Ruthless Lawes has his cake and eats it at Twickers
VERDICT by Jeremy Cross
COURTNEY LAWES was treated to chocolate cake this week to celebrate his 33rd birthday.
But the only thing on the menu at Twickenham last night as far as Lawes was concerned was revenge.
It’s a dish best served cold, and Lawes delivered it to Wales with such ruthlessness it felt like it had come straight out of the freezer.
Lawes left this stadium heartbroken almost seven years ago when Wales beat England in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup, to all but dump them out of the competition.
It was one of the most crushing losses of Lawes’ international career and it helped cost the then head coach Stuart Lancaster his job.
It was also the last time Wales won on this ground.
Yesterday he was the only player to start in England’s XV who had lined up against the Welsh that fateful day.
Lawes looked like a man on a mission to make up for lost time as he made his first appearance of the Six Nations following prolonged concussion issues.
And he came back with a bang to make sure it was Wales’ turn to feel all dazed and confused.
Lawes was immense from start to finish, leading from the front with cold and calculating brutality.
He snaffled up a loose ball from a woeful Welsh lineout close to the England line, before producing a thumping tackle on Taine Basham that led to another England penalty, which Marcus Smith kicked to extend the home side’s lead.
He then flattened Ross Moriaty with another huge hit that left the Welsh forward feeling like he’d run into a truck.
Basham got another poleaxing from Lawes, who was patrolling the pitch like some sort of manic enforcer.
The Welsh might have come breathing fire, but Lawes was slaying these dragons for fun to help England take a stranglehold on the match.
It speaks volumes for how much respect Eddie Jones has for Lawes that he made him his captain the first chance he got in this championship.
How things have changed from when the Australian first took charge of England back in 2015.
Jones was not impressed when he first ran into the giant forward, claiming he didn’t train hard enough and spent too much time in rehab.
But the ultimatum from Jones transformed Lawes’ international future and he is now on course to become England’s next centurion.
This was Lawes’ 91st cap, which is testament to his durability, strength of character and dedication to being the best he can be.
“When I have finished, one day I will be able to look back and say I gave it everything,” said Lawes.
Few could argue.