LIGHTNING Borthwick’s men lay down Law against tame Dragons
ENGLAND smothered woeful Wales as they won for the first time in Cardiff in six years to continue their upturn under Steve Borthwick.
The result was hardly surprising given the contrasting build-ups, with Wales incoherent and inaccurate in much of what they did – but any victory at the Principality Stadium for an England side is precious.
It was workmanlike but deserved for England who scored three tries to one to silence the home fans, with Ollie Lawrence settling the outcome five minutes from time.
In the end, after all the talk of industrial action in the build-up, that was the strike which mattered.
England captain Owen Farrell said: “I thought it was a step forward for us.
“It was a different challenge for us to come away from home to a place like this.
“It was a good test for us and we took control in that last 20, I thought.”
For Wales, it was another step backwards in a Six Nations which has been desperate thus far for them.
The last time Wales lost their first three games of the championship was in 2007 when World Cup disaster followed later that year as they crashed out at the group stage after losing to Fiji.
France 2023 is coming fast and Wales are in trouble again. On the field as well as off it.
There is no part of the Welsh game which works. They do not look like they have a clear idea of what they want to do.
Wales’ one try from Louis ReesZammit was an interception. They lived off scraps and created virtually nothing.
When they kicked, England’s man of the match full-back Freddie Steward simply gobbled up possession.
England, limited but effective, dominated from the off and it was no surprise when Anthony Watson, starting his first Test for his country in almost two years, dived over for a try in the 139th minute.
Wales were having all sorts of problems at the breakdown and with England applying the pressure at the scrum too, the visitors had them in a white vice.
It took Wales until two minutes before the break to put together an attacking sequence.
England were good value for an 8-3 interval lead. However, 45 seconds into the second half Wales struck back with an interception try from Rees-Zammit from Max Malins’ inviting pass.
The Wales wing still had half the length of the field to run but with his speed there was only going to be one outcome.
Leigh Halfpenny’s conversion gave Wales a 10-8 lead.
It was short-lived, though, as Kyle Sinckler muscled his way over from short range in the 45th minute for a converted try.
Dan Biggar came on with
Nick Tompkins after 55 minutes to give the callow Wales midfield more direction.
But the pattern continued and with Wales unable to break out of the shackles, England worked the position for Lawrence to win it with five minutes left. In the end it did not matter that Farrell missed four of his six kicks, England closed the deal.