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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Jack de Menezes

Wales vs England reaction - Hosts keep Grand Slam hopes alive after breaking English resolve

Warren Gatland celebrated his final Guinness Six Nations match against England with a dramatic 21-13 victory in Cardiff that continues Wales' march towards the Grand Slam.

Second-row Cory Hill forced his way over in the 68th minute after a lengthy period of Welsh resurgence to seize the lead for the first time, his team thriving amid the arrival of replacement fly-half Dan Biggar from the bench to direct the final quarter.

And bedlam ensued at the Principality Stadium in the closing moments when Josh Adams grabbed Biggar's crossfield kicked to touch down and confirm a famous win.

Gatland's first taste of success over opposite number Eddie Jones in four attempts also set a new national record of 12 consecutive victories and was a fitting way to end their Championship rivalry before the Kiwi steps down after the World Cup.

Follow post-match reaction below:


Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Six Nations clash between Wales and England, brought to you from pitchside at the Principality Stadium.
 
In a clash between the two remaining unbeaten sides of the tournament, the Grand Slam is on the line as these two fierce rivals collide from 4.45pm.
 
Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones have been vocal in their rivalry this week to build up tensions ahead of kick-off, and with the winner of the grudge match set to go on and challenge for a rare Grand Slam, there is plenty on the line in this weekend's big encounter.
 
We'll begind out live coverage from 3pm, with France vs Scotland set to kick-off the action today at 2:15pm.
It's fair to say that the streets of Cardiff are buzzing this afternoon.
 
There are thousands in the pubs and bars around the Principality Stadium, and you can guarantee they'll be well oiled come kick-off.
 
That's lukcy because they face quite the wait to get into the stadium, with new security measures introduced causing quite the wait outside for fans. Organisers have been vocal in this to get fans inside early enough for kick-off, but such is the activity levels outside that many are probably going to leave it too late.
After making the journey along the M4 this morning, thankfully the thick fog that lined the motorway and much of London has lifted over the Welsh capital, making way for a lovely sunny day in Cardiff.
 
With the roof open, that will play into an attacking game, although England could look to try and take that speed and flare out of the encounter with their tactical kicking - just as they did against Ireland and France.
So much was made of yesterday's late journey down to Cardiff, but we can report that the England coach has arrived safe and sound, skipping the traffic in the process with a police escort.
 
Just an hour to go until kick-off here in Wales, and after peeking an eye at the score in today's first match (which France are leading 15-3 and worth every point of their lead) preparations here in Cardiff are beginning to reach a climax.
 
Wales have arrived at the ground along with England, and while we're yet to hear confirmation, the rumour is there's no changes to the sides as announced.
So what will prevail today: the passion and emotion of the Welsh, or England's cool, calm and calculated approach to silencing the crowd?
 
Owen Farrell spoke ahead of the weekend of why he believes England will be ready for anything Wales throw at his side.
Here's how the two teams line up today:

Wales: Liam Williams (Saracens); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter); Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys); Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Josh Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Aled Davies (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

England: Elliot Daly (Wasps); Jack Nowell (Exeter), Henry Slade (Exeter), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Jonny May (Leicester); Owen Farrell (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Ben Moon (Exeter), Jamie George (Saracens), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins); Courtney Lawes (Northampton), George Kruis (Saracens); Mark Wilson (Newcastle), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Harry Williams (Exeter), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Brad Shields (Wasps), Dan Robson (Wasps), George Ford (Leicester), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath).

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).

Assistant referees: Jerome Garces and Alexandre Ruiz (both France).

The choirs are booming out around the Principality Stadium, with the hymn Calon Lan taking everyone back to 2017 when both sides were singing in unison on the Lions tour.
 
But there will be no friendly faces today. Every England name is booed as it is read out, every Welsh name cheered to the rafters.
Warren Gatland ahead of kick-off to the BBC:
It'll be a tough game and I'm expecting it to be a close call, nothing will be comfortable out there.
Their kicking game. They've kicked a lot from their first two games and they've had a lot of success from it, so I expect more of the same.
A taste of the pre-match atmosphere:
Just minutes to fo until the teams emerge from the tunnel and, unusually, it's a bright sky above with the roof wide open.
 
That hasn't been so contensious this week though - even if Gatland wanted the roof shut - and as the flames shoot high into the air, Alun Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell emerge in the tunnel, their teams behind them. Here they come!
Time for the anthems...
Anthems done and dusted, here we go...
1 mins: ENGLAND KICK OFF AND THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY!
2 mins: It's a brutal start, as first Vunipola is sent flying off his feet and then Curry is taken emphatically - both times by Tipuric. Eventually, Moon knocks on in contact and it's cheered like a try, and Nowell is already having a spot of treatment...wait one second,we've come back towards halfway and it's a penalty to England. After speaking with his assistant, referee Romain Poite penalises Tipuric for a no-arm tackle on Vunipola, and that's a bit of a strange one. Daly will go for goal.
3 mins: It's not a good kick as he fires it out wide left, and that's probably karma really as it wasn't a penalty.
5 mins: The Welsh fans scream offside and Poite duly obliges, holding out his arm for advantage. Anscombe kicks deep and he's nailed by Farrell as he does, but there's little in that one. It's just inside the English half, but Wales turn it down and go for touch. Anscombe brushes himself down to find touch about 10m out.
7 mins: They immediately rue the decision as England steal the lineout through Kruis, and Youngs clears the dangers.
8 mins: Lawes and Wilson double-up on Moriarty and smash the No 8 backwards, and when England flood in it's England who get the decision, with Poite deeming them in the ascertainty. As Swing Low rings out, the boos return promptly followed by howls of "Wales! Wales!"
 
I'm not sure I've ever seen a crowd so invested in a game.
11 mins: Anscombe puts up a high cross-field kick after Williams makes a nice break off a Farrell kick, and although May can't take it, he knocks it into the arms of Daly. He makes a half-break, but when Farrell tries to clear he's charged down by Gareth Davies and England are sent into reverse.
 
Nowell gets backk to sweep up and Youngs clears, but there's signs of nerves from England.

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