Old Mutual Wealth Cup: England 27-13 Wales

England defeats Wales in first old matual Wealth Cup

England scored five tries to beat Wales at Twickenham Stadium on a beautiful, sunny, warm Sunday in a great warm-up match before both teams head down under for their summer tours next month. Wales scored first at 7 minutes as Rob Evans went over. At 10 minutes Wales made a sharp play with pace and kept England’s defense back to make the score 10-0 advantage to the Welsh.

Then at 20 minutes England opened their scoring with a try, and scored their second at 32 minutes, followed by a Jack Clifford try at 48 minutes. England’s Marland Yarde scored a try at 60 minutes after a huge hand off from Lawes on Jamie Roberts making it 27-13 England. At 78 minutes, the England side are still looking to score again as they easily cut through the Welsh backline defense but lose the ball.

England v Wales Squads

England

Matt Mullan, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Teimana Harrison (making his debut), James Haskell, Jack Clifford; Ben Youngs, George Ford; Marland Yarde, Luther Burrell, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson; Mike Brown.Substitutes: Tommy Taylor, Ellis Genge, Paul Hill, Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Danny Care, Ollie Devoto, Elliot Daly.

Captain: Dylan Hartley
Coach: Eddie Jones
Tries: Burrell, Watson, Youngs, Clifford, Yarde Con: Ford

Wales

Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones; Ross Moriarty, Dan Lydiate, Taulupe Faletau; Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar; Hallam Amos, Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams, George North; Liam Williams. Substitutes: Kristian Dacey, Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Josh Turnbull, James King, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe.

Coach: Warren Gatland
Try: Evans Con: Biggar: Pens: Biggar 2
Referee: Marius Matrea (Italy).
Man of the Match: Joe Launchbury, England

England have called up Luther Burrell to replace injured center Manu Tuilagi for their June tour of Australia. Burrell, 28, was overlooked by head coach Eddie Jones for this year's Six Nations tournament, but scored a try in Sunday's 27-13 win over Wales at Twickenham. The Northampton back has been chosen before Bath center Ollie Devoto, who won his first cap for England on Sunday.

"It's a great opportunity for Luther, who I thought played really well yesterday," Jones said. "He carried the ball well, defended with aggression and scored an excellent try. "It was a tough selection call. Ollie Devoto has really impressed during his recent time in the England camp. We wish him a successful tour to South Africa with the Saxons," added Jones.

Burrell was left off Jones’ first squad in January due to being "grossly overweight". "The beauty of Eddie is that he's a very honest bloke," continued Jones. "If you're not pulling your weight then he won't beat around the bush, he will tell you. "He's been in constant contact with me. He's been brilliant with me and my development."

England, who fly out to Australia on Tuesday, play the first of three Tests against the World Cup runners-up in Brisbane on Saturday, June 11th. Leicester centre Tuilagi will miss out on the southern tour with a hamstring injury. For the Wales side, the clash with England provided the only competitive rugby match for five weeks, since the RBS 6 Nations before the Welsh team faces the All Blacks. However the game was a disaster for Wales.

Wales endured a five-try drubbing by England, the result likely to set back the psychological preparations for their upcoming tour to New Zealand. England were missing all of their rugby players that were involved in the Premiership rugby final. So there was the opportunity for other players to compete for a spot in the group traveling to Australia in what turned out to be a good warm-up for Wales and England ahead of their tours to Australia and New Zealand respectively.

England outscored arch-rivals Wales five tries to one to lift the debut Old Mutual Wealth Cup. Although Wales started out by dominating the match leading 10-0 after 12 minutes thanks to Dan Biggar’s boot and Rob Evan’s try. However Luther Burrell and Anthony Watson crossed to make the score 13-10 at half-time. Wales failed to score a single point in the second half, although England’s Ben Youngs, Jack Clifford, and Marland Yarde each added a try.

Neither England nor Wales had played together as a team for months since the Six Nations tournament and the entertaining match at Twickenham gave the teams a good warm-up before they depart on their summer tours to Australia and New Zealand respectively. England no doubt will be buoyed by their victory as they make plans to go face-to-face with the Wallabies, after scoring five tries against titan Wales.

On the other hand, Wales will not be as confident as they face the All Blacks in New Zealand. On a positive note, Wales did manage to shut down fly-half George Ford with heavy hits by Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams. Coach Warren Gatland’s Welsh side ran into an English defense that was a solid unit. Gatland’s style of play has been successful against all but the best of sides, depending upon Wales’ willingness to risk.

It was noted that England have several dangerous players, including a couple of forwards, who can put significant pace on the ball from a standing start. England’s head coach, Eddie Jones, wanted a win and asked his side for the pace, power, and dexterity that was demonstrated in the match by the performances of Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes, along with Jack Clifford, Teimana Harrison, Luther Burrell and Marland Yarde.

George Ford missed all but one kick at goal. Owen Farrell was available for Jones, and perhaps preferable as a starting kicker. Of note was Jack Clifford’s outburst in the 47th minute when his goal was disallowed in favor of George Ford.

England’s Rugby World Cup Record

P44 W31 D0 L13

1987 Quarter-finals
1991 Runners-up
1995 Fourth
1999 Quarter-finals
2003 Champions
2007 Runners-up
2011 Quarter-finals
2015 Pool stages

Wales’ Rugby World Cup Record

P37 W21 D0 L16

1987 Third
1991 Pool stages
1995 Pool stages
1999 Quarter-finals
2003 Quarter-finals
2007 Pool stages
2011 Fourth
2015 Quarter-finals

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