England whip wayward Wales
6 Feb 2010
England opened their Six Nations campaign with a 30-17 victory over Wales at Twickenham.
The Dragons will lament a 10 minute period where they were reduced to 14 players and conceded 17 points, but it would be too simplistic to blame that alone for their defeat. The carelessness with which they tossed the pill around was a massive contributing factor and they’ll have to address this in the weeks ahead.
England fed off these errors and took their chances. They were pragmatic, but will improve and are sure to be strong contenders for the title if they blend that pragmatism with the ability to play wider when needed.
England dominated the first quarter in terms of possession and territory, but seldom threatened the Welsh line as a result of imprecision when they drove into good positions – the best of those coming on 19 minutes when they turned over possession at an attacking scrum 5m out.
Wales defended accurately and robustly for the majority of the first half – something that would have pleased defence coach Shaun Edwards – but they were rudderless on attack, and poor on their own lineout feeds, compounding an already difficult situation.
Their struggles were amplified when lock Alun-Wyn Jones stupidly tripped an English player, earning him a yellow card, and it took England just five minutes to capitalise – James Haskell shooting over after a scrum close to the line.
Jonny Wilkinson converted to go with two earlier penalties, and England had a commanding 13-3 half-time lead.
The directive from Wales coach Warren Gatland would surely have been for his charges to secure possession and use it more intelligently than they had in the first half, staying patient through the phases and earning the right to play expansively.
However, they persisted with their wayward style and it cost them when wing Tom James isolated himself and surrendered possession. The ball was spun wide and recycled through a couple of phases until Danny Care found space to slice through the defensive line for the score. Wilkinson’s conversion took England 17 points ahead.
Wales’ response, through prop Adam Jones, was immediate, and illustrated the value of patient build-up play as opposed to helter-skelter stuff they were playing preceding that. Stephen Jones’ conversion drew them within 10.
For 20 minutes the game went through a lull, with neither side willing to take risks within their half, and when they did mount attacks they broke down as a result of basic handling errors or poor option taking.
Then James Hook broke open the match with the most sublime solo effort which saw him slip through the England midfield then negotiate the cover defence to cross the whitewash. Jones made no mistake with the conversion, and with eight minutes remaining and just three points (20-17) adrift, Wales had the momentum.
But you just sensed that their cavalier style would come at a massive cost, and it did when Delon Armitage intercepted a floated pass, and a couple of exchanges later Haskell was celebrating his second, and the decisive try of the match.
77 Comments
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6 Feb 2010, 20:25 pm
Fark, another chance gone. England under the cosh as Wales are back with 15.
6 Feb 2010, 20:32 pm
Wales been their own worst enemies so far coughed up 2 certain tries though poor handling. Though I always thought England would eventually come right under Johnson seems they pretty much on the right tack.
6 Feb 2010, 20:43 pm
Hook scores, was just going to say Hook trying too much solo play at 13, but poor defence gives him the try he been looking for all game.
6 Feb 2010, 20:43 pm
stupendous try mr hook!! A dummy, sidestep & a hand off!!!! Take a bow!
6 Feb 2010, 20:47 pm
poor handling again gifting england another. Well that probably seals it and great follow up by Haskell to score off the break and taking the off load from the speedy wings
6 Feb 2010, 20:52 pm
Bad result, nice that there are France and Ireland left to deal with them.
6 Feb 2010, 20:53 pm
and Wilkinson nails the Welsh coffin closed. Wales played poor England slightly above themselves. Johnsons team with Wilkinson at the helm again on the slippery slope back.
6 Feb 2010, 21:07 pm
watch the headlines predict a Grandslam
6 Feb 2010, 21:44 pm
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Victory!!!!!!
6 Feb 2010, 21:48 pm
England are looking a bit dominant again. I wonder how much of it is to do with Wilkinson being back. The same with the ABs. They’re gonna be hard to beat with Carter back in the mix.
6 Feb 2010, 22:18 pm
@Big Hit: just came on tonight to say congrats biggie.
thought the game flowed nicely with the new interpretations but chat tom or during the week.
well done england!
6 Feb 2010, 22:20 pm
@rangerman: cheers ranger, i don’t think the new interpretations went badly, have a good evening
6 Feb 2010, 23:08 pm
@Big Hit: you were all doom and gloom about the new interpretations before the game BH, funny how a win changes ones perspective huh?
6 Feb 2010, 23:25 pm
@poppa69: I didn’t notice them tbh poppa
7 Feb 2010, 00:14 am
@Big Hit: good win for your boys, I didnt see the game…
7 Feb 2010, 00:49 am
@Big Hit:
gee, those new interpretations gave you just cause to feel paranoid about those Aussies & Kiwis huh, Lord Barry ?
Your other team will be happy with that margin, certainly no reflection of the match tho. Wales had Engl on the rack in the 2nd H, what a poor pass by S.Jones. If Wales had been a bit more patient in that last 10, then they should have taken it.
So, you still happy with 10-thumb Easter. Gee, I only counted 4 spilled balls. Dump him before you pay the cost.
And Armitage, is he still ‘rusty’….was it 2 spilled highballs ?
Thought Care had a very good game, pings it off the deck and is nippy in feet and mind. He’ll go well.
7 Feb 2010, 02:19 am
guys, hold on a second…alain rolland DID NOT blow the new interpretation of the breakdown.
7 Feb 2010, 06:23 am
well done ENG….didnt see game…but called eng by 5…
7 Feb 2010, 09:11 am
I was under the impression that the new interpretations wernt being used in the 6 nations, that they were a sanzar initiative that if successful would go to the north next year?
7 Feb 2010, 10:17 am
NIce start for the Men in white. Well done BH,you must be happey with the start,especially against Wales which can play a good game.
7 Feb 2010, 12:38 pm
Congrats to England, well done. Those 10 minutes in the bin proved crucial. Wales should blame only themselves, handed victory on the plate.
7 Feb 2010, 23:53 pm
@Black Panther: 66 BP, I thought Easter was excellent actually. Armitage is officially out of form and needs to go back to his club. Care needs to pass quicker.
@Hurricane: happy to win, performance not great
@Nils: still had to be won, just like a World Cup nils
8 Feb 2010, 03:40 am
The breakdowns were intense. The ref missed a lot of off side at the rucks. That is where a lot of rugby headaches lie.
Highlight was the spidercam above the players. Good way at watching the game, escpecailly the scrums.
8 Feb 2010, 11:40 am
skopskiet _ I think Wales have gone as far as they can with Stephen Jones at 10, they need to give Hook an extended run their, Hook definitely has the X-Factor!!
8 Feb 2010, 11:43 am
@Big Hit: Of course, England did their part well, no argument. They deserved to win.
You have to agree though that Wales made their task much easier, especially with that stupid tripping and then with an intercept.
8 Feb 2010, 11:46 am
Big Hit – I reckon Gatland needs to give Hook an extended run at 10, Stephen Jones is never going to have that killer edge that Hook has!!!
8 Feb 2010, 22:32 pm
@race of tan:
damn right, how on Earth Jones has gathered so many caps is beyond me.
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