England fight back in Cardiff

 

Having trailed 16-8 at half-time, the visitors dominated after half-time to start their Six Nations campaign in fine style with a win against the odds.

 

Wales made the ideal start to the game as they reclaimed the kick-off and won a penalty immediately which Leigh Halfpenny had no problem landing from the touchline.

 

The hosts managed to pin England back in their own half early on and it paid off as Rhys Webb crossed for the opening try after getting a good pass from Taulupe Faletau off an attacking scrum.

 

Halfpenny's conversion put Wales 10-0 up after just 10 minutes, and a tough ask for England had become even tougher.

 

However, any thoughts that they were just going to roll over were banished when Anthony Watson picked up a well-timed grubber from Mike Brown to go over for the try which made it 10-5 after the opening 15 minutes.

 

Halfpenny added another penalty, but England were able to respond with one of their own soon afterwards as George Ford got his first points of the night before Biggar had the final say of the first half with a drop-goal that put Wales 16-8 up at the break.

 

England made a determined start to the second half, and they were rewarded when Jonathan Joseph shrugged off a tackle to score and bring them back within one point.

 

The visitors had an opportunity to hit the lead for the first time soon after that, and although Ford pulled his effort wide the momentum was clearly with England just after half-time.

 

They took the lead with 20 minutes left when Alex Cuthbert was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on James Haskell, with Ford making no mistake from right in front of the poles.

 

That left Wales chasing the game in the closing stages with a man down, but they struggled to get out of their own half and England had the final say with one last Ford penalty.

 

Man of the match: England centre Jonathan Joseph was a pest for Wales throughout, not least when he wriggled through for his try.

 

Moment of the match: All three tries featured moments of impressive skill, with the best being Anthony Watson's pick up just in front of the tryline.

 

Villain of the match: There were none.

 

 

Try: Webb

Con: Halfpenny

Pens: Halfpenny 2

DG: Biggar

 

Tries: Watson, Joseph

Con: Ford

Pens: Ford 3

 

Yellow card: Alex Cuthbert (Wales, 61 mins – Dangerous tackle)

 

 

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb,8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Liam Williams.

 

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Haskell, 5 George Kruis, 4 David Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Nick Easter, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.

 

Referee: Jérôme Garcès

Assistant referees: Romain Poite, Mathieu Raynal

TMO: Simon McDowell