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With the official World Number One spot up for grabs, this was always going to be more than a warm-up match for both Wales and England.
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Wales fielded a full strength side to face an experimental Eddie Jones’ England team – but this was in Twickenham, where Wales have won just three times in 24 years.
Sadly for Wales, it was they who looked like the experimental side as Eddie’s England outplayed them across the park.
Here’s our Wales player ratings.
15. Liam Williams
Combined nicely with Josh Adams at times. As a unit the English back three dominated their Welsh counterparts, but the Saracen was menacing with ball in hand as ever.
7
14. George North
The best of Wales’ back three in attack, with 60 metres and 5 defenders beaten in the stats department. Deserved his try.
7.5
Cannonball-Ken Owens with the initial carry, but the 'giant on the wing', George North takes the honours…
"Preying like a giant mantis" ? 24-12
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— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
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13. Jonathan Davies
Carried for an average of 4.4 metres per carry off nine runs, with four offloads. Had his hands full with Jonathan Joseph and his two missed tackles in defence will irk him.
6.5
12. Hadleigh Parkes
Refused to give up and did what he could with the scraps on offer, although Piers Francis stood up well to him on defence. A decisive carry near the English line in the second half led to Wyn Jones’ try.
6
11. Josh Adams
Looked bright at times, absent at others – but was ultimately outshone by England’s back three of Watson, Daly and Cokanasiga. Cleaned up the odd mess in defence.
5.5
James Bond aka Daniel Craig is in the crowd at Twickenham…
Where do you think 007 would be best suited in a rugby team? Is openside too obvious? ?#ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/NIVvR0Ul2S
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
10. Gareth Anscombe
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Hobbled off in the 33rd minute after an innocuous-looking bump that will leave the Welsh worried. Was seen later on crutches in the stand.
6
9. Gareth Davies
Did well to take his try, stepping Elliot Daly on his way under the post. Looks in outstanding physical condition after the Swiss trip.
8
1. Nicky Smith
Being blown out of the road by Joe Cokanasiga at close range will have hurt the prop’s pride. Struggled for parity at scrum time.
5.5
2. Ken Owens
Bullish as ever but was part of a Welsh frontrow that was a distant second to their aggressive English counterparts. Made a few trademark carries. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s try off the lineout will hurt.
5.5
3. Tomas Francis
The Exeter tighthead looked to dominate Genge early in the scrums but didn’t get much change out of Englishman. Does his best in the loose.
4.5
4. Adam Beard
The 6’9 lock did his job at lineout time – looking secure on his own ball and managing to poach a lineout off England. It remains to be seen if the accomplished set-piece operator can add more to his game, especially given Jake Ball’s superior loose game.
6
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C)
The Welsh cap record-breaker didn’t play his best game in a red jersey. Hard to fault and never took a backward step.
6
6. Aaron Wainwright
The former Cardiff City midfielder will not have furthered the argument for his inclusion in the Rugby World Cup. English debutant Lewis Ludlam hogged the limelight and the deck. Carried manfully but rarely won the collision. Smartly tied in Ludlam on the scrum preceding Davies’ excellent solo try.
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7. Justin Tipuric
A quiet game by his standards. Wasn’t the menace on the deck that he needed to be and struggled to turn over ball in the face of the work of Ludlam and Vunipola at the breakdown.
5.5
8. Ross Moriarty
Outshone by a rampant Billy Vunipola, literally getting flattened by his opposite number on occasion. The Dragons’ No.8 needs to find the form that forced him into the side four years ago if he is to fill Taulupe Faletau’s boots.
5.5
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
Another Welshman that looked uncharacteristically flat. Not a huge improvement on Owens whom he replaced.
6
17. Wyn Jones
Scored a well-deserved try from close range in the 55th minute. Scrum improved as the game went on.
6.5
"Wales are right back in the match and enjoying every aspect of it!"
Wyn Jones off the bench and over the whitewash. 24-19
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— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
18. Dillon Lewis
Gave away two penalties after coming on midway through the second half. Not a good look when you’re coming off the bench.
4
19. Jake Ball
Carried well at times, reminding the Welsh rugby public and Gatland why he was at one stage a first choice for Wales.
6
20. Aaron Shingler
Came on early and having coming back from a massive injury lay-off needed a big game. This wasn’t the game to make that case.
6
21. Aled Davies
Gave away a penalty for a high shot on George Ford in the 60th minute. Slow at times when he needed to be fast.
6
22. Dan Biggar
He missed a few too many tackles after coming on for Anscombe and couldn’t quite control the game in his customary fashion.
5.5
23. Owen Watkin
Run through by Manu Tuilagi in the 75th minute. Must do better.
4
Comments on RugbyPass
I think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
3 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to comments