RBS Six Nations 2007  -   Wales v England Match Review

Millennium Stadium -17th March 2007

Final Score 27 - 18

England fans one week ago almost to the hour were waiting in excited anticipation of what was to come in this final match of the RBS Six Nations 2007.  Not only was it a classic England v Wales encounter as it had been sprinkled the week prior with magic dust after England beat France in such a fashion that led fans to think, maybe just maybe they could beat Wales and take the championship.   Well as we all know, that is the stuff  for fairytales!

England hearts sunk in the first few seconds of the match as Mike Catt's kick was charged down, which led to Wales tails way up and charging down the field, lots of scrambling and finally the ball came back to Toby Flood to clear and once again charged down.   Wales given five easy points on a plate!   An older wise head and a young head both making the same error within seconds of the start.   We should have know then, it just was not going to be England's day.

Having said all of this I must congratulate Wales on a superb performance they wanted that match more than England.  Apart from wanting to beat England, they were also playing for pride in the game not wanting to receive the 'Wooden Spoon' (That pleasure went to Scotland - Shame).  The Millennium Stadium crowd were magnificent and the 16th Man on the field of play that day.

Getting back to England, I don't like to single out players at any time but Harry Ellis really had me screaming at him 'to get the ball out quicker', I actually feel that Ellis is a damn good player and right for the team but pleeeeeeeas get the ball out quicker, that is all I would ask of him.

The team as a whole once again, we had changes, I really don't feel we should expect wins with constant changes to the team.  Accepted some of these changes are due to injuries but some are not.  If we don't get some stability, we won't win anything, the match against France in my opinion was a fluke, France on the day were typical of what we come to expect of them and again England as a team wanted that match more on the day.   Which again just proves that any team in the six nations can beat the other if the really want the win and the way Italy are now being coached and moving forward, well we had better look out!   

England are a young side, too much chopping and changing for my liking we need to settle on a team now and stick with it.  I just hope as defending champions that we can hold our heads well in the Rugby World Cup to be held in France later this year.   

England looked overawed against Wales especially early on in the first half, this of course was due to the fact that Wales felt the fear in this basically new untried England team.  Wales should have had many more points if a certain Mr.Shane Williams had passed at the right time instead of being greedy.

Shane Williams

Brian Ashton England's head coach said:  "Nothing surprised me about this game. The Millennium Stadium is a cauldron and we knew they would come right at us from the first minute.  They put us on the back foot and almost blew us away with their two tries so early on. It what we expected but we hoped the players would manage it better than we did.   If you don't get ball up front you are going to struggle in any match.  They were very strong in the pack and it was a tough game for us."

One last thought I do think that all matches on that last day should have kicked off at the same time, I don't know about anyone else but I am fed up of the television media dictating the times and days that matches are played (I don't care how much they have paid for the coverage)

End of Term Report Comments: 

England lack consistency

England need to put more effort in

England need to concentrate

England basically  must try harder

And so it's Hey Ho - off to the Rugby World Cup we go!  I am off to get the sedatives and a darkened room ready because I think I am going to need them!

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon