DAVIES’S SOLO SCORE FAILS TO HIDE OBVIOUS WALES FAILINGS
GARETH Davies scored one of the great individual tries at Twickenham but Wales still suffered a morale-sapping defeat in the first of their World Cup warm-up matches.
The Scarlets scrum-half pounced with Wales 14-0 down to haul his side back into the game.
Wales needed something to perk them up after a shocking start and Davies produced it, bursting clear some 40 metres out as he shot round a scrum, exposing Billy Vunipola’s lack of pace and leaving Elliot Daly standing with a lovely sidestep to score at the same end where he went over for a crucial try against England in the 2015 World Cup.
But the try was one of the few highlights for Warren Gatland’s men as they came off distinctly second best against an experimental England side.
It also meant Wales’s long winning run came to an end after 14 matches.
Here we look at how the Scarlets in the team — and those others with West Wales connections — fared and how their displays might affect their World Cup chances.
LIAM WILLIAMS
The former Scarlets ace has lost as many games in the opening joust of the news campaign as he lost over an entire season last time out.
Williams did nail England scrumhalf Willi Heinz with a brilliant cover tackle and one flat pass was so sweet it might have been coated in sugar.
There was some nice work with ball in hand in the second half.
GEORGE NORTH
This was a pleasing effort from the big
wing, who made his name as a teenager at Parc y Scarlets.
A powerful surge down the flank could have yielded more with a more sympathetic delivery inside, but he looked sharp when he started to mo-tor. He was also secure in the air and in defence. His try was deserved reward for a game performance.
JONATHAN DAVIES
There was all kind of carnage going on early on but Davies lifted the tone with a beautiful offload that sent North away.
Also slammed the door shut on Elliot Daly with the line beckoning for the full-back.
And when the Scarlet worked up a head of steam in the second half England found it hard to stop him.
There were a couple of defensive glitches early on. But Davies was strong and assured in most other things he did.
HADLEIGH PARKES
One counter-ruck from Parkes was immense, easing the pressure on Wales near their 22, but he missed a couple of tackles and early in the second half dropped a ball.
But he rarely loses a collision and cut a brilliant angle from out to in just moments before Wyn Jones burrowed over for his score. The centre sets a lovely target for the Welsh attack and he was used as a distributor at times just to give England something to think about.
He grew into the game but wasn’t quite at his best.
JOSH ADAMS
You know it’s a tough day at the office when the man from Hendy makes a simple mistake, as he did when knocking on in the first half.
He had a tough brief to mark the
powerful Joe Cokanasiga but did front up.
There were no game-changing moments from him, though.
GARETH DAVIES
What a try.
The scrum-half’s game wasn’t error free — he had the odd kick charged down and pass snaffled by the opposition — but for a first game of the season it was a sparky effort.
For that try alone he deserves starman status.
KEN OWENS
The Welsh line-out misfired badly as England crossed for their third try just before the break. But one powerful thrust down the left from Owens earned 20 metres for his side. The hooker had a decent second half as he tried to spark those around him.
WYN JONES
The loose-head played his part in the second-half comeback by crossing for a try that reduced the deficit to five points.
But hard to overlook the fact England’s scrum held a significant edge over Wales.
ALED DAVIES
In his post-match press conference, England head coach Eddie Jones seemed to suggest that the Carmarthen product was lucky to avoid a red card for a tackle on George Ford.
The former Scarlet, on as a secondhalf replacement for Gareth Davies, was penalised for a high shot on the England No. 10. Jones refused to reveal which incident he was referring to, but it is likely he was highlighting this one.
Is in a battle with Tomos Williams for the role as back-up to Davies.
JAKE BALL
A welcome return to Wales duty for the lock, who spent much of 2018-19 sidelined with injury.
Not enough time to really press his case, but the fact he was named on the bench is a good sign for his World Cup hopes.
AARON SHINGLER
Replaced the injured Justin Tipuric late on. Hammered back by one tackle, but, like Ball, the fact he was named in the squad at all is a positive sign.