England keep away from disaster however Wales win gives extra questions than solutions
England have been lowered to 12 males for 5 minutes in west London, and even noticed captain Owen Farrell despatched off for a head-high shot on Taine Basham.
Steve Borthwick’s males would have slipped to an all-time low world rating of ninth in defeat. Victory snatched on the final and from a deep, worrying malaise a minimum of staves off that ignominy.
But when the breathlessness of the late turnaround subsides, England merely must savage themselves for an additional efficiency largely missing any cogency, substance or path.
Clive Woodward’s 2003 World Cup winners hint a lot of the assumption for that victory in Australia again to surviving 10 minutes with 13 males to beat New Zealand 15-13 in Wellington six months earlier than lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
England’s 5 minutes with 12 males right here was the polar reverse of that composed and tenacious rearguard motion.
Tomos Williams coasted in unopposed for a strive that threatened to sink England with out hint. But then, from nowhere, England’s pack determined to maintain it tight and powered excessive of the guests.
Maro Itoje capped a driving maul, substitute Ford transformed – after which later blasted the successful penalty. Ford was a person possessed in captain Farrell’s absence, and his dominant, authoritarian closing of this match throws out the renewed risk of a 10-12 partnership with the skipper come the World Cup.
Farrell’s pink card was reckless, whereas Freddie Steward was lucky to flee with a yellow for upending Josh Adams within the air. Ellis Genge was sin-binned besides, on his first act off the bench in his fiftieth cap.
The emotion round victory should be remodeled into instant momentum for England, as a result of the arduous reality is the hosts have been so poor for therefore lengthy. Head coach Borthwick’s males want path, and quick, in any other case Argentina will ship them packing within the World Cup opener in Marseille on September 9.
England have been abject once more in a dismal, dispiriting first-half. At least the hosts took a 6-0 lead into the interval, however there have been virtually no different positives earlier than the break. Henry Arundell was left red-faced by a facile yellow card, for a brainless deal with on Liam Williams after refusing to retreat from a mark.
England for probably the most half had set-piece dominance and defended Wales’ tight drives properly. But there was subsequent to no attacking form, and once more a litany of errors.
Farrell slotted a penalty to place England 9-0 as much as open the second-half, and Tommy Refell was sin-binned.
Then England began to implode. Three scrum penalties allowed Wales to show the set-piece tide, then take management.
First Owen Williams slotted a purpose, then Wales claimed a penalty strive.
Blow: Farrell was despatched off, leaving England with out their captain
/ Getty ImagesGenge was sin-binned together with his first act off the bench on his fiftieth cap, and so the carnage began to unfold.
Steward tackled Josh Adams within the air, copping a yellow card for his hassle after which Farrell walked for his head-high shot on Basham.
Tomos Williams cantered in unopposed for a Wales strive as England have been lowered to 12 males.
Dan Biggar’s conversion had Wales 17-9 forward, with England staring proper down the barrel.
Somehow although, England’s 12 males conjured a tight-drive strive via Itoje, and George Ford’s conversion had the hosts trailing by only one level at 17-16. Replacement playmaker Ford then held his nerve besides England again right into a 19-17 lead from a penalty, with simply 5 minutes to play.
Wales then had Adam Beard within the sin-bin, Twickenham was as alive because it has ever been, and each units of gamers seemed surprised by occasions.
England someway clung on, for a victory that raises much more questions than solutions – however a minimum of helped keep away from an all-out disaster.