England earn comfortable victory Wales

England began preparations for their Summer tour of Australia with a resounding 27-13 victory over Wales at Twickenham.

After making a slow start to the match England recovered and went on to outscore Wales by five tries to one.

England remain unbeaten under Eddie Jones who will be thrilled with the scoreline given that the 14 point margin was achieved without any players from England’s two top teams as the Premiership final was contested yesterday.

In addition England flyhalf George Ford had a shocker of a match with the boot as he was only successful in one of his kicks.

It was one of the worst kicking performances by an England No.10 for many years and his position for the opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on June 11 is now very much under threat.

Had Ford managed just an average kicking display, the men in white would have given their Welsh rivals a hefty beating. Even so, they still managed to defy a slow and turgid first half to overcome their visitors with some degree of comfort.

England forward Joe Launchbury responded to being pushed down the second row pecking order by Saracens’ Maro Itoje and George Kruis by producing a man-of-the-match performance.

Due to the English Premiership final and other commitments, less than half the England starting line-up had also walked out to face Wales in a 25-21 Six Nations victory back in March, while the Red Dragons still had ten from that game.

Wales, with Dan Lydiate captaining in place of the injured Sam Warburton, were quickest out of the blocks and with more drive and endeavour carved out a 13-10 half-time lead. Scrum-half Rhys Webb fed prop Evans for the opening try converted by Dan Biggar, who then added a penalty for a 10-0 lead.

Burrell, keen to make the most of a rare recent chance in the No.12 jersey, reached out for England’s opening try. And, after Biggar kicked a second penalty, the clinical Watson showed his finishing skills by somehow grounding the ball despite lying on his back short of the line.

Whatever Jones said to his side at the break it clearly worked, with England a completely different proposition in the second half as quick tries from Leicester scrum-half Youngs and then No.8 Clifford left Wales dazed.

The try from Harlequins flanker Clifford upset the Welsh players who felt referee Marius Mitrea was wrong to allow it to stand — although replays on a possible Dan Cole knock-on during the build up were inconclusive.

Ford finally managed to nail his kick but the fans gave the No.10 a hard time and some booed as he exited the field towards the end of the game, less than convinced with his out of sorts performance.

Quins wing Yarde, desperate to impress having got the nod ahead of Chris Ashton in the squad for Australia, showed his finishing skills by shrugging off the challenge of Hallam Amos to race over for the fifth try.

Leicester prop Ellis Genge and Sale hooker Tommy Taylor came on for their England debuts as England sealed a win which will give them even more confidence and belief as they prepare to take on a three-Test series with the Wallabies, while Wales head to New Zealand.

Final Score England 27 (10) Wales 13 (13)

Scorers

England
Tries – Burrell, Watson, B Youngs, Clifford, Yarde
Pen –
Con – Ford
Drop –

Wales
Tries – Evans
Pen – Biggar (2)
Con – Biggar
Drop –

Match Officials
To follow.

Teams

England

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Marland Yarde, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Matt Mullan, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Teimana Harrison, James Haskell, Jack Clifford.

Replacements: Tommy Taylor, Ellis Genge, Paul Hill, Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Danny Care, Ollie Devoto Elliot Daly.

Wales

Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Dan Lydiate (Capt – Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), James King (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).