Finished
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Wales pushed close by England
Wales equalled the Six Nations record for eight consecutive victories with a pulsating 23-15 win over England in Cardiff. More
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Live Commentary
Time:80'- Wales
- England
80' England continue to attack but there is no way through. Tindall is isolated but England keep possession. Flutey is then caught in possession, penalty Wales and they kick for touch and ref blows for full-time. Wales win 23-15 and just about deserve it after a cracking match. Thanks for joining us.
79' Half break by Flutey and penalty England after Williams fails to roll away. Flutey is down with a knee injury.
79' Armitage funbles deep in his own 22 but Croft secures ball and makes ground to the 22.- 78' England trying for all their worth to break through but Jenkins tackle on Worsley forces turnover. That could be it with just 3 minutes left.
- 76' Wales have men over on the right. Jones cuts back in and England force turnover. Tait tries to wriggle free but Wales defence is good.
- 75' Wales defending for all their worth now. Huge tackle Gough on Hartley forces turnover.
- 74' England have a penalty for Ryan Jones failing to roll away. No longer card? England have to take the points but Flood pulls his effort. Could that be curtains for England?
- 73' Ball is fed back into Wales' 22 and Shanklin kicks straight to touch. Mistake and England have attacking lineout in Wales 22.
- 71' Worsley again immense in defence as Wales continue to attack. Croft infringes and Wales earn penalty in front of England's posts, 40m out. Jones on target and Wales now lead by two scores. 23-15.
- 70' Another period of ping pong as both sides look for territory. Halfpenny puts one up and takes superb catch to set up Wales attack.
- 68' High ball by Jones marked by Flood and the fly-half finds touch inside Wales' half.
- 67' Jones chips over, Roberts almost claims and ball falls to Shanklin. Wales continue to attack but Ryan Jones is forced back by superb England defence and the visitors gain the put it at scrum.
66' Bennett on for Rees.- 66' Nice jink and offload from Flutey after a period of aerial ping pong but the ball is knocked on and it's scrum to Wales.
- 65' White for Vickery, Hartley for Mears and Tait for Sackey.
- 65' England have some momentum now and they go through the phases and retain posession well. But Wales defence is good and they earn a penalty for holding on. Jones kicks for Wales lineout just outside England's 22.
- 60' Dafydd Jones on for Powell.
- 60' Wales turned over and Ellis takes quick tap and kicks up field. Sackey wins the race but bad bounce allows Jones back to clear up. Croft forced into touch a metre from Wales' try-line.
58' Flood adds the conversion and Wales lead just 20-15. Great game.
57' Flood has got a bit of snap in to England's attack. They have men over and Armitage breaks clear down the left before racing under the posts. 20-13. England are right back in it!- 56 Nice offload Flood to Easter and England at least are trying something. Croft on for Kennedy.
- 53' Stephen Jones glides through England's defence. England backs offside and Wales have simple shot on goal from infront of the posts. No problems for Jones and Wales lead 20-8. Looking ominous for England now! 11 unanswered points for Wales in this half.
- 53' Flood on for Goode.
- 52' England forwards pick and drive, but they are making barely any ground. Flutey, from fly-half, again tries to step through tackles. Sheridan is penalised at the break down and England attack comes to an end.
- 50' Turnover Wales and Roberts looks to get through in midfield instead of going wide. Worsley again puts the big centre down and England win penalty for Wales coming in at the side. Worsley has been immense in this game!
- 47' Wales concede penalty and Armitage has a long shot on goal, from just inside Wales' half. But it's wide and short and Byrne kicks down field. Easter runs back but is collared by Gough!
- 44' Wales turn over Sackey and spread the ball wide. Good hands from Gough and Adam Jones put Roberts away and he finds Halfpenny for a free run into the England try-line. 19-8 Wales and the tide has turned!
- 43' Jones extends Wales' lead to 12-8.
41' Roberts immediately makes a surging break through England's defence. Halfpenny continues the attack and is stopped just short by Goode, but Wales win penalty for Goode playing the ball on the ground. Another yellow for England, this time Goode in the sin-bin!! Just what England did not want.
41' The teams are back out on the field and Jones gets the second half started. What will the respective coaches have said at half-time and can Wales changes the focus away from Roberts and Powell? Can England play more rugby and claim a shock win?- 40' Roberts gets free down the left wing, but sound defence by England forces knock on and Armitage clears down field. Ref blows for half-time, Wales lead but it's only 9-8. A frenetic first half and all to play for. England will be the happier of the two teams, but need more possession if they are going to win this one.
- 39' Worsley again stops Roberts with big tackle in midfield, but Wales retain the ball and continue to attack. Again Worsley stops Wales attack in its tracks, this time tackling Shanklin.
- 38' Lovely cross kick from Jones is claimed by Halfpenny and Cueto and Armitage forced into last ditch defence. Armitage knocks on and Wales have attacking scrum on the right touchline. Again problems setting the scrum.
