Second-half drive secures England win

Wales 9 England 26

Second-half tries from centre Will Greenwood and replacement flanker Joe Worsley gave England a comfortable RBS 6 Nations Championship victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium tonight.

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson weighed in with 16 points – two drop goals, two penalties and two conversions – but underdogs Wales produced a battling display that meant they were not swamped by the scoreline many people had expected.

Ceri Sweeney kicked all Wales’ points, yet England successfully completed stage two of a possible Grand Slam campaign, even though it was a totally unconvincing performance.

England arrived at the Millennium Stadium today as overwhelming favourites to inflict further misery on a once-proud Welsh rugby nation.

Martin Johnson’s men went into battle as an unbackable 1/25 chance, while Wales were 7/1 rank outsiders.

Welsh pessimism reigned supreme on the back of last weekend’s 30-22 defeat in Italy, a loss which coincided with England beating France at Twickenham.

Wales coach Steve Hansen axed six of the side on duty in Rome, dropping skipper Colin Charvis, centre Leigh Davies, fly-half Iestyn Harris, scrum-half Dwayne Peel, hooker Mefin Davies and flanker Michael Owen.

The 33-year-old Bath hooker Jonathan Humphreys replaced Charvis as captain, with Pontypridd fly-half Ceri Sweeney making his first Test match start instead of Harris.

England handed an international debut to 21-year-old Northampton prop Robbie Morris, with a front-row injury crisis depriving them of Jason Leonard, Trevor Woodman, Phil Vickery and Julian White.

Scrum-half Kyran Bracken returned for his first Test match start since April last year, and England’s revered back-row unit of Richard Hill, Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio lined up together for the first time in 22 months.

England were protecting an unbeaten 10-year record in Cardiff, and seeking a fourth successive victory over Wales.

Weather conditions, despite the early evening kick-off were excellent, with an open Millennium Stadium roof revealing glimpses of blue sky before darkness fell.

The atmosphere was electric approaching kick-off, with Welsh fans whipped into frenzy by some of the most impassioned singing ever known for an international match in Cardiff.

Jonny Wilkinson swung the game into action on a superb playing surface in perfect conditions, and England immediately launched full-back Jason Robinson on the front foot before centre Charlie Hodgson’s touch-finder threatened attacking dominance.

Wales responded well, though, and Sweeney’s first kick asked questions of Robinson under a high ball in defence.

England expected a ferocious opening from their opponents – and they got it, with Wales taking a ninth-minute lead.

Wales looked to attack from deep, and when England hooker Steve Thompson late-tackled wing Gareth Thomas Sweeney landed the resulting 35-metre penalty.

It was an unconvincing start by England, who could not impose any pattern on proceedings as Wales fought for every scrap of possession.

England needed a wake-up call, and they began pressing through their powerful midfield runners - notably wing Dan Luger - which resulted in a 16th-minute penalty that Wilkinson landed to level the scores.

The visitors were gradually gaining momentum – although it could not mask a slow start – and it was Wilkinson who again came up trumps.

A spell of pressure could not breach the Welsh defence, but Wilkinson found his range through a delightfully struck 35 metre drop goal that edged England ahead.

Wales had a chance to draw level within two minutes though, but Sweeney was wide of the target with a kick he should have got.

He had another chance barely 60 seconds later – England skipper Martin Johnson vehemently protested referee Steve Walsh’s decision – and this time there was no mistake as he tied things up at 6-6.

England continued probing out wide for a gap, and despite spirited Welsh defence, they should have gone ahead on 28 minutes, but Wilkinson surprisingly drifted a short-range penalty chance wide.

Wilkinson, as if he could scarcely believe his penalty failure, made amends just a minute later when he slotted his second drop-goal – this time from 30 metres – to inch England 9-6 ahead.

Wales, with Humphreys leading from the front, continued to make life difficult for England, and the visitors’ indiscipline cost them a kickable penalty nine minutes before the break.

Wilkinson was lining up a short-range kick at goal, when Irish touch-judge Alain Rolland spotted foul play, and England hooker Thompson was punished for use of the boot on Humphreys at a ruck.

Referee Walsh reversed the penalty award – Johnson again queried the decision - and Wales cleared possession, further illustrating England’s struggle to get to grips with a game they were expected to stroll.

Wales should have scored just before the break after centre Mark Taylor made a scintillating break, but he ignored unmarked runners outside him, and a gilt-edged chance was lost.

Robinson was injured trying to halt the Welsh onslaught – Bristol Shoguns wing Phil Christophers replaced him – but Wales continued pressing.

Christophers had been on the field barely 60 seconds when referee Walsh sin-binned him for a late challenge on Thomas.

Sweeney though, could not land the resulting kick, and England, somewhat fortunately, held a half-time lead.

Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel appeared as a blood-bin substitute for flanker Richard Hill during the break - a bizarre switch - but England's flow was not disrupted as they looked to extend their advantage.

And they opened their try-scoring account on 47 minutes, when quick ball found itself to centre Will Greenwood whose height and power took him over for a 22nd Test try in 34 England appearances.

Wilkinson slotted the simple conversion for a 16-6 lead, and they were then restored to a full complement of players as Christophers returned.

Welsh prospects suddenly seemed a lot bleaker than they had just before the break, finding themselves 10 points adrift as England threatened to run away with things.

Gaps were beginning to appear out wide for England - the game had suddenly assumed an air of predictability - and a Wilkinson kick to the corner compounded escalating Welsh problems.

Welsh worries were confirmed when England added a second try on 57 minutes, albeit after flanker Neil Back had been helped from the field nursing what appeared to be an ankle injury.

It took his replacement – Wasps back-row forward Joe Worsley – less than a minute to make his mark when he crashed over from close range, and Wilkinson’s conversion ensured a solid 23-6 advantage.

Wales coach Hansen rung the changes after Worsley’s score, sending on three substitutes – Charvis, hooker Gareth Williams and prop Gethin Jenkins – but Wales were suddenly facing a damage-limitation exercise as the game entered its final quarter.

Sweeney completed his penalty hat-trick after 63 minutes, but it appeared to be a token gesture.

England sent on Bath captain Danny Grewcock as a 65th-minute replacement for Ben Kay, and he made his presence felt immediately with an impressive line-out take that allowed England territorial supremacy.

Wales also rang the substitutions – Matthew Watkins replacing centre Tom Shanklin and Iestyn Harris taking over from wing Rhys Williams – but England continued to forge ahead when Wilkinson landed his second penalty.

The home side, for all their plucky determination, were distinctly second best on the scoreboard, yet it was a strange match because England could feel far from satisfied with their efforts.

Wales pressed for a consolation score during the closing minutes – they also had the official man of the match in lock Robert Sidoli – but it was not to be.

England were too strong at decisive moments, although in terms of moral victories, everything belonged to Wales.