six days after beating Wales. Re-live the action below.

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50 mins:​ England manage to win themselves a penalty as Wales try to exit their own red zone, with Ludlam trapping Moriarty deep and Vunipola getting over the ball. Ford will go for goal.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:32

51 mins: Ford lands the kick and England have their first points. 10-3

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:33

53 mins: England win another penalty at the scrum, and it's all kicking off again. Marler and Lewis are going at it, and when it all seems to simmer down, Cole and Jones start to bicker. It's all a load of nothing, but you sense the atmosphere is just starting to ramp up now. England meanwhile send on their talisman as Owen Farrell is on for Piers Francis, while George Kruis is on for Launchbury.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:37

55 mins: England get a lovely move going as Vunipola offloads in the tackle to Youngs on the loop, who then ships it back to Farrell. He passes deep to - of all people - Marler, but the prop takes the catch on the run and floats a lovely ball out to Cokanasiga. He has a bit of afters with Alun Wyn Jones after the tackle, but England have a penalty advantage and Ford tries to send Cokanasiga in with a chip to the corner. Halfpenny fields it to dot the ball down, but we'll come back for the penalty and Ford will kick for goal.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:39

57 mins: Ford kicks his second penalty of the day and the lead is down to four points. 10-6

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:40

59 mins: The Welsh fans protest as Biggar is held up by Ludlam, with many feeling he's being grabbed around the neck. Play continues, but once Alun Wyn Jones is driven into touch, the TMO intervenes and calls for a penalty against Ludlam. Halfpenny will go for goal from all of 49m out.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:44

60 mins: Halfpenny's low effort narrowly misses as it flies left of the uprights, and England - and Ludlam - get a let-off.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:46

62 mins: More changes, as Kyle Sinckler is on for Cole and Manu Tuilagi on for Ford, meaning Farrell will go to 10. Wales swap their scrum-halves as Gareth Davies is replaced by Aled Davies, and when play resumes, England get caught short on numbers in the ruck as Alun Wyn Jones wins the holding on penalty.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:47

64 mins: Biggar sends it into touch about 15m out, and Wales deploy a nice wraparound move as Owens charges through the line. They're on the attack and just five metres out...

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:49

65 mins: That's a huge tournover. England manage to win the ball camped on their own line, with Ludlam disrupting and Itoje jumping on the loose ball. Then Moriarty compounds the eroor by giving away a needless penalty for a shoulder charge into the ruck.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 15:51

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