No amount of spin from Wales will disguise what was one of their most dispiriting days in the Warren Gatland era. They did not just lose at home to England, having taken an early 10-point lead, but finished a clear second to opponents missing a number of players they will next encounter at Twickenham in seven months’ time in the World Cup.
It was a night when Wales looked for little things to have a magnifying effect, starting before the kick-off when there was a stand-off in the tunnel with Wales insisting on running out second.
The referee, Jérôme Garcès, told Chris Robshaw he could take his players back to the dressing room if their opponents did not materialise on time, and it set the tone for the opening exchanges, which for England brought back memories of the opening round last year, when they were 10 points down in Paris early on. Wales were ahead after a minute. Jonny May, ignoring the instructions of his coaches not to give Leigh Halfpenny any kicking practice, loitered on the floor after making a tackle and cost his side three points.
England had been caught out by Wales’ kick-off, Dan Biggar going short rather than long with Taulupe Faletau claiming the kick and quick thinking led to the first try of the match on eight minutes.
England’s sloppiness in possession cost them a scrum 10 metres from their line but they put pressure on Gethin Jenkins’ side of the scrum, where Garcès was standing: the squeeze was such that a penalty looked probable, Garcès readying himself to blow his whistle, but as the visiting pack focused on the shove, Faletau picked up the ball one-handed from the back of the scrum and set off for the line.
James Haskell reacted slowly to the unexpected, going high and late on the No8. He was easily shrugged off and May was forced to leave his wing to tackle Faletau. Rhys Webb ran into the vacated space and received the scoring pass, adding a touch of spontaneity to the rehearsed.
Wales were also prepared in defence, expecting their opponents to kick. While Jonathan Joseph caught his club-mate George Ford’s chip to make his first mark on the game, Biggar charged down two Ford kicks and one from Ben Youngs was also blocked. It was only when England became more direct after the break, keeping the ball in hand and taking it through multiple phases – 20 in the move that ended with Joseph slipping through George North’s weak tackle – that Wales started to lose the mental battle.
Wales said they had not uttered the words World and Cup in the two weeks they had been in camp but the next time they meet England will be at Twickenham in September and they will certainly need to show more than they did here if they are to prevail then.
While Wales added variety to their routine, even Halfpenny joined in by missing a penalty that was almost in front of the posts, and they were slow to react. The history of this fixture is littered with examples of Wales seizing the initiative through moments of individual inspiration, but it was weakened England, hardened by the rigours of the Premiership, who showed the greater nous.
Ford eschewed the chance to give England the lead nine minutes into the second half by missing a penalty Owen Farrell would very probably have nailed but the Bath fly-half is a player who is not disconcerted by mistakes. He attacked the line and was well served by his scrum-half, Youngs, who caught out the Welsh midfield on a number of occasions by taking a few steps with the ball in hand and increasing his options.
England were playing the smarter rugby and at the point when they collapsed here two years ago they grew stronger this time. It was a period of the game when tricks practised on the training field counted for little but it was surprising that it was the visitors who looked more cohesive.
When Alex Cuthbert was sent to the sin-bin with 20 minutes remaining after helping deny Haskell a try, a home victory looked unlikely. Wales turned back to their big three-quarter line but a concern for Gatland in the coming weeks and months will be the set pieces.
For all Jenkins’ presence in the loose, he was exposed in the scrum by Dan Cole, a player making his first appearance for six weeks after recovering from a leg injury. Richard Hibbard got away with a couple of early lineout throws that looked decidedly crooked but Wales were under pressure on their own throw-in throughout the match.
England were even on top at the breakdown by the end, Haskell choking with his tackles, and their problems this year will be more about whom to pick, having picked holes against opponents who considered themselves to be superior but may have to find comfort in being underdogs, come the World Cup.
