Wales 21-13 England
by DAVID NICHOLSON 
at the Millennium Stadium

ENGLAND were out fought, out thought and were out on their feet after Wales served up a stunning win over the old enemy in Cardiff on Saturday.

A triumphant Wales celebrated long into the night after a record-making 12th straight victory.

This was a brutal, unrelenting test match between two teams who pride themselves on their obdurate and suffocating defence.

It served as a reminder why the Six Nations is the pre-eminent rugby tournament when it dishes up performances like this.

Before the championship started head coach Warren Gatland had predicted that Wales would win the Six Nations if they won in Paris in the opening match.

“I said before we left the hotel that we would win today as we have forgotten how to lose. I was very proud of the boys and they deserve their party,” a pleased Gatland said.

Both sides had entered the game with the possibility of a Grand Slam and the championship itself.

But the powerful Welsh performance to beat an undefeated England has burnished Grand Slam talk again.

The wily New Zealand coach responded in the affirmative when asked by the Morning Star if a third Grand Slam was now on the cards.

“It would be nice, but I try not to get too far ahead of myself,” Gatland said.

"I knew how important this game would be. My experience with Wales in the past is that we always get stronger as tournaments go on.

“We will enjoy tonight, but then we will spend the next two weeks thinking about Scotland.”

The first half saw both sides making hugely physical tackles and nullifying each others’ attacking moves with intensive defence and stifling line speed.

England were forcing more mistakes from Wales and capitalised with an Owen Farrell penalty and then a Tom Curry turnover try after 26 minutes.

England’s vaunted winger Jonny May was given barely a sniff in this game, although he had one successful canter after he kicked ahead and then bundled Hadleigh Parkes into touch to win a lineout near the Welsh line.

Fly-half Owen Farrell kicked the ball cross field to Jack Nowells, but he was beaten to the ball by fellow winger George North.

And that was one of the crucial areas which led to the Welsh victory. England’s kicking game had undone Ireland and France, but misfired in Cardiff as Wales proved more adept at dealing with it.

Wales switched their two wings to counter Jonny May’s speed and the English kicking game.

In full back Liam Williams Wales had the man-of-the-match, but the British and Irish Lion also took the English kicks superbly and proved a real threat running the ball back.

As the second half developed England did not vary their failing game plan and Wales grew in confidence.

Before the game, I predicted that if Wales were within a score in the final 20 minutes, they would win and was proved correct when Dan Biggar entered the pitch with 20 minutes to go.

Biggar tormented England at Twickenham in the 2015 World Cup victory and did the same again.

Cory Hill went over for a fine try after 34 phases of attacking possession eventually breached the white defensive wall.

Biggar kicked a difficult conversion from out wide out as Wales went into the lead and put England behind for the first time in the championship. 

In the final five minutes, Biggar kicked cross-field for winger Josh Adams to pluck the ball from the air and go over for the try to send the home crowd into raptures.

England head coach Eddie Jones was brutally honest after the game about his side conceding too many penalties and losing the kicking game.

“They beat us in the air and the penalty count was lop sided. When you are beaten in those areas you are going to struggle to get the result you want.

“We let ourselves down and Wales played smartly,” Jones said.

Wales now have a curious statistical record against England, winning in years ending in nine in 1949, 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2009 and now 2019.

Wales take on Scotland at Murrayfield in a fortnight’s time and then host Ireland at home. 

England face Italy and Scotland at Twickenham and are still hoping for the championship if Wales falter.