Relief for Jones as England stutter
AS THE clock went into overtime, Eddie Jones was still sat in his seat wondering if he would be eating his words with a bottle of Welsh hot sauce.
England may have held off a late Welsh fightback but it was an uncomfortable victory which did not smack of Grand Slam potential.
Jones had focused his pre-match verbals on Rhys Patchell and, early on, it seemed he had found his way into the rookie No 10’s head.
England focused their early attack on the Wales fly-half and the outcome was entirely predictable. Jonathan Joseph shot up in midfield to cut off his favourite looped pass, while England’s kickers targeted the 24-year-old when he dropped back to cover in the backfield.
Wales lost Leigh Halfpenny to injury before kick-off and, as a result, their new-look back-three were vulnerable with their defensive positioning.
Danny Care, George Ford and Owen Farrell took full advantage. England’s No 9 landed a box kick on Patchell, but Anthony Watson won the chase to claim possession.
Wales’ wingers found themselves in no-man’s land and Farrell pinged a low kick across field for Jonny May to score the opening try.
The psychological sledgehammer appeared to be working when Patchell pulled his first penalty to the left of the posts. Then, after 20 minutes, England scored their second.
The forwards turned on their powerful pick-and-go game and surged upfield with 25 phases. Welsh defenders were sucked in and, with Ford and Farrell showing the sharpest wit, England flooded left for May’s second, scoring after a fine offload by Joe Launchbury.
Wales, however, were undeterred. Dylan Hartley suffered a facial wound after 42 seconds but Wales found an upper hand at the lineout. The visitors should have had a first-half try that could have swung the result.
Gareth Anscombe touched down Patchell’s crossfield kick but, after some questionable advice from his TMO, Jerome Garces claimed there was no clear grounding.
Wales coach Warren Gatland was irked by the decision and skipper Alun-Wyn also questioned England’s growing penalty count during proceedings as frustrations grew, with scuffles breaking out between Ross Moriarty, Farrell, Samson Lee and Courtney Lawes.
By half-time, Wales had just one Priestland penalty to show for their efforts.
England’s defensive patterns thwarted the previously free- flowing Welsh attack and Davies was happy to kick the ball out for half-time with a ninepoint deficit.
But the visitors eventually found their showmanship. Welsh flanker Aaron Shingler made a majestic break downfield and Dylan Hartley’s final act was to concede a scrum penalty under a nudge from the Welsh pack.
George North replaced Patchell after 56 minutes and the frontrow cavalry followed. Anscombe danced his way out of 22 with his footwork, cutting open England with a pitch-length break. It was time for the defensive leaders to step up and Sam Underhill forced Scott Williams into touch with a thundering onearmed tackle to save a certain try.
Farrell then dislodged Shingler, with Wales guilty of handling errors in a 51minute stalemate.
Anscombe finally brought Wales within range with a late penalty – but an Underhill turnover finally killed off the Welsh resistance as Jones breathed a sigh of relief. ENglaNd: Brown; Watson (Nowell 45), Joseph, Farrell, May; Ford (Te’o 67), Care (Wigglesworth 64); Vunipola (Hepburn 76), Hartley (George 52), Cole (Williams 64), Launchbury (Kruis 67), Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Simmonds (Underhill 40). Scorers - Tries: May (2). cons: Farrell. Pens: None WalES: Anscombe; Adams, Williams, Parkes, S Evans; Patchell (North 55), G Davies (R Davies 66); R Evans (Jones 57), Owens (Dee 64), Lee (Francis 57), Hill (Davies 73), Jones, Shingler, Navidi, Moriarty (Tipuric 64). Scorers - Pens: Patchell, Anscombe Referee: J Garces (France)