England manager Martin Johnson believes his side have plenty of room for improvement after they ended their eight-year Cardiff losing streak against Wales.
The Six Nations favourites withstood a ferocious late rally from Wales – who clawed their way back from 23-9 to 23-19 in a tense rear-guard action – to close out for a vital opening 26-19 triumph.
Victory was particularly sweet for Johnson, who last year saw England squander a winning position against Ireland with minutes to play and also suffered an agonising two-point loss to France in their final game.
“We talked about going into the last 15 minutes and having to put it away and we did that,” Johnson said.
“(Wales) will look at it and say they had chances and they did. But that’s the game and ultimately you’ve got to finish it off. I thought it was good for us when they came back with their try.
“The crowd was in the game, momentum had shifted a bit, but we fought to the end and held on for the win. Some of the guys thought it was a bit ugly but you’ve got to win those Test matches.”
England’s points had come through a try in each half from winger Chris Ashton, with man-of-the-match Toby Flood contributing 13 points with the boot.
World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson added a late penalty to settle English nerves after a converted Morgan Stoddart try and a James Hook penalty had brought the Welsh to within four points of England with 10 minutes left.
Johnson was also happy with signs that England are gradually developing a clinical streak. That was evident when they absorbed early Welsh pressure before forging into a 10-0 on their first visits to the opposition 22.
“But there’s lots of improvement in this team. Every game you play in Test rugby is a different challenge. Italy at home next week is a different challenge and we need to be ready for it.
“We’ll have a good weekend, and we’ll hand the rollickings out on Monday when we sit down and look at what went wrong.”
The eye-catching form of fly-half Flood was particularly pleasing, Johnson said.
“He’s a very smart guy and he wants to get better and listen and learn,” he said.
“Overall he’s done a brilliant job. The great thing for us is you can see players get better week on week and the team as a whole.”
Johnson shrugged off suggestions that the win in Cardiff represented a defining match for his team, who now have three home games against Italy, Scotland and France, before a potentially climactic duel with Ireland in March.
“They’re all defining games until the next defining game aren’t they? Yeah, we’ve not won away from home for a while so getting the win tonight is great.
“But if we play badly next week (against Italy) and get beaten, what will that feel like? We’ll be on the cusp of something else then.”
Ben S
Roar Guru
Never ever heard of this 'Bokkes get pissed' rumour. Sounds a bit lumpy to me.
Derm
Roar Guru
In contrast, blogging fans on other boards, believe that Alain Rolland hates England and never gives them an even break.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'As for the clinical debate, I thought England were clinical in the way they controlled the general tempo of the game but not in the way they fluffed some chances in the red zone and allowed the Welsh to worm their way back into things. But even at 23-19, I don’t think anyone in the stadium really believed Wales would win, which I suppose is why people are using the “clinical” word.' I think that's the best description I've read so far. Spot on.
Ben S
Roar Guru
The odd thing is I saw Palmer's lips moving throughout the game come lineout time... unless that was just during Deacon's absence? I'd take Attwood over Deacon any day of the week, VC (all things being equal). England want to play heads up rugby, but Deacon is your typical head down English donkey lock. A lot of people are saying Deacon made the right choice to take the yellow card due to the overlap on the blind side of the pitch, but as far as I'm aware he didn't even look left or right to check out the defensive line, he just hit out, which was stupid. Granted he is an honest toiling lock, but then so is Nallet, for example, and Botha, and consider the disparity in physical ability between those two and Deacon. Deacon has no physical impact on a game. If Shaw is fit to play the last period of the game then I don't know why he couldn't start the first half? As soon as he came on he nearly charged down Lee Byrne, really imposed himself physically and ended the game with his rush on Peel. He just has a nous and physicality that is classes beyond Deacon. If England had some really dynamic front rowers then I'd be OK with Deacon starting, but we don't, and having seen the performances of Gray and Brad Davies I begin to feel slightly envious. Wasn't Gray something against Scotland? A tornado of very badly dyed hair.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Guest
I was mystified by the refereeing. Rolland and his side-kicks were atrocious.... England were offside 75% of the time when defending. The touchies (assistant referees) could surely have helped. Seriously understand why the Bokkes get pissed when they draw Rolland against the AB's.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Flood is marvellous. If I have one criticism, it's that he makes too many half-breaks rather than actual breaks (perhaps because he just lacks a bit of acceleration off the mark?) but given that O'Gara and Jones last made a break circa 2004, one can't really complain. I'm not sure why people have taken so long to get wise to his class. It's probably for the same reason that people didn't rate Alastair Cook - he's a bit gangly and seems ever so English. As for the clinical debate, I thought England were clinical in the way they controlled the general tempo of the game but not in the way they fluffed some chances in the red zone and allowed the Welsh to worm their way back into things. But even at 23-19, I don't think anyone in the stadium really believed Wales would win, which I suppose is why people are using the "clinical" word.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Palmer called the lineouts in the Autumn but, according to Ben Kay in The Guardian, Deacon called them in Cardiff (and did a pretty good job, obviously). In fact, I think you under-estimate Deacon, Ben. He's clearly not a dynamic player like Lawes but he ticks all the boxes one expects of a Number 4 - he scrummages well, grafts, hits rucks hard, and is a tough bloke to boot. I think his technical work at the scrum, lineout and maul is vastly superior to Lawes but obviously Lawes offers greater dynamism. I'd happily play Lawes against an Australia or Wales - but against France or the Boks? Deacon every time for me... (Shaw is over the hill, imo). Quite right about Haskell though. It was good to see him running hard into contact again. There was a period where he almost seemed to decelerate into contact (and consequently punched massively below his weight in the collision) but he showed a bit of the old dog in Cardiff. Wood was terrific. Interesting to read Mike Catt compare him to Richard Hill. Big call, but I can see what he means.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I thought Wood played well too, although he did make that quite large mistake where he allowed Mike Phillips to break away when Wales had that scrum on the England 22. I was stunned Wales managed to fluff that chance. That aside I was v.impressed. I was also impressed with Haskell. He did exactly what he does for Stade, which is act like a muscular nuisance at the ruck. He was aggressive and made Lydiate look a bit like a boy. Agree that he isn't the answer at 7 though. I't a shame Fourie was injured IMO. I'd like to see him get a run. It was reassuring to see Haskell just do his job, as you say. I thought the front five was pretty stodgy, although Sheridan and Cole put in some great work at the ruck. Thought that Shaw brought a huge difference when he came on. Deacon is nothing more than a club player IMO. He just doesn't have that extra bit that players like Davies, Gray and Lawes do. With Hartley and Cole and Deacon I just don't think there's enough bite in the loose. Agreed about Tindall. I'm glad Hook wasn't selected at 13 against him. I was under the impression that he captained the side well though. He seemed calm and authorative. Palