LONDON – England have outmuscled and outplayed Wales 21-16 in an entertaining start to the 2015 6 Nations Championship in Cardiff on Friday night.
In a match where the away side laid out their credentials for a tilt at the Rugby World Cup later this year, they were combative in close and exciting out wide as they played simple rugby and reaped the rewards. Missing 10 of their front-line players, England also showed their impressive numbers in depth, an aspect of English rugby that was questioned before the match.
Despite the talk before the game that Wales were going to bring their ferocious game, while the environment was as promised, it was England that were able to physically bully the Welsh side with the home side’s backrow being made to look largely static. Sprinting to a 8 point lead heading in to the sheds, Wales were unable to maintain their intensity and their composure as they let chances slip in the second half and let England into the match.
Stand out players in white were definitely Jonathan Joseph in the centres and James Haskell in the backrow while George Ford also backed up his words during the week and registered a very impressive performance.
Wales Coach Warren Gatland will lament the opportunities they threw away and will wonder how, with the crowd 100% behind the home team, they managed to let a win slip.