Match Report - Wales upset English juggernaut in Cardiff
Warren Gatland celebrated his final Guinness Six Nations match against England with a dramatic 21-13 victory in Cardiff that continues Wales’ march towards the Grand Slam.
Second-row Cory Hill forced his way over in the 68th minute after a lengthy period of Welsh resurgence to seize the lead for the first time, his team thriving amid the arrival of replacement fly-half Dan Biggar from the bench to direct the final quarter.
And bedlam ensued at the Principality Stadium in the closing moments when Josh Adams grabbed Biggar’s crossfield kicked to touch down and confirm a famous win.
Gatland’s first taste of success over opposite number Eddie Jones in four attempts also set a new national record of 12 consecutive victories and was a fitting way to end their Championship rivalry before the Kiwi steps down after the World Cup.
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England led 10-3 at half-time and appeared destined to add Wales to their impressive list of emphatic results against Ireland and France, only to come apart at the seams after the interval.
Tom Curry and Kyle Sinckler made 16 tackles each in the first half alone, but it was the 20-year-old Sale openside who really shone in a display of relentless commitment that was headlined by a first-half try.
Sinckler, however, turned villain and left the pitch to a chorus of booing after conceding important penalties for a late tackle and wrestling Alun Wyn Jones around the neck at a point when England were wobbling.
Eddie Jones responded to the second infringement by immediately removing Sinckler and the ill-discipline supported Gatland’s pre-match claim that the Harlequins prop is a “time bomb”.
His withdrawal coincided with the collapse of his team as rattled England lost their heads.
For the last five Tests England have scored inside the opening three minutes, but at the Principality Stadium they came under ferocious early pressure that even dazed the usually unflappable Owen Farrell.
The tempo accelerated as Wales launched repeated attacks, scragging Farrell as he looked to step his way out of trouble.
But steely composure enabled them to weather the storm and edge upfield, where a scrum penalty allowed Farrell to land three points.
With Courtney Lawes acting as a wrecking ball in defence and Ben Youngs kicking smartly it was possible to draw first blood, but they were soon forced to defend furiously inside their 22.
After directing two lengthy penalties into touch, Gareth Anscombe took the points when given a third chance but Wales fell behind again in the 27th minute to a try that was partly of their own doing.
Seemingly in control of a maul, Ken Owens allowed the ball to squirt out under pressure from Lawes and Billy Vunipola reacted in a flash by releasing the backline.
Henry Slade made a muscular run and several phases later Tom Curry spied his chance, exploiting another Welsh lapse to break from the back of a ruck and dart over from close range.
The first half ended with England dominant as Jonny May kicked upfield before showing pace to single-handedly bundle the home cover into touch.
Farrell and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones were asked by referee Jaco Peyper to calm the players down following successive scuffles, the second of which saw Manu Tuilagi grab Lee Williams by the throat.
With the warning came a shift in momentum as Anscombe booted a penalty before the fly-half was hit late by Sinckler, resulting in Peyper’s intervention and the opportunity for pressure to build again.
Sinckler then held Alun Wyn Jones around the neck at a maul, enabling Anscombe to reduce the deficit to a single point, and England were clearly reeling as Farrell sent a kick out on the fall.
It took a bulldozing run from Tuilagi to push Wales back and Farrell was able to kick a penalty, but waves of attacks from the red shirts eventually took their toll on Eddie Jones’ men.
There was nothing fancy about the hard carries that thrust England backwards and a long pass eventually created the chance that was taken by Hill.
It was all Wales in the closing stages and they landed the final blow when Adams outjumped Daly to secure Biggar’s kick and slide over, sparking wild celebrations amongst home fans.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments