REAL TRY One’s enough to see vital home victory
WALES outscored England by three tries to one but Ben Youngs marked his milestone match with the victory he craved at Twickenham yesterday.
Youngs eclipsed Jason Leonard’s England record when he came off the bench for his 115th cap after an hour with Wales threatening a remarkable smash and grab.
But two long-range penalties from man of the match Marcus Smith, who finished the game with 18 points, gave England enough of a cushion to hold out despite Kieran Hardy’s late try.
Fittingly, it was Youngs who secured the win by kicking the ball off the field to end a breathless contest. A cuddle from England
No.8 Alex Dombrandt, who had earlier scored his first Test try, was the prelude to a night of celebrations for the veteran scrum-half.
“I will catch up with my family and have some drinks and spend time with the boys. Maybe not Jason yet – I want to be able to play in two weeks’ time!” said Youngs.
“I do look forward to having a beer with Jason next time I see him – he kindly messaged me today and I look forward to that very much.
“We always felt Wales would come back which they did and we probably could have managed that period a little bit better but we found a way to win.”
Did England deserve it? Despite the try imbalance they did just about but Wales will be left kicking themselves for their generosity in allowing England to ease into a 17-0 lead.
It was 12-0 at the break courtesy of four penalties from Smith as Welsh indiscipline cost the visitors.
Liam Willams was given a sin-bin for being slow with the ball at a ruck after
Charlie Ewels had been held up on the line.
The visitors handed England a try on a plate with Dombrandt plunging over after an overthrow from Ryan Elias 10 metres from their own line.
It took a long stretch from the Harlequins No.8 to touch down but he did so to break his international duck.
Then Wales finally found their mojo. A good decoy line from Liam Williams allowed Tomos Williams to put Josh Adams in for a 53rd-minute try.
Wales opted to kick penalties to the corner and after sustained pressure from the pack, they manipulated the England defence well for centre Nick Tompkins to dive over for a converted try on the hour.
With the gap narrowed to five points, that was the signal for Jones to bring Ben Youngs.
Two penalties from Smith took England into calmer waters and the game looked in the bag.
But with 30 seconds to go Hardy raced over from a tapped penalty and Dan Biggar smartly drop-goaled the conversion.
Wales threw everything they had at it but England held firm, with Youngs blasting the ball out to end the game.
The noise at the end matched that for his introduction - a great reception for a great servant to
England.