Welsh come unstuck at Twickenham
England laid down an oversized marker in the shape of a 47-13 victory over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
England had opened a healthy 15-3 lead courtesy of tries from Mark Cueto and Lewis Moody before Martyn Williams hauled Wales to within five points by the interval.
But the hosts turned the screw in the second period as they ran in four more tries -- including a choice effort from Lawrence Dallaglio in his return to England duty after 17 months in "international retirement".
Wales, the reigning Six Nations champions, were dethroned with a bump. The first half was all right in the sense that they were still fighting back against those who would take their place, but in the second half the coup d'etat was complete as the massive, cohesive, determined English kept them under house arrest.
Wales wanted to be lively. They wanted to run and do clever things, but England kept them corralled in their own half for all but seconds of the second period.
England were too strong. They scrummed better, their line-outs were more secure and they won many turn-overs at tackle time when even their props looked hungrier and better skilled.
The first half flew by at a great rate as England did strong things as Wales tried to do mercurial things. Wales started well but the defence was solid and organised and eventually snuffed them out for all but one delicious moment. Wales helped the defence by kicking when in promising positions.
There was a significant bit of accidental head-bashing early in the half. Centre Matthew Watkins of Wales and flank Joe Worsley of England bashed bodies and heads and went off to have bleeding stanched.
Two things then happened -- Dallaglio came on and immediately won two line-outs at No.2, the balding head rising high, the powerful body all evident.
The other happening was that Gareth Thomas moved up to centre and Lee Byrne went to fullback.
From a line-out on their right England spread the ball and there was Jamie Noon cutting back inside Gareth Thomas. On his outside, that is his left, came right-wing Cueto cutting on a straight line and then curving outwards as a right wing would tend to do. Around Shane Williams he sped for an excellent try which Charlie Hodgson converted. 7-0 after 14 minutes.
When Steve Thompson, in a frogman outfit though the field was dry and firm, baulked at a line-out, Wales opted for a six-metre scrum. Harry Ellis went off-side and Stephen Jones made it 7-3.
Josh Lewsey left the field clutching his right shoulder and was replaced by Tom Voyce.
Soon afterwards Shane Williams had space down the left wing, darted ahead and then chipped. The ball grubbered its way into the in-goal area but Ben Cohen got to the ball first and knocked into touch-in-goal for a drop-out which Wales neglected and ended conceding a penalty which Hodgson goaled 10-3.
Harry Ellis broke sharply with characteristic speed and opportunism. Martin Corry was there to help and Mark Jones conceded a penalty which England turned into a five-metre line-out.
England mauled, and Colin Charvis and Michael Owen were penalised for pulling the maul down.
On advantage Hodgson kicked a high diagonal to his right but Gareth Thomas beat Cohen for the ball and the referee went back to the penalty.
England made another five-metre line-out and mauled. Initially Wales resisted well but then England regrouped, brought the focal point to the tight and drove at speed for a try by Lewis Moody with vigorous help from Andy Sheridan and Matt Stevens. 15-3 after 31 minutes.
England looked in charge but Wales did not look like a beaten side.
Hodgson slewed a kick off his boot and Wales won a line-out towards the back. Dwayne Peel suddenly burst inside Moody and gave to Martyn Williams close by. The ginger-haired flank cut inside Tom Voyce and powered past Hodgson for an excellent try, which Stephen Jones converted.
England looked certain to score a try but Steve Borthwick could not hang onto a high pass. His effort was impeded by an early tackle from behind by Robert Sidoli who was penalised. Again England went for the five-metre line-out. This time they were less cohesive and Wales resisted. England charged from a ruck and Colin Charvis conceded the penalty which Hodgson then goaled. 18-10.
When Tindall, with an overlap to his right, cut and lost possession backwards, Matthew Watkins latched onto it and Wales had its best attacking period of the afternoon as forwards and backs mixed up with snappy passing. Wales's reward was a penalty which Stephen Jones goaled. 18-13. England were on top but there was no sign that Wales were about to fall apart.
From the kick-off after that penalty Martyn Williams played Lewis Moody in the air and the referee sent him to the sin-bin. Disintegration was about to set in.
Hodgson goaled the resultant penalty. 21-13, but from now on Wales were active tackling bags.
When Shane Williams cleared badly, England attacked and had a double overlap which they squandered with a long skipped pass which drew three defenders into position. But a try had to come.
England peeled around the front of a line-out on their right and then went left. Voyce was close. They went left again to give Tindall a simple flop to score the try. 26-13.
Martyn Williams came back. His absence had "cost" eight points but a lot more in the impetus of the match.
England began making changes. In one Dallaglio came on for Corry.
England attacked and Hodgson went on a left incline towards the posts. Wales defended really well and won a turn-over. Owen tried to start an attack from his own line but his pass to Mark Jones was forward. This gave England a five-metre scrum. They turned it a bit towards their right which gave Dallaglio, at No.8, a pick and run with only frail-looking Stephen Jones in his path. The imperious Englishman drove over the Welshman and scored. Dallaglio was back in town. Hodgson converted. 33-13 with 8 minutes left.
Substitutes came bounding onto the field as England started to have fun.
They put a Wales scrum under pressure and the ball went backwards from Owen's hands for Matt Dawson to snap it up and sprint 15 metres to score a try which Andy Goode converted.
The replacements were in the money.
England attacked exuberantly, throwing the ball about from left to right until Voyce took an inside pass from Goode to score behind the posts. Goode converted and the final whistle went. Replacements had scored 19 of the last 21 points.
Man of the Match: England had a lot of fun on the afternoon. Charlie Hodgson made a lot of it happen but the victory was really up front where those big men were simply too strong -- Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock, captain Martin Corry and props Andy Sheridan and Matt Stevens. Those five form our collective man-of-the-match. The best of the Welsh was Dwayne Peel.
Moment of the Match: Jamie Noon's unexpected break that sent Mark Cueto skating on an arc for his try.
Villain of the Match: If Wales flank Martyn Williams really did do the nasty on Lewis Moody, he deserved the yellow card and deserved to be the villain-of-the-match for he did his side a grave disservice.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Voyce, Dallaglio, Dawson, Tindall, Moody, Cueto
Cons: Hodgson 2, Goode 2
Pens: Hodgson 3
For Wales:
Try: M Williams
Con: S Jones
Pen: S Jones 2
Yellow card(s): M Williams, Wales -- block/ barge, 52
The teams:
England: 15 Josh Lewsey (Tom Voyce, 20), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson (Andy Goode, 75), 9 Harry Ellis (Matt Dawson, 75), 8 Martin Corry (Lawrence Dallaglio, 63), 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Joe Worsley (Lawrence Dallaglio, 6-12), 5 Danny Grewcock (Simon Shaw, 72), 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Steve Thompson (Lee Mears, 63), 1 Andy Sheridan (Julian White, 68).
Wales: 15 Gareth Thomas, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Hal Luscombe, 12 Matthew Watkins (Lee Byrne, 6-17), 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel (Gareth Cooper, 65 (Lee Byrne, 78)), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Colin Charvis (Alix Popham, 72), 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Ian Gough (Adam M Jones, 10-19, 65), 3 Adam Jones (Gethin Jenkins, 59), 2 Rhys Thomas, 1 Duncan Jones.
Unused replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 21 Nicky Robinson.
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Christophe Berdos (France)
Television match official: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
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