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When you see a scoreline like 62-5, as occurred in the England Wales game, you know a real thrashing has taken place.
What this scoreline doesn’t reveal, however, is the brutal and relentless power that England’s forward pack demonstrated in smashing this experimental Welsh side into oblivion. The manner in which they carried out this beating would seem to announce loud and clear how they intend to defend the World Cup.
To give you an idea of England’s forward supremacy; the first 50 points came from tries scored through numbers 1-9. The lion’s share of those tries coming from driving rucks and mauls following attacking line-outs or scrums in the Welsh 22. Only in the 77th minute were the backs allowed to run in a couple of tries, with Robinson and Tait burning off a broken Welsh defence.
The armchair ride that the pack created made a couple of heroes. The rookie 8 Nick Easter (5th cap) deservedly picked up 4 tries (to the chagrin of a smirking Dallaglio on the side-line) as a pay off to his work rate and powerful driving runs. Perry had a great game at 9, playing like another loose forward and delivering quick ball to big men at pace, who then moved the ball well among themselves. England are very dangerous with quick ball, it always amazes when they then forget this vital cog in their game.
Apart from a jittery start kicking goals, Wilkinson played his trademark game, kicking well from hand, keeping the juggernaut moving in the right direction and defending resolutely. Most importantly, he wasn’t injured. Dallaglio got on for the last 20 minures, scored a try, set up another beautifully and started making captain-like decisions. Watch for him to take Corry’s place in the back-row.
As for Wales – they were abyssmal. If the forwards weren’t losing line-outs on their own throw, the backs were getting sent off for petulant tackles and moving up defensively in dog-legs that even forwards could exploit. Their one glimmer was putting Dafydd James over in the corner from a well executed back line set move.
So what does this mean for the Wallabies, who will definitely meet Wales and probably England in the early stages of the World Cup? Unfortunately, despite the scoreline, there’s probably not too much you can take for the Welsh match-up as they were missing at least five big names and will no doubt get their tails up with a vocal crowd behind them in Cardiff. Thrashings like this won’t help their confidence or momentum though.
The bigger message out of this match came from England. They have unashamedly shown their 10-man World Cup game plan, and like it or not, it’s the right one for them. This pack can stand toe to toe, if not dominate, any other and as long as Wilkinson is fit, his boot will punish all comers. Those memories of Baxter and Dunning capitulating to uncontested scrums two years ago could easily pay an unwelcome visit again. The England eight on Saturday was 4 stones heavier (at 144 stones) than the one that won the world cup — Australia this year have been around 136 stone.
There’s been a lot of talk in the media and blogs like this one about the Wallabies getting the ‘easier’ quarter final against England, which avoids South Africa, setting up a show down with the All Blacks in the semi. From what we saw on Saturday, if England continue to acknowledge their weaknesses and play to their strengths, there is going to be one very big banana skin, if not a brick wall, in the Wallabies’ path.
England’s game after the next one — in Marseilles against the French — will show us just what sort of a trap lies in waiting.
The question for England is: can such a limited but effective game plan win another World Cup?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.