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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

Harry Latham-Coyle
Saturday 25 February 2023 19:01 GMT
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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:

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 49 minutes

Stout defence of the drive by Italy, and then spread sufficiently to hit Ireland’s carriers two passes out.

Craig Casey is caught up in traffic, slowing ball briefly, but Ireland regather momentum through a neat exchange between Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.

Tom O’Toole is up-ended, but possession is still with the visitors. It all ends up in a heap as both sets of players look to referee Mike Adamson for guidance - Ireland scrum.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:30

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 47 minutes

Ross Byrne tasks his forwards with a lineout six metres out.

Italy make a change at prop, unhappy with consecutive scrum infringements against them: Marco Riccioni on, Simone Ferrari removed.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:28

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 46 minutes

The Ireland assistant coaches study their laptops as Ireland are granted a scrum inside the Italy half. Craig Casey feeds it and the bursts away to the left as penalty advantage is drawn, Ross Byrne poking in behind.

James Lowe leads the putsuit but takes a tumble over the top of a sliding Paolo Garbisi. Back for the scrum penalty.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:27

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 44 minutes

Penalty to Ireland! Both front rows hit the floor, with Italy deemed not to have quite taken the weight on the engage.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:25

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 42 minutes

Nearly for Italy! Another leftward surge sees Ireland narrowed, but the ball doesn’t quite go to hand. Italy regather swiftly though and drive over the top of the Ireland ruck - ball unplayable, Italy scrum.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:23

Italy 17-24 Ireland, 41 minutes

The hosts win a second half penalty almost immediately just inside their own half. Paolo Garbisi boots it down to the fringes of the Ireland 22.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:22

Italy 17-24 Ireland

Andy Farrell makes his way back up to the Ireland coaching box, purposefully striding up the stairs. He’ll have mixed feelings about that first half - plenty of good stuff in attack from the championship favourites, but Italy have looked very, very dangerous every time they’ve gone wide.

Back underway in Rome.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:21

H/T: Italy 17-24 Ireland

Italy have shown all of their flair and flow, though, with number eight Lorenzo Cannone to the fore and a very impressive sight at full tilt with a running start.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:14

H/T: Italy 17-24 Ireland

Phew. Breathless stuff in Rome, end-to-end stuff for most of the half as both sides explored every inch of open acreage that the Stadio Olimpico has to offer. Each side was fluent in attack and a little loose in defence, making for a pulsating game that Ireland have just about edged.

Bundee Aki’s been very impressive on his starting return, creating a couple of scores and adding one of his own.

Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:11

HALF TIME! ITALY 17-24 IRELAND

(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2023 15:06

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