The XV de la Rose, without being brilliant, showed its superior mastery to win (16-14) against the Welsh on Saturday at Twickenham.
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Although they finished third in the last World Cup and painfully beat Italy when they entered the Six Nations Tournament, the English continue to leave the impression of reconstruction and trial and error. If there is a transition period, it will go better with victories. Like the one obtained (16-14), Saturday February 10, against Wales who, for their part, have a second defeat in as many matches in this 2024 edition. Welsh who led until the 71st minute and who above all missed the opportunity to win at Twickenham for the first time since 2012. Rarely have England seemed so takeable.
Never trust the first impression. The one left by England at the start of the match was particularly misleading. Especially for Wales, who only saw white for ten minutes. Unleashed, the English literally laid siege to the XV du Poireau, tirelessly plowing its 22 meters (60% possession in this zone), and we were not giving much of our survival at that moment.
The pride of the Rose
All it took was a high tackle from Ollie Chessum and a yellow card for the Welsh to suddenly come back to life. In the process, they took advantage of their numerical superiority to score a penalty try (17th), punishing a collapsed maul. And as trouble often flies in squadrons, the XV de la Rose received a new temporary exclusion (Ethan Roots), guilty of this action.
This is where we see that the Englishman is proud. He could have collapsed after this double punishment. On the contrary, he raised his head and, in the angry stride of Ben Earl who pulled four defenders on his shoulders, he managed to score in his turn (5-7, 20th).
Day 2: Ben Earl’s try puts the English back on the right path
Reduced to 13, the English still managed to react in this first half by scoring a try in turn. It’s Ben Earl who manages to get his team back on track. – ()
Back in contact, and tied in numbers, the English continued to push and press. Without making it happen. Bad idea, the opportunistic Welsh scored their second try on their second dangerous action, thanks to third row Alex Mann just before the break (5-14).
Day 2: the Leek XV makes the break through Alex Mann
Wales outwitted the English defense which was no longer outnumbered. Alex Mann, alone, flattened the ball to give his team a clear advantage, just before the break. – ()
After a penalty from Ford (8-14, 47th), it took all the intensity of a “Swing low sweet cart” to get the English out of the rut thanks to Dingwall, at the end of the line (13-14, 63rd).
A stone’s throw from the Welsh, Itoje’s partners, once again enormous, exerted terrible pressure, if not methodical, on opponents who, however, never gave up. A voluntary forward from Grady, and a yellow card, were enough to tip the scales. For a few grams and a penalty from George Ford (16-14, 72nd), victory had chosen its side. That of the team which, without impressing, is provisionally at the top of the ranking for this 2024 Tournament.