- 36' Roberts charged down by Ellis and Worsley but Wales retain ball. Jones chip ahead won by Shanklin and they spread the ball wide. Powell continues attack into England forwards but they turn it over and win penalty. Good defence England but Goode misses touch! Byrne returns kicks and takes out Armitage going for the ball. Penalty England. Byrne lucky not to get yellow.
- 33' Cueto chases high ball and gets it back England's way but it's knocked on. Scrum Wales in their own half.
- 32' Shanklin almost through again and takes last ditch tackle by Flutey to get him down. But Wales hold on England earn penalty which Goode kicks to halfway. Worsely's defence has been huger so far and he's making big dents into Wales carriers.
- 31' Wales lineout has been good so far and they win another throw and launch attack down the middle through Shanklin.
- 29' England putting together series of phases. Wales are offside so Goode goes for a drop at goal and nails the three points. Great kick from about 40m. Wales lead just 9-8 now and the momentum has changed.
- 27' Free-kick England and they take a quick tap and attack through Easter and Borthwick before kicking long. Wales touch down and it's a 22 drop out.
- 26' Strong tackle Worsley on Roberts in midfield as Tindall is back on. England scored more points while he was off so hopefully his return will spark more from the visitors.
- 25' Goode off target with his conversion, but at least England are showing some attacking potential.
- 23' Lovely jinking break by Flutey puts England on the front foot. Goode kicks ahead and Sackey wins the chase with Mark Jones to touch down for England. Well played! 9-5 Wales. Great response from 14-man England.
- 22' Stunning take by Wyn-Jones from kick off. Things not looking great for England at the moment as Powell claims another kick ahead and runs at England defence.
- 22' Problems setting the scrum, and Vickery pinged for not binding. Another penalty Wales. Halfpenny again from distance and this time he's on target as Wales open a 9-0 lead.
- 18' Sackey gets hammered backwards as England launch series of attacks. England retain possession but are turned over.
- 16' Jones punishes England further by extending Wales' lead to 6-0. And England are down to 14 men!
- 15' Freekick from scrum for Wales and powell takes tap and runs at England. Ball comes back and England again penalised for infringing - this time Tindall - and the recalled centre gets a yellow. Daft, daft play by Tindall!
- 13' Wales attacking and retaining possession well. England defence is strong but they cannot get their hands on the ball.
- 12' England break down the right wing through Flutey but great tackle by prop Jenkins halts attack.
- 10' Great tackle Ellis on Halfpenny forces turnover for England. Visitors have first chance to attack Goode concedes penalty for holding on after making half break.
- 9' Phillips worked into space down right wing and puts in clever chip ahead, but Armitage is back well and runs ball out of defence.
- 8' Ball handed to Halfpenny, the wing has a bigger boot than Jones, but it falls just wide.
- 6' Easter offside and another penalty to Wales. Ref has word with Borthwick and tells him next time he'll issue a yellow.
- 5' Powell juggles kick off before running back at England. Roberts makes half-break though midfield, Wales kick long and Armitage responds. Decent take by Sackey relieves the pressure on England. But it's all Wales so far.
- 3' Wyn-Jones wins lineout and Jones makes inroads into England defence. England concede penalty for entering ruck from the side and Williams takes quick tap and is over. But the ref's whistle had gone and Jones left to kick Wales into 3-0 lead. Great start!
- 2' Wales attacking at speed and Ellis forced to cover at back and hack ball into touch for Wales lineout in England's 22. Good early chance for the home side.
- 1' Wales kick to Armitage and the full-back has shot at drop goal. But it's well short and Powell runs it back. England concede penalty and Byrne kicks down to England's half.
1' The world's finest national anthem has been sung and we're ready for the kickoff. Goode gets us underway.
- It has been a pretty dour week for England's sporting teams - crushed in the West Indies, taught a lesson by Spain - can the rugby players halt the slide?- - Ryan Jones's turn now and the roof nearly comes off the stadium. There is an electric atmostphere in Cardiff this evening and we have one titanic clash ahead of us.
- - Borthwick leads his team on to the field. They look like they mean business as they walk slowly out, but they will need more than grunt if they are going to down this Wales team.
- There has been some discussion over the roof at the Millennium Stadium and whether it should be open or closed. Well, it doesn't matter because it's a fine evening in Cardiff - if somewhat cold - so the roof stays open.- - England's World Cup winning skipper has never lost at the Millennium Stadium as a player but his side will need a gargantuan improvement if they are going to avoid one today. Much will depend on the boot of Andy Goode and Johnson will need the radar of his former Leicester team-mate to be spot on.
- - A victory for Wales this afternoon will equal the Six Nations record of eight consecutive wins – jointly held by England and France - while a defeat for England will make it four losses from six games under Johnson.
- - Otherwise, Johnson has kept faith with the majority of his side, who will need to produce a much-improved display to appease their growing band of critics. The likes of Andrew Sheridan, Steve Borthwick and Paul Sackey owe England big performances after indifferent runs of form for their country.
