Wales emerged victorious over England for the third time in 12 years during a Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff. While the outcome may not hold much significance for the upcoming World Cup in France, Warren Gatland and his players will relish this win. England cannot complain, and there were few standout performers for their final squad of 33 players.
The match showcased Wales’ dominance and energy, with experienced players Gareth Davies and George North scoring second-half tries. England, on the other hand, lacked the freshness and momentum of a team on the rise. The majority of the excitement was generated by the hosts, just as Gatland had predicted.
What lessons did England learn from this match? It was a missed opportunity for many players. While it is well-known that England favor box-kicks, their attacking play left much to be desired and their lineout struggled. Of the English backs who played, Joe Marchant showed promise, Freddie Steward was active, and Marcus Smith attempted to mix things up. However, sustained collective dynamism was lacking.
Despite being a summer friendly, the match did not feel entirely meaningless. The weather was wet, the roof was closed, and the atmosphere was confined. Many people were in town to watch Tom Jones in concert at Cardiff Castle, but there were also fans wearing rugby jerseys, hoping for an exciting game.
Both teams approached the match with interest. England’s new attack coach, Richard Wigglesworth, had not set high expectations for their performance. Wales, on the other hand, hoped to make a strong impression. Their new midfield partnership of George North and Max Llewellyn, son of former international player Gareth, brought a formidable physical presence.
Unfortunately, the early scrums were messy, resulting in two penalties for Marcus Smith. Wales lost their starting hooker, Ryan Elias, to injury, but Leigh Halfpenny’s penalty brought some relief. Despite limited space, Wales resorted to kicking high balls towards Joe Cokanasiga, who struggled to catch them. It was a game where Cokanasiga needed to impress, but instead, his World Cup prospects may have suffered.
Louis Rees-Zammit, Wales’ direct opponent to Cokanasiga, appeared more dangerous, making a breakthrough only to be tackled just short of the try line. Wales secured a penalty that leveled the scores at 6-6. Wales seemed physically prepared after their summer training in Switzerland and Turkey.
England needed to respond, and Marchant, their standout player in the early stages, made another impressive move into Wales’ 22 meters. However, England struggled in the crucial red zone. Cokanasiga failed to score in the left corner, and a subsequent lineout was overthrown. Fundamental errors cannot be tolerated, even at this stage in August.
Despite the English management’s halftime message to reduce errors and exert more pressure on Wales, it was Wales who showed more creativity. A crossfield kick resulted in Aaron Wainwright cleverly offloading to captain Jac Morgan, who passed to Davies for the first try of the game. North also scored a try in the third quarter, effectively sealing the win for Wales.
In the Six Nations earlier this year, England defeated Wales 20-10 in Cardiff, with Steward winning the man of the match award and Watson, Sinckler, and Lawrence scoring tries. It was seen as a sign of England’s progress and Wales’ vulnerability. Now, the roles have reversed, adding intrigue to next weekend’s fixture at Twickenham. England will need to reflect and make strategic decisions before then.
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