Wales vs England

LIVE Wales 10-15 England LIVE: Crunch Six Nations clash comes to life after the break as hosts briefly level before Kyle Sinckler goes over shortly after to put ...

Nigel Walker is speaking to the BBC and has outlined a few of the compromises that have been reached. But with the rugby case the biggest problem Wales have got is that when they get into the attacking zones, [they create] situations like with a five-on-three and they haven't taken it. He says the regions have been offered the contracts - it is now up for them to sign them. Steward claims it, and England try to run it out - but a charge down almost leads to the first score! Gatland and Borthwick will be dishing out their final instructions; Owens and Farrell envisaging what they're going to say to their teams in the final huddle. This is the fifteenth phase and by far the closest they have been to the try line. Here come the sides into a cacophony of noise. They have a penalty - but they take the advantage, with Williams making an impressive dart forwards. Has a leap that would not out of place in the NBA. Wales have just panicked in the face of a resilient England defensive line there. Borthwick will be the happier of the two coaches. Wales have been poor, but the longer the game stays like this the more England supporters will panic.

Wales' miserable start to the Six Nations continued as they fell to a 20-10 defeat against England at the Principality Stadium.

Mr Reliable did all he could to try to turn the tide with some determined carrying as game wore on. There were no fireworks from the new boy, but there was enough to be encouraged by as he made ground as a carrier and put in his tackles. There was also a memorable turnover from the old warrior. But Wales were second best at the breakdown, with Tshiunza’s opposite number Lewis Ludlam impressive in all areas. Defence wasn’t an issue for him, but the coaches will want him to be more dynamic with ball in hand. Led the defence as he returned another clean sheet: 17 tackles made, every one nailed. He needed a big game after subdued efforts in the opening two rounds, but it didn’t happen. Looked to be carrying a bump when he left pitch on 55 minutes. One thunderous run before half time and scrummaged solidly. He's a Gatland favourite but could well be under pressure for his place. Fumbled a high kick later. Eventually began to settle without coming up with anything memorable.

England heaped more misery on troubled Wales in Cardiff, but who shone brightest and who had a day to forget?

8/10 Gareth Thomas felt the full weight of his shins early on as Chessum continued his rise to prominence. Building a balanced partnership with Chessum. Irrepressible in his work-rate, seemingly wanting to hammer the Welsh door down all by himself. Missed kicks, charge-downs - but the competitive venom was never in question. Farrell is a phenomenal talent but the skipper did not enjoy his best of days. Defensively, there were lapses - notably on Grady - but he has a classy touch with the ball. Immaculate in the air - his best showing so far this year - despite his maiden trip to the Principality cauldron. Looked broken off the pitch during the week but was not broken on it. His calibre in the loose has never been in question, underlining that with a frightening first-half bust. His first-half break from a tap penalty was one of few attacking highlights for the Welsh. Did not set the game alight but, given this was his Test debut, he barely put a foot wrong.

England player ratings live from Principality Stadium: Plenty of Steve Borthwick's charges caught the eye in a deserved Six Nations win.

Arrived with 25 minutes remaining and soon teams the scrum penalty that Farrell was unable to convert for an 18-10 lead. His energy and work rate the whole way through were admirable despite a few frustrating moments so as getting picked off near the line by Justin Tipuric. Is getting back to his disruptive best, leading his team’s tackle count and generally being a nuisance arond the field. Gave everything he had in his 65 minutes. [Owen Farrell](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/owen-farrell/) left 10 points behind him off the tee, spillage that kept the hosts alive even though their creativity seldom if ever resulted in a decent spell in the opposition’s 22. A gladiator who showed loads in his 55 minutes. The fact that he played for 73 minutes highlighted how this was his best Test yet. Needed to show more in this role than he did versus the Italians, but his kicking at times left him down. Excellent finish for his try and there was further evidence of his lovely footwork after that. Powerless to prevent the Rees-Zammit score but that and a missed 68th-minute catch couldn’t blot his report card. Here are the England player ratings: England player ratings live from Principality Stadium: Rome witnessed a humdinger of an all-frills Italy-Ireland contest but this Wales-England encounter was no less engrossing in a very different way.

A wounded Wales face England in a crunch Six Nations clash in Cardiff.