Two-try hero: Alex Cuthbert
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Wales claimed the Six Nations title on Saturday as they emphatically shut out rivals England 30-3 at the Millennium Stadium in a humdinger of a match.
Two tries from Alex Cuthbert, who ends with four scores to his name, proved to be the turning point in the game after a first-half that ended try-less.
It was a performance that brought back memories of their 2011 World Cup form and showed the potential this Welsh team has going into 2015.
Put simply, England were outplayed and could not cross the whitewash - now having done so just once in their last four games - as the Six Nations and Grand Slam both disappeared into the night.
As it was the defending Grand Slam champions that bettered a 108-year-old record to clinch their biggest ever win over England, surpassing the 25-point margin recorded in a 25-0 win in 1905.
The first-half was a rip-roaring affair in Cardiff as both teams went at each other hammer and tongs in an entertaining spectacle that had both fans in the stadium and viewers watching at home on the edge of their seats.
After building a 12-3 lead early in the second-half, through four penalties by full-back Leigh Halfpenny to one from England ten Owen Farrell, Wales surged ahead through Cuthbert.
That Welsh try - like in 2012 for Scott Williams - was one that came from the English losing possession in contact and when the ball found its way to Cuthbert on the right wing, the finisher fended off England back Mike Brown en route to a 35-metre run in.
That put them 17-3 in front and minutes later Farrell missed his second shot out of three.
Dan Biggar added a drop before Cuthbert stormed in for another try after good work from Sam Warburton and then Justin Tipuric, with Biggar completing the rout with a penalty.
This was Wales's second victory in a row over England, with the Welsh the only side to defeat the English in Six Nations action since Stuart Lancaster became coach in 2012.
Man of the match: So many Welsh players put their hands up as the pack as a whole, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts et al all stood tall in Cardiff. But we go for Justin Tipuric, whose fine showing on the openside flank was capped off by a superb assist for Alex Cuthbert.
Moment of the match: At 12-3 with over 50 minutes gone, the ball squirting out of a ruck and eventually finding Alex Cuthbert was the last thing England needed. The Cardiff Blues wing showed great pace to go around Mike Brown for a massive score in the context of the game.
Villain of the match: Nothing nasty to report.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Cuthbert 2
Con: Biggar
Pen: Halfpenny 5, Biggar
For England:
Pen: Farrell
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Andrew Coombs, 20 Aaron Shingler, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Scott Williams.
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mako Vunipola, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Toby Flood, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Comments
s15rules says...
haha
Posted 22:51 16th March 2013
startledwombat says...
Delighted for the Welsh!
Posted 22:48 16th March 2013
mlbp says...
England, were outthought and outmuscled once again (like two years ago in dublin). The Welsh intensity smothered them and their lack of attacking prowess is showing clearly. Stuart Lancaster is doing wonders with such a young team but they are far from being the finished article. Based on their overall game during the tournament they didn't deserve the Grand Slam. Grand Slam implies excellence in the game.
The front row has serious issues. Tom Youngs still is learning the trade of hooking, and mostly lineout-throwing. Marler is not the best scrummager (Corbisiero was sorely missed) and Vunipola is good in the loose (ferocious tackler) but he doesn't seem to be a dominant force in the scrum. Cole mixes good and bad points. In the loose he offers a lot but at times he has problems scrummaging. Dan Hartley is still a liability.
Quiet day for Launchbury. A lot more was expected of him. Parling gave his best but he was outshone by his opposite locks. Croft looked out of shape, rushed into action too early. Robshaw cannot do everything. Wood is not a specialist 8 and England are suffering from that. England has a real issue with their backrowers. They have too many who play in the same way and they don't seem to mix well.
Ben Youngs has his highs and his lows and Phillips exposed him. Farrell offers virtually nothing in attack and his tactical play was really poor. Barritt is a battering ram and a rock in defence but Roberts and Davies were too much for him. Quiet day for Tuilagi (quiet tournament actually). Ashton's dip in form looks alarming. Brown is their best backs player. Goode has his moments but he is not a dominant player for this level.
Of course you cannot write off this team. There's great room for improvement and they'll definitely get better over the years. There is a platform to work from but the traditional shorcomings of English rugby are still there.
Posted 22:35 16th March 2013
dezz says...
Great game with excellent intensity from both teams. Glad Wales won the championship, an unexpected bonus after the Ireland game. England under Lancaster are building nicely towards the World Cup. This set back is all part of a learning curve. Nice to see a Six Nations table without the usual suspects propping up the table. Please move the tournament to later in the year when the weather is better. Conditions have dictated the style of play far to often in this tournament.
Posted 22:31 16th March 2013
hellovanite says...
See England happens to everyone now and then.
Posted 22:27 16th March 2013
JoseArtigas1 says...
With bonus points England would have won the Championship, all the matches this weekend would have been virtual dead rubbers and Wales would have needed 4 tries to win the Championship.
Posted 22:19 16th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Wales win completely deserved. Scrum dominance showed on the score board in a way England could never achieve when they have it for some inexplicable reason. Lions have no chance now. Oz 3-0.
Posted 22:18 16th March 2013
new_j4a says...
@lacroix, our resident expert on table manners and poor sportsmanship, our expert on what he calls "the rules" of rugby, our rugby philosopher who said this on the England conquer France thread:
"-providing 'evidence' to support an opinion about a referee by citing the IRB and SARRA is a bit like saying one can prove a particular model of car is unimpeachably brilliant because its manufacturer says it is. "
.....now offers snide advice to the young English team, this from the perspective of someone who has no understanding of the game, but since he supports France (at the BOTTOM of the table) is, in addition to being an expert on table manners, now also an expert on the failure to deliver. Apologies to all French good sportsmen who do understand the game, but this prat is a carbuncle on the arse of French rugby.
