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Wales player ratings - vs England

By Martyn Thomas
Dan Biggar and Liam Williams. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Another Six Nations comeback helped Wales beat England 21-13 at the Principality Stadium to secure a national record 12th successive win and maintain their bid for a Grand Slam in Warren Gatland’s final year in charge.

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Gatland had said after the France victory that this was a squad that does not know when it is beaten and that was certainly proven in Cardiff.

Trailing 13-9 with less than a quarter of the game to go, a fine cameo from Dan Biggar and tries from Cory Hill and Josh Adams saw the hosts home.
Scotland and Ireland now stand between Wales and a clean sweep. Here is how the home players rated on Saturday evening.

Liam Williams – 9
Dealt with England’s kicking game superbly and as ever offered an attacking threat at the other end of the pitch. A masterful performance was best summed up late on when he raced onto his own up and under on the right touchline, won the ball and had the presence of mind to roll out of harm’s way.

Josh Adams celebrates his crucial try

George North – 8
Despite wearing 14 on his back, North switched to the left wing where he gave England problems. Williams and Adams will rightly get the plaudits but this was a game in which the back-three functioned as a collective unit. Eager to come off his wing to look for work and played a pivotal role in Hill’s try.

Jonathan Davies – 7
His best performance of the Championship so far. Defensively sound, making all seven of his attempted tackles, and also a valuable link in attack in the second half.

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Hadleigh Parkes – 6
Not someone to shirk responsibility or workload, Parkes put in a commendable shift in Cardiff although this was not his finest performance in a red shirt. Was willing to carry into narrow channels and alongside Jonathan Davies made sure there were no gaps in the Wales midfield.

Josh Adams – 8
Has become a vital cog in Gatland’s Wales machine and enjoyed possibly the finest game of his burgeoning Test career. Having switched wings with North was able to keep in-form Jonny May relatively quiet throughout and was a constant nuisance when Wales had the ball – not least when outjumping Elliot Daly to score a brilliant try.

Wales celebrate their win over England

Gareth Anscombe – 7
Entrusted with playmaking duties and did everything that was asked of him. In trying circumstances during the first half, he kept probing and trying to put the hosts on the front foot while his ability from the kicking tee kept Wales in touching distance. Set the tone for the fight back in doing so and ensured that Biggar had a platform to build on.

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Gareth Davies – 7
Proved again that he is the best Welsh scrum-half currently available to Gatland at present. His box-kicking remains a slight issue but he possesses an expert eye for a gap and was able to relieve pressure at key moments. Also got through a huge amount of work in defence, tackling Owen Farrell and Jack Nowell in the same move at one point.

Rob Evans – 7
Kept Kyle Sinckler quiet at scrum time, winning a key early free kick as the England prop was adjudged to have collapsed the set piece. Got through his fare share of defensive work and also offered a carrying option.

Ken Owens – 8
An early wobble at the lineout aside this was an excellent performance from the Scarlets hooker. He made 13 carries in all as he tirelessly looked for work during the 77 minutes he was on the pitch. The fact he stayed on so long highlights exactly how important he is to Gatland’s side – and the Welsh rugby public.

Tomas Francis – 7
Picked opposite his club-mate Ben Moon and came out of that battle in credit. Was part of a strong scrummaging performance and got through a lot of work defensively, making eight tackles in all.

Cory Hill – 8
A fine performance was rewarded with his third international try. Hill was picked for his ability around the park and while Wales did not seem to play to his strengths in the first half, he became an increasingly important figure in the second. Eager to look for work throughout and took his try exceptionally well.

Alun Wyn Jones – 8
Led by example in the Wales engine room. Happy to carry the ball into tight spaces – doing so 15 times in all – and put his body on the line for his team on more than one occasion. Might not appear near the top of the tackling charts but was usually in the right place at the right time to disrupt England’s attack when needed.

Josh Navidi – 7
Has arguably been Wales’ standout forward in the Championship so far and put in another tireless display at the Principality Stadium. Led his team’s tackle chart with 12 and was a constant nuisance to England. Does the things that go unnoticed – and does them remarkably well.

Justin Tipuric – 7
Was harshly adjudged to have committed a no-arms tackle early on and got caught out for Tom Curry’s opening try. But this was another impressive performance from the Ospreys back-row who offered so much on both sides of the ball. Got through 10 tackles and linked play well in the loose.

Ross Moriarty – 7
Continues to prove himself a more than able deputy for Taulupe Faletau at the base of the scrum. Took the game to England from the first whistle until he was replaced late on, finishing the game with 30 metres gained from 20 carries. It is easy to forget that this was only his second start since the middle of December.

Replacements
Elliott Dee – N/A
Only came on for the final three minutes as Wales closed out victory.

Nicky Smith – 7
Came on for the final quarter and ensured that the Welsh scrum kept moving forward. Looked for work on both sides of the ball.

Dillon Lewis – 7
Another who came on for the final quarter and helped Wales close out the win. Is a real carrying threat and useful over the ball.

Adam Beard – 6
Replaced try-scorer Hill for the final nine minutes and kept Wales on the front foot.

Aaron Wainwright – N/A
Only came on for the final three minutes as Wales closed out victory.

Aled Davies – N/A
Another who came on in the final four minutes to see the hosts over the line.

Dan Biggar – 9
Emerged from the bench to steer his side to victory. Provided the control that the team needed in that situation and provided an impetus in attack. Played a major role in both of his side’s tries, exploiting a tiring English defence ruthlessly.

Owen Watkin – N/A
Came on for Parkes in the final minute with the game won.

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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