The dragon roars again as it burns down England’s Grand Slam hopes
In Six Nations history, we always look back at Wales 30, England 3 when we think about some of the most outstanding results in this fixture. It wasn’t quite as significant a demolition this weekend, but performance wise, Wales were in a league of their own and quite simply at their best since Warren Gatland took charge in 2008, and that’s saying something. I can’t think of a team as good as this with as much Grand Slam potential, and they were epic in 2008 and 2012 so what this Welsh team could achieve in the run up to Japan could seriously put the All Blacks on red alert when they defend their crown this autumn.
How good was Cory Hill’s try? 34 phases of play, 34 reasons why Wales are going to win the title if they play like that. Everyone praised Ireland for their 42 phase build up to that drop goal in Paris, and for me, that was the moment that won them the Six Nations; Hill’s try is the exact same principle in my eyes, and that when we look back on what won them the trophy should they lift it on March 16th, then it’s this one. It’s been a while since Wales have been considered a serious threat, but if they’re going to tear England apart like that and find a score out of 34 phases of hard graft, then I cannot wait for their showdown with Ireland in three weeks because that will be one of the most brutal games of rugby. Their fixture two years ago was insane, the hits and tackles made in that match were enough to fold ordinary folk in half, so their final test of the Championship will be the one to watch.
For anyone wearing the rose, this will have been a huge “what if” moment. England should’ve won this game, especially since they dominated the first half and led at half time. The way they played against Ireland and France simply wasn’t replicated, and the ease at which they picked up bonus points wasn’t helping them on Saturday. Wales had their kicking game covered superbly, and the trio of Josh Adams, George North and Liams Williams were phenomenal in stopping England’s aerial threat. Jonny May has done rather well at scoring early to stun his rivals, this game he was almost invisible before being replaced and I felt he played little or no part, much like some of this England team who will now have to be at their absolute best against Italy and Scotland if they want to challenge Wales for the title. They might have the easier run of fixtures, but if they play with the same strategy as they did against Wales, they could easily be frustrated again and make a mess of their title challenge; not something Eddie Jones will want in his run up to the World Cup. Round five’s looking pretty good then.
Team Rating
Wales: 4.5/5
England: 3/5