England v Wales Investec Challenge 

Match Review  - 4th August 2007 - Twickenham.

MOM Nick Easter 

England kicked off their preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2007 at Twickenham with their first warm up match against Wales.  The sun was shining for a change and the temperature hot!  England players sporting their 'new look' strip and what about those socks folks?   This was to be no friendly match, players from both teams wanted to show their respective coaches why they should be included in the final Rugby World Cup Squads which will shortly be announced.

First Half:

Jonny Wilkinson got the game underway with a super hanging kick, which Andy Farrell unfortunately could not get hold of.  Within the first three to four mins temperatures were boiling at times both on and off the field. Horsman swung high with a dangerous tackle on Perry who was eventually up-ended, on watching the reply in slow motion it looked even worse and in my opinion Horsman was very lucky not to be binned at that point. Then we had Andy Farrell going off blood streaming all over his face (Toby Flood) came on, Farrell eventually came back  after 17mins.  

Play was back and forth in the opening few moments Wales making a mess of their line outs,  England driving forward to the Welsh line and 8mins in Penalty to England - Jonny Wilkinson stepped up right in front of the post, a sure dead cert you would think for points but he missed the easiest of kicks.  A dreadful miss by Wilkinson, more kicking practice I guess on the way for him tonight.

Very messy 10mins and the referee working hard for his money.  12mins Wilkinson put up another kicks this time Jason Robinson went after it and made a huge tackle on James, stopped him dead in his tracks.  13mins a super break by Perry, finishing with a try by Easter - England were on the score board, Wilkinson stepped up for the conversion and again missed.  Shock horror, this is Wilkinson for goodness sake how can he miss, the crowd could not believe it.  However, Wilkinson can and does miss, he did in the last Rugby World Cup but his percentages of miss are much lower than others.  5 -0

18mins another fantastic break by Perry and again a Try by Nick Easter who seems to be revelling in the No8 position, this time Jonny made no mistake and the conversion went over.  12 - 0

23mins Wales pressing, Charvis on the break, kicked on but it hit Strettle's boot, Wales were unlucky as Charvis could have been away at that point.  Wales did not capitalise on their chances.  

27mins and for the first time the crowd are single 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' - then a good break from Farrell, then Wilkinson and a lovely pass to Borthwick and England are in again for another try. 19 -0

England's pack were tremendous today, their strength was inspiring, we saw nothing really of the backs it was all up front and personal like!  Wales making lots of mistakes and looking washed up already. 

32mins Hipkiss makes a super break, then another dangerous tackle again by No14 Wales Aled Brew - Yellow Card given - Penalty, Wilkinson 22 -0

35mins England pressing forward, Worsley finding space but no support the final few moments of the first half, knock on by Wales and penalised for bringing down the scrum but the referee called half time at this point. 

Half Time Score England 22 - Wales 0

Second Half:

England Captain Vickery replaced due to ankle injury - Stevens on, Corry the Captain.

41mins Jonny Wilkinson penalty kick to the corner, few moments later England pressing running toward the line, over lap to the left Joe Worsley seems to have seen the red mist of the touch line, he did not pass out to Hipkiss and another try went begging.  Bad boy Joe!

45mins the pack again going forward and once again Nick Easter scores a try, very cleverly bring the ball over his chest and placing between him and Perry - this is Easter's Hat Trick of the match, Conversion by Jonny - who now seems to have found his kicking boots again 29 -0

47min and Swing Low resounds around Twickenham again.

49min Super positional kick from Jonny and Shaun Perry and Easter driven over the line at first I understood Perry to have been awarded the try but it has been claimed by Easter for a 4th Try today - Jonny conversion  36 - 0

It is all becoming very comfortable for England and  a nightmare for Wales, this was not Wales first 15 but hey they are supposed to be playing for Rugby World Cup places aren't they?  Wales are looking dreadful at this point.

54mins Finally Wales trying to go forward kicking for position to touch, to be fair they have not had much ball or retained much ball.  

55mins Regan off Chuter on, 57 mins Easter off , Lawrence on to a huge cheer from the crowd.

58 mins At last Wales getting the ball to their backs (which is more than can be said for England with their backs)  - Wales James slides through for a try in the corner.  Conversion missed   36 5

65mins and Lawrence Dallaglio who wants that  No 8 shirt back steps up like a true world class champion player, went straight through Wales defence for a try, conversion Wilkinson.  43 - 5  

This was becoming embarrassing for Wales now, where was the Dragon I wondered?

69 mins Corry off, Moody on - Wilkinson now Captain.

72mins Wales handling in the ruck - Jones 10 mins in the bin.  Jonny goes for quick tap penalty, play goes on, Jonny gets the ball back and he kicks a ball over the top runs for it, almost gets a try himself but the ball just bounces the other way.

73mins Lawrence through the gap and a super off load to Perry who goes in for his second try of the match - conversion Wilkinson.  All too easy now. 50 - 5

Try after Try England showing muscle power up front, destroying the Welsh pack and moral and a last we see something of the backs.

77mins Jason Robinson goes up the wing, kicks ahead he chases the ball down the line and scores yet another try - Wilkinson MISSED conversion 57 -5

and then when I thought that is it the end of the game Wilkinson kicks a ball behind the Welsh defensive line, he runs after it but lets Mathew Tait chase it down to score the final try of the match - Wilkinson coverts Final Score 62 - 5

Comment:  England's pack were outstanding today, I would have liked to see the backs involved more but I wonder if Ashton is playing horses for courses with tactics.  The Welsh were clearly out muscled today and the fact that the line out did not work for them, meant they had no platform and no retention.  I do not think England were tested today and I think it will be a very different game next Saturday.  Having said that, the tries made were just what the doctor ordered and for the first time in months no years I feel that the spark and England are back in contention - Thank God!

England: Tait; Strettle, Hipkiss, Farrell, Robinson; Wilkinson, Perry; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Borthwick, Corry, Worsley, Easter Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Moody, Dallaglio, Gomarsall, Flood

Wales: Byrne; A Brew, Shanklin, G Thomas (capt), D James; Sweeney, Cooper; I Thomas, Bennett, Horsman, W James, Sidoli, A W Jones, Charvis, Owen Replacements: Jenkins, R Thomas, T R Thomas, Popham, Phillips, Hook, T James.

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