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Wales and England played out a weird game of rugby that never really took off as a spectacle, despite moments of brilliance on both sides.
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It was a game both teams clearly wanted to win, but it was ultimately Wales who steadied the ship and are now – technically at least – the best side on the planet.
Here are our Wales player ratings:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
A late change for Liam Williams who pulled up with a tight hamstring. Having not played since last November, it was an understandably rusty turn for a normally safe pair of hands. The Scarlet coughed up a highball from Willie Heinz in the 16th minute, giving England a leg up in the Welsh 22. He spilled the ball again in contact in the 44th minute. A 74th-minute chip and collect and subsequent 50-metre penalty kick saved his blushes.
5.5
TEAM UPDATE: Leigh Halfpenny starts at 15 in place of Liam Williams, who had a slightly tight hamstring during warm-up. Leigh was already warming up as one of 31 players. #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/S4H5Zjdz8Q
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 17, 2019
14. George North
The giant wing is starting to find the form that made him a superstar of the game in his teens. Took his try brilliantly from Dan Biggar’s pin-point kick.
7.5
.@George_North scores the opening try in Cardiff 🔴 George dros y llinell yn erbyn Lloegr am yr ail waith mewn chwe diwrnod. #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/JMZtDLNAVb
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 17, 2019
13. Jonathan Davies
An early turnover for Davies was his first-half highlight in what was overall a pretty quiet game for the Lions centre.
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12. Hadleigh Parkes
Carried solidly and defensively sound, as ever. Helped earn Anthony Watson a card for a deliberate knock-on. Still yet to hit the heights reached at the Six Nations, and question marks remain over the offensive threat he poses at the very highest level.
5.5
11. Josh Adams
Caught out of position in the 9th minute from a kick behind that could have led to a Cokanasiga try. Possibly needs to look for more work in attack. Nine metres from three carries is a pretty poor return for an international winger.
5
10. Dan Biggar
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A vintage performance from Biggar. His quick thinking for the tap penalty in the 32nd minute caught England unaware and moments later followed it with a sensational crossfield kick for George North. Brilliant in the air, as we’ve come to expect. Smashed Itoje not once but twice.
8.5
🏅👀 – Dan Biggar with his eyes on the prize. #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/9tDhEp0EOX
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 17, 2019
9. Gareth Davies
Box kicked well. Looked sore after shipping a knock to his leg in the first half, which he did his best to run off.
7.5
1. Nicky Smith
Getting demolished at the scrum by Dan Cole in the 7th minute won’t have helped his confidence. Went some way to making up for it with a brilliant turnover a few minutes later. Won a scrum penalty off Cole in the 20th minute and got better as the game went on. Carried well.
5.5
2. Ken Owens
After a relatively flat performance in Twickenham last week he’ll be pleased with a more aggressive and productive display in Cardiff.
6.5
Wales’ scrum got better as the game went on and Francis played his part – but it still feels like a real work-on for Gatland and co. The Exeter Chiefs tighthead definitely looks leaner and fitter and got through a great deal more work in the loose than six days earlier.
5
4. Jake Ball
The bearded piano shifter got his turn with a starting spot. Gave away a coach killer penalty in the 55th minute for not rolling away, and made sure everyone could see he was a bit ginger getting up.
6
5. Alun Wyn Jones
Wales’ record cap holder led from the front. Was key to a 48th-minute turnover that effectively evicted England from their try-line. Was in English faces all day long.
7
An industrious afternoon for the backrow – pinching a lineout and maintaining a high nuisance factor before being replaced. Did miss two out of seven tackles. With the injury to James Davies (and Faletau previously) his RWC stock will surely have risen all the same.
7
7. James Davies
Was taken off permanently in the 24th minute with what looked like a head injury. A disappointing end to what looked like a promising afternoon for Cubby Boi.
7.5
Fronted up well. Smashed Billy Vunipola with the aid of Dan Biggar in the 61st minute – a hit he owed his opposite number after Twickenham. Gave away a silly penalty a minute later to give England an easy out in their 22. Carried consistently if not remarkably. Feisty.
7
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
Came on for Jake Ball and played in the backrow. Hard to rate.
NA
17. Wyn Jones
Scrums got marginally better in the second half but realistically it was a case of survive at all costs at scrum time. It’s a real worry area for Gatland.
18. Dillon Lewis
As above, was part of a Welsh scrum in survival mode. Got around the pitch well and arguably was Wales’ best scrummager.
19. Aaron Shingler
A key part of a crucial 79th-minute turnover. Offers height and size in what isn’t the biggest Welsh backrow stable ever assembled.
20. Josh Navidi
Came on early for James Davies and was everywhere thereafter.
8
21. Aled Davies
Hard to rate with just 20 minutes on the pitch.
22. Jarrod Evans
Not on long enough to rate.
23. Owen Watkin
NA
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments