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:
Wales 10-15 England, 72 minutes
An error from Leigh Halfpenny, but Justin Tipuric ensures England do not capitalise! A swirling high punt completely bamboozles the Wales full back, but as Lewis Ludlam spins out of a tackle, Tipuric is there to busy the breakdown with precision and earn a holding on call.
Wales 10-15 England, 70 minutes
A loose pass and Ollie Lawrence has it! Wales might have numbers on the right but they are slow to spread, and a pass travels in front of a couple of forwards and hits the deck.
Lawrence snatches it up, but can’t get away. Nick Tompkins appears to have locked over the ball in perfect position but is deemed not to have showed a clear release. Advantage is called over as Jack van Poortvliet kicks into the Welsh in-goal and Louis Rees-Zammit touches down.
Wales 10-15 England, 69 minutes
Owens takes leave, replaced by Bradley Roberts, and Kieran Hardy joins the hooker in the arrivals lounge - Tomos Williams sits down.
England bring on Courtney Lawes for Alex Dombrandt. Lewis Ludlam goes to number eight.
Wales 10-15 England, 68 minutes
Ken Owens is still chugging along, carrying with gusto on the right. Wales kick possession away on the left...but are granted it back by a horrible sliced punt from Jack van Poortvliet, who was a couple of metres outside his 22.
Wales 10-15 England, 67 minutes
England seem to already be in full shut down mode, kicking anything and everything away to avoid giving Welsh jackalers even a sniff.
But here come Wales! Freddie Steward is beaten in the air and Nick Tompkins brushes off a tackler.
Wales 10-15 England, 66 minutes
Kyle Sinckler limps off with Dan Cole in on the England tighthead.
England turn Welsh ball over in midfield, allowing Owen Farrell to thmp clear. Superb work from Ben Curry on the deck, in sharply like a wading bird spying a minnow among the reeds.
Wales 10-15 England, 65 minutes
Cries of English frustration as another aerial error grants Wales a scrum in the visitors half. The edges might just be starting to fray on this game, with the handling errors now coming more and more regularly.
Wales 10-15 England, 63 minutes
Alun Wyn Jones jackals strongly to lift the crowd and earn Wales a penalty.
That’s his final involvement - the veteran makes way for the prodigious Daffyd Jenkins, while Tommy Reffell replaces Christ Tshiunza. Wales lose a little lineout length but Reffell’s breakdown prowess could well be useful.
Missed penalty! Wales 10-15 England, 62 minutes
This isn’t the easiest for Farrell, wide of the 15-metre line and some distance out, and it is a slightly tentative strike from the fly half, pushing it away to the right. Might these misses be costly for the visitors?
Wales 10-15 England, 61 minutes
Mathieu Raynal peeps for a free kick and then returns to his whistle for a longer blast - that’s the second time Wales have put weight on early, upgrading the offence to a penalty.
Owen Farrell will look to extend England’s lead.
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