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:
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 83 minutes
Juan Ignacio Brex wins yet another midfield collision, but James Lowe snatches a pass out of the air...
Is the wing away? No, a heroic last-ditch cover tackle to drag Lowe into touch and send things to a close.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 81 minutes
Juan Ignacio Brex is forced back to scoop up a loose ball. Michele Lamaro is forced further back, behind his own line in fact, but Italy are soon awarded a penalty.
That’ll allow an attack from slightly more advanced territory.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 80 minutes
Thrown into touch! At least one man over for Ireland, but the handling is inaccurate and James Lowe is left with arms agape some two metres in front of an errant ball.
Italy’s lineout - they could still snatch a losing bonus point, but they’ll have to go 85 metres to do so.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 78 minutes
Off trots Ross Byrne to warm applause from the travelling supporters - it hasn’t been exclusively good from the fly half, who might have liked to exert a little more control on proceedings, but the Ireland attack has clicked nicely throughout.
Italy are penalised at a breakdown after Bundee Aki is tackled and Jack Crowley’s first involvement with the boot sets up a lineout 15 metres from the Italian line.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 78 minutes
And Ireland earn a scrum penalty to all but seal it.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 77 minutes
Knocked on! Italy are just snatching at their chances here, knowing they need to score swiftly to have a hope. That haste manifests itself in some handling inaccuracy - three bodies in the same space with the ball bouncing between them after a knock on.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 76 minutes
But make a hash of the lineout! A throw to the back doesn’t quite hit the target, and Ireland clear.
Italy battle on, though, and earn a lineout on the opposite side from an intelligently directed toe up the touchline. A converted score here would make things more interesting.
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 74 minutes
James Lowe puts Ange Capuozzo firmly on his back with a driving tackle, but Bundee Aki’s cry of “stupid!” betrays a rather silly offence from the centre as he looked to make the most of his colleague’s defensive work.
Italy kick to the Ireland five metre...
Italy 20-34 Ireland, 73 minutes
Italy haven’t totally lost hope. Michele Lamaro’s outstretched arms are ready to embrace an offload but his opposite number gets there first, Josh van der Flier in the right place to prevent what looked a promising position for the hosts.
Paolo Garbisi is off, with a great carrier bag full of ice planted on his shoulder. Tommaso Allan will try to engineer an improbable late comeback.
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