England 'frustrated' despite Wales thrashing
REACTION: England winger Henry Arundell said his team felt “frustrated” despite hammering Wales 48-7 on Saturday to launch their Six Nations title bid in promising fashion at Allianz Stadium.
Arundell bagged a hat-trick as the hosts scored seven tries but were denied further touchdowns by the television match official.
Replacement back-rower Henry Pollock and centre Tommy Freeman had efforts chalked off in a dominant performance as England won a 12th straight Test to underline their status as Six Nations contenders.
“They were probably tap-ins, but a hat-trick is a hat-trick,” Bath speedster Arundell told ITV.
“We’re happy, obviously, but there’s probably a bit of frustration we left points out there. If we want to be the best team in the world, we have to take them.”
The defeat stretched Wales’ long wait for a Six Nations victory, having last won a match in the tournament in 2023.
“I feel bad,” Wales captain Dewi Lake told Welsh broadcaster S4C.
“We spoke in the circle at the end of the game, we let ourselves down, we let people at home down.”
The visitors had four players yellow-carded during the game, including Lake and prop Nicky Smith in the first quarter.
“What we spoke about in the week was discipline,” Lake said. “Our discipline in the first few minutes was poor.”
Wales trailed 0-29 by the interval, even before England introduced a host of in-form players such as British and Irish Lions forward Pollock.
“We created opportunities, but we didn’t fire a shot in that first half; it’s hard to come back from 0-29 down,” Lake said.
“They could bring five [British and Irish] Lions off the bench. They’re doing great and are one of the form teams in the world.”
Wales will attempt to bounce back next Sunday when they host reigning champions France in Cardiff.
“We’re better than what we showed on the field,” Lake added.
