A WHEEL fell off the chariot at Twickenham last night and, not for the first time, the decision-making of the man at the reins was open to scrutiny following another England defeat on home soil.
Three years ago, Chris Robshaw was criticised for kicking a penalty rather than go for the try that would have beaten South Africa; this time he turned down a shot at goal with three minutes to go that would have earned his team a draw in favour of going for the win.
When the attempt to set up a driving maul instantly stalled it only amplified the sense of disbelief among players and supporters at how Wales had salvaged a match that looked lost having trailed by seven points with seven minutes remaining.
Somehow they found the courage to generate one last effort. Lloyd Williams raced deep into the England 22 and showed composure, vision and accuracy to slide a cross kick into the path of Gareth Davies who gathered the bouncing ball brilliantly before sliding over.
Dan Biggar’s conversion was straightforward but much more was required of him when Mike Brown was adjudged to have hung on to the ball in the tackle on halfway, yet the stand off had enough left in his right leg to get it over the bar for the winning score.
The hosts must now beat Rugby Championship winners Australia to have a chance of reaching the knockout stages. It was a dramatic end to an occasion worthy of any global tournament with umpteen factors having ensured this was be the pool match that would garner greatest interest.
Wales, though, had no reason to fear the Twickenham factor having won twice here in recent seasons. Psychological baggage could be discounted then and early signs were encouraging for Wales as England conceded two penalties within the first two minutes, the second allowed Dan Biggar to open the scoring.
Work on England’s scrummaging had clearly taken effect earning two of the penalties Owen Farrell registered either side of a drop goal, while Biggar knocked over two more penalties in a first half which ended with the sides separated by the margin of its only converted try.
It was a fine England score: Anthony Watson came across from his right wing to help a right-to-left attack; his pass tested Brown’s footballing skills to the limit and by the time the full-back gained control the initial chance was gone. Support arrived swiftly, though and the ball was released from the maul to allow Youngs the younger to send Jonny May clear on the left for a try Farrell converted.
England began the second period impressively, but with the kickers still cancelling one another out tension could be detected in the chants of a previously confident sounding home support as the match moved into the final quarter.
As the intensity took its toll Wales seemed to be coming off worst as Scott Williams, Liam Williams and Hallam Amos all departed with serious looking injuries, yet in that late rally they defied everything thrown at them as they sent a quarter of the audience into delirium.
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