Posted 22:15 16th March 2013
mlbp says...
Well rugby is a fantastic sport and that is why we love it. What a match! What intensity by both teams! This is what we fans wanted and this is what we got.
Confidence is the most important and most precious commodity and Wales found it in truckloads for this match, and as the match wore on the more confidence they found.
At the beginning of the tournament Wales looked somehow lost and now they have won it. They gained momentum because they stuck to their strengths. I always thought that Wales were overrated, mostly because they lack continuity, but they are maturing and they have found some outstanding players on the way.
England have lots to sort out. They were overrated too. Their excellent win against the All Blacks came after a great defensive effort mostly, but today, though they tried to defend with all their might, they were abyssmal in attack. Their poor execution let them down once again. Some players had really quiet games, too. But all credit to a fantastic Welsh display.
Who would have thunk the Welsh forwards would dominate so clearly. Gethin Jenkins was outstanding in the loose, Richard Hibbard may have put his hand up for a trip Down Under, Adam Jones destroyed the English scrum and carried well in attack, Alun Wyn Jones is pure class and he would be in my Lions team always, Ian Evans had another great game, Sam Warburton was really good and Justin Tipuric is outstanding as a link man and as a tackler. Toby Faletau deserves the Lions number 8. Mike Phillips may still be the best 9 in the British Isles. Dan Biggar has played consistently in both attack and defence. Jamie Roberts's runs took the air out of the English defence, Jonathan Davies made himself a nuisance. George North was overeager a few times and butchered a couple of scoring opportunities. Alex Cuthbert was the opposite, really clinical. And what can you say about Mr Reliable Halfpenny.
Posted 22:11 16th March 2013
porridge_time says...
Wonderful stuff Wales, really to it to England and gave them a right royal roasting.
Posted 22:03 16th March 2013
Sssnake says...
Llongyfarchiadau Tim Cymru. FISH, no need, England were poor today and we were magnificent but they are far from useless and comments such as yours are completely childish and not in the spirit of rugby. Batter each other on the pitch mun, not in the bar afterwards.
Posted 22:03 16th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Wow what a game, it was intense and very physical.
It didn't see that coming and as a Welsh boy i had my doubts but we didn't only win we smahsed them.
Hopefully Now every English supporter knows who the better tight head is. Scrums dominated which was the only thing i knew was going to happen. A dominent front row all maybe up for the starting lions places. But best and healey r also putting in strong cases (apart from best from todays performance but he is still world class). Gethin seemed back on top with his great work rate and led form the front.
But most of all Wales pointed out the weaknesses in individuals. Tuilagi is a class player but he is one dimensional and really what else can he do apart from pump it up. The english team are lucky that they have a player like barett to help him.
Owen farell looked like a headless chicken at some times as he hesitated a lot. But all i can say is htat we are still the best in the Northern Hemisphere but know lets not go bakc on a 7 match losing streak and back it up with more success.
Best Wales ahve played in years even last years Grand Slam. England just couldn't answer and put up a good enough fight for us.
HAHA well done Wales
Posted 22:02 16th March 2013
sharkscage says...
England found out again, please lets all admit, England are nowhere near a good team, Italy showed what a poor team they are, many of the England players believe their own press, they are not that good, and would not even make a 2nd's World 15. Now is the time to clear out and bring in young talent, who want to play rugby and not prance about like arogant idiots.
Well done Wales, but still a long way off SH rugby, more bulk needed in the forwards, and need to find a No 10 urgently, as the three they have at the moment are not anywhere near the finished article. Pity about the first 40 mins of the 6N, otherwise it would have been a Grand Slam.
Posted 21:59 16th March 2013
masar says...
villain should be ashton for that unnecessary stupid blatant rucking
Posted 21:36 16th March 2013
ruckingkiwi says...
Looks like another England choke but massive credit to Wales, well played and fully deserved defending champs. Some comfort to Lions fans that Gatland has come good at the right time.
Posted 21:23 16th March 2013
ben7 says...
Right team won the game but wrong team won the title IMO. England got worse with each game while Wales improved each game.
All i can say is thank god for Super rugby!!
Posted 21:18 16th March 2013
Expattrussy says...
Superb performance by Wales today - they did to England what England did to NZ in the Autumn, harassed them non-stop and bullied them in the tackle/breakdowns. Well, whatever you think about Walsh's decisions today, the Lions tight head shirt is wrapped up - Jones was awesome today and It's not the first game that Cole has struggled in the scrum this tournament. Another lazy performance from Tuilagi today - I know that people will talk about the service to him, but he needs to seriously increase his work rate. Robbie Freuan is another extremely powerful centre, but he can't get near the NZ side, as they say he doesn't work hard enough on and off the ball. The only English player to enhance his Lions credentials today, IMO, was Parling - now that was workrate in adversity! I'm English, but more importantly I'm a rugby lover, and can look beyond Walsh (I hope the rest of the one-eyed English fans will soon too) to say hats off to Wales - that's how to play rugby (in attack and Defence)!
Posted 21:17 16th March 2013
liam2me says...
The arrogant English found out for what they really are, mediocre, with less teeth in attack then a 90 y/o granny.
Posted 21:15 16th March 2013
JamieTheProp says...
Might do England a lot of good in the long term - we shall see! Well played Wales!
Posted 21:10 16th March 2013
TheRoof says...
Well done Wales. Awesome effort. The good thing about this result is that it shuts loud mouths like Rose Tiger up once and for all. Top shelf!!!
Posted 21:07 16th March 2013