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United States England vs Wales LIVE: Six Nations rugby result, final score and reaction today
(AFP via Getty Images)
Maro Itoje tumbled out of the breakdown and came up with the ball, and finally it was over. This was not a game for the rugby aesthete, nor truly one for the rugby purist, but eventually a competitive Six Nations game broke down after the first half errata. Eventually, it was England and Itoje who clung on to hold off a double Welsh fight-back and keep faint title hopes alive in a messy affair.
This had been billed as knockout rugby but the early rounds were contested of squabbles and sloppy punches thrown against the ropes. It was a first half played in bits and pieces, rather stumbling across the broken bric-a-brac of scruffy breakdowns and slap-dash set-pieces, with scrums contested in the abstract as both front rows did everything they could except drive legally, often before the ball could be put in.
This meant that a Twickenham crowd afforded a Six Nations viewing since the last time these two teams met here never really had reason to rise to their feet. Shorn of Manu Tuilagi just eight hours after naming the centre among a Six Nations side for the first time since that fixture two years ago, Eddie Jones promoted Elliot Daly from the bench with Joe Marchant hastily called in to replace him among the substitutes after a single day of Friday training – team news belatedly confirmed with little less than an hour to play until kick-off.
There were fleeting glimpses from both sides in attack, and though Alex Cuthbert looked a danger when afforded space and time with ball in hand, it was more often than not England playing with definite adventure and accuracy.
Follow all the latest reaction and analysis:
Thank you so much for joining me for a cracking match between England and Wales.
It was Marcus Smith’s boot that gave England a 12-0 lead at half-time but scores from Dombrandt, Tompkins and Hardy brought some excitement into the match.
Wales had one last roll of the dice when Lawes had a deliberate knock-on but Itoje turned it over with late drama at Twickenham. The Six Nations weekend isn’t over as Ireland take on Italy tomorrow but for now have a read of Harry Latham-Coyle’s report to digest that thriller.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 19:11
Ben Youngs has broken Jason Leonard’s men’s cap record after being subbed on for Harry Randall in the second half. He now has 115 caps under his belt.
But if he wants to break the all-time cap record, held by Rochelle Clark, he’ll have to play another 22 matches for England! And he’ll have to fight off Sarah Hunter as the Red Roses captain is closing in on the record herself with 130 to her name.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 19:07
One thing which will be worrying for England is the injury of Luke Cowan-Dickie. The hooker was subbed in the first half with a knee injury and he was in crutches in the post-match huddle.
The Exeter man, if he cannot play in the rest of the championship, will be replaced in the starting shirt by Jamie George. But will this open the door for Jamie Blamire?
We will have to wait and see. There’s another fallow week so it will be another long wait!
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 19:01
It was a huge resilient effort for England to close out that game. Though Lawes did concede the penalty in the end, the England team of a few years ago may have blown the end of that game.
Wales can take huge positives from the loss though. Cuthbert is back to his best, Biggar continues to fill Alun Wyn Jones’ captaincy well and they have big ball carriers. If they were able to find Basham in the first half to give him a walk-in try who knows how the match would have ended.
It’s very similar to the earlier match when Stuart Hogg came close to scoring just before half-time. That would’ve given Scotland the lead before the break but instead France closed out a 36-17.
The championship can be won by England, Ireland and France but after today France will still have the favourites tag.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:57
The match ran over that much it has eaten up the interview time and so we haven’t heard from anyone from the Welsh camp unfortunately.
If I see any updates on social media I shall update you, so confused by that referee decision and I need someone to discuss it!
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:52
I’m surprised Smith wasn’t asked about Lawes, I think the coaches will be and I’ll bring you all of that when we hear from them.
At any point of the game a deliberate knock-on would have seen him be shown yellow. But he stayed on for that last period.
The result means Wales won’t defend their title as two losses usually sees a team not lift the trophy. Can Wales do England or Ireland a favour and beat them next time out? If Wales scalp France the championship could be won by anyone.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:51
Player of the Match Marcus Smith told ITV: “It was a bit shaky towards the end. We know how proud the Welsh team are and the leaders spoke well. It was close but we got the job done.
“I thought the forward pack put us on the front foot, Rands [Harry Randall] played well.
“Luckily we built enough of a lead and we will look at the second half in the fallow week.”
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:48
Wales were hammering us but Itoje does a fantastic job to turn the ball over! Youngs kicks the ball off and it is all over.
The first half was all Smith’s boot but it was the second half that set this match on fire. Dombrandt scored and then Tompkins and Hardy put Wales’ hopes up.
They just couldn’t get it over the line in the end. England can still win the Six Nations but France will have to lose a match in order to do so. Wales are unlikely get their hands on the trophy now.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:46
Wales are looking for the winner here, imagine if they are able to do this. It would be unbelievable.
The clock is in the red and they are going here, England fans are you getting nervous yet?
They keep battering on the door and England are doing well not to concede a penalty. Williams does so so well to stay on pitch but it looked like they spilt the ball but Lawes may have deliberately knocked this on.
It’s been judged as a knock on, Wales will go again but why is Lawes still on the field? Surely that should have been a yellow card.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:43
Wales are on the prowl for a losing bonus point here, if they come within seven of England they will get a point.
And they do! Hardy took a penalty quickly and he dances around the players to bag a point for Wales.
Sarah Rendell26 February 2022 18:38