- - Worsley is usually a blind-side so that selection in itself is somewhat of a risk, especially as he will be up against the outstanding Martyn Williams in Cardiff.
- - Johnson will hope the experienced duo add some much-needed direction and leadership as centre Jamie Noon makes way for Tindall and Steffon Armitage – who made his debut last week – steps down for Worsley on the openside.
- - England manager Martin Johnson has made a number of changes in a bid to improve on the poor showing at Twickenham last week. They may have won 36-11 and nailed five tries, but England were dire and Johnson has brought back fit-again Mike Tindall and Joe Worsley to his starting XV.
- - Star centre Gavin Henson is also missing, but coach Warren Gatland will not be too concerned as his midfield partnership of Jamie Robinson and Tom Shanklin were outstanding last week.
- - The bad news is the late withdrawal of try-machine Shane Williams, who failed to recover from an ankle injury picked up last week. Wales will miss their talismanic wing, but in the shape of Mark Jones have an able replacement.
- - The good news for Wales is that their influential skipper and blindside flanker Ryan Jones is back to lead the side after missing the Murrayfield game with a calf problem. Jones replaces his namesake Dafydd, who returns to the bench.
- - Wales go into the game as strong favourites for the first time in many a year and it is a tag they fully deserve after they easily dismantled Scotland in Edinburgh last week. They are the form European team at the moment and on paper they should not have too many problems making it three consecutive wins over England, who are mis-firing badly at the moment.
- - Welcome to a packed Millennium Stadium for the second Six Nations game of the day, and they don’t come more passionate that Wales v England in Cardiff – a hugely exciting prospect in store from arguably the world’s finest rugby venue.
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Summary
Wales versus England Halfpenny 44’ Tries Sackey 24’, Armitage 57’ Conversions Flood 57’ Jones 4’, 16’, 43’, 54’, 72’, Halfpenny 22’ Penalties Drops Goode 30’
Live Team Line-Up
- Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
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WalesManager: Warren Gatland
On the Field
- Jones
- Rees
- Jenkins
- Jones
- Gough
- Powell
- Jones R.
- Williams
- Phillips
- Jones
- Jones
- Roberts
- Shanklin
- Halfpenny
- Byrne
Subs
- Jones
- Peel
- Bennett
- Charteris
- Yapp
- Bishop
- Hook
Injured
None
Suspended
None
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EnglandManager: Martin Johnson
On the Field
- Sheridan
- Mears
- Vickery
- Borthwick
- Kennedy
- Haskell
- Worsley
- Easter
- Ellis
- Goode
- Cueto
- Flutey
- Tindall
- Sackey
- Armitage
Subs
- Hodgson
- White
- Tait
- Hartley
- Flood
- Narraway
- Croft
Injured
None
Suspended
None
kaplans welsh
How many points would Wales have scored if they didn't have a 16th player?
"Wales win 23-15 and just about deserve it after a cracking match."
What?
Stop talking @#$%, Yahoo.tonyardfert I have lived here for 25 years and you are the biggest idiot I have come acroos and my WELSH father in Law and wife both agree if you can't speak with any intelligence keep your mouth shut. IDIOT
scored more tries and looked more fluent than the welsh who are the kicking team now yes a wins a win but come on wales ur runners where terrible and you ribbed england for winning of italys mistakes so what does that make you i think a different result had we had 15 players for 80 minutes
scored more tries and looked more fluent than the welsh who are the kicking team now yes a wins a win but come on wales ur runners where terrible and you ribbed england for winning of italys mistakes so what does that make you i think a different result had we had 15 players for 80 minutes
Does the ref get a winners medal, or holiday shed in the valleys. Not one warning to the welsh, offsides, hands in the ruck you name it they did it and just the odd penalty awarded. this is not sour grapes just stateing the obvious
twll tin pob sais
I have just been watching the game,does the ref want a welsh shirt in large or extra large.The decisions he gave today were diabolical.I appreciate the welsh are champions but try and be a neutral when refing these games,it ruins it for the game.I know the welsh luv to beat us but do it fair and square.
Totally inconsistant refereeing England 2 yellow cards for killing the ball Ryan Jones does the same! Nothing!!
Kaplan. Bent.
Come on England, even though I am embarrased to be Welsh.
Rubbish, Wales are the best ever U.K consists of more than England
It's a good start to the second half by Wales; but we had an equally good start to the first, and England came back well. No Welshman should be counting their chickens just yet...
Half time - get a grip England. Well done PS good try. Don't give it away.
good luck ENGLAND!!!
go kick some welsh but!!!england earned the points,wales just got them given..
Well played, England. Worsley's recall looks a very good move by coach Johnson. Unfortunately for us.
caza_evs007 that's you in nikki.hadlows comment. Learn to write some more English
com on wales ft england ya bass
Wales to win
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