Wales vs England LIVE: Rugby World Cup warm-up result and reaction from Cardiff
Wales 20-9 England: Steve Borthwick’s England conceded a mammoth 22 turnovers in a sloppy defeat to Warren Gatland’s men
England began their final phase of Rugby World Cup preparation in horribly underwhelming fashion as Wales sent them spinning to a 20-9 defeat in Cardiff.
Second-half tries from Gareth Davies and George North staved off a fifth successive home loss for Wales as England boss Steve Borthwick was given plenty to ponder less than 48 hours before he names his World Cup squad. Few players left lasting impressions, although there were some impressive moments from fly-half Marcus Smith and No 8 Alex Dombrandt, with Wales responding superbly to a three-point interval deficit.
England were abysmal with their ball retention, conceding a colossal 22 turnovers, and Wales did not require a second invitation to capitalise. Full-back Leigh Halfpenny marked his 100th cap by converting both tries and kicking two penalties, with Smith kicking England’s points through three first-half penalties.
England’s opening World Cup game against Argentina is just five weeks away, yet Borthwick will not be reaching for any panic button with three warm-up fixtures still to come on the August schedule. For Wales, it was a significant confidence-booster following a fifth-placed finish in last season’s Six Nations as they recorded just a third win from the last 11 Tests.
Relive the clash below:
Wales 20-9 England, 75 minutes
Can England salvage anything from a performance that was sloppy in the first half and has been shoddy in the second? They’ll have to go from deep, Theo Dan throwing a lineout inside his own 22.
Jack van Poortvliet goes to the air, with Joe Marchant a willing greyhound after the hare. Louis Rees-Zammit is hauled down by the chasing centre-cum-wing, losing control of the ball as he hits the deck. England’s scrum just inside their own half.
NO TRY! Wales 20-9 England, 75 minutes
Not quite! On first view it looks good for Rees-Zammit, but the officials conclude he hasn’t quite grounded cleanly after an extended look at the footage. Dan Biggar produces a doubting tilt of the head as Nic Berry informs him - it was mighty tight!
Wales 20-9 England, 74 minutes
Wales create room on the right, Louis Rees-Zammit chipping and chasing...and beating Freddie Steward to the bouncing ball! But has he managed to ground before going dead in-goal...
Wales 20-9 England, 73 minutes
But England’s accuract again lets them down, teh ball ending up back in Welsh hands having sprung free from a messy muddle of a midfield ruck.
England have it back after the latest Welsh kick, Theo Dan showing off his acceleration as he hurries towards the defensive line. A tackler sprawls away as Dan takes contact - and so, frustratingly for the England hooker, does the ball.
Wales 20-9 England, 72 minutes
Wales go through the motions on halfway, happy to kill a bit of clock. Dan Biggar sticks one up, landing it on Max Malins’s head; the wing handles the up-and-under effectively.
Jack van Poortvliet sends up a box kick with several white shirts in pursuit. The bounce is kind for Tomos Williams but his offload misplaced, allowing Tom Pearson to collect and rush upfield.
Wales 20-9 England, 70 minutes
Tom Willis shows his muscular manner, writhing and wrestling to make an extra metre or two from the back of the scrum to create space for a hooked Jack van Poortvliet clearance.
Wales 20-9 England, 69 minutes
Outstanding defensive work from Tom Pearson! A Welsh maul looks set to peel away into a softer section of the English fringe defence but Pearson halts them almost single-handedly, getting low to drive through on to the ball and locking his arms around it.
England survive, and clear their bench: Bevan Rodd replaces Ellis Genge and Henry Slade comes on for Joe Cokanasiga, pushing Joe Marchant, perhaps limping slightly, out to the left wing.
Wales 20-9 England, 68 minutes
The Welsh forwards march down into the England 22, following the path taken by Dan Biggar’s punted penalty after the front row had done the job at scrumtime. Another score would surely seal it.
Wales 20-9 England, 66 minutes
A rendition of “Cwm Rhondda” at the Principality with the Welsh fans doing all the singing. Joe Cokanasiga brushes off Rio Dyer’s challenge, the England wing ripping his shirt in the process, but the visitors just can’t put anything together in phase play, the errors continuing to come.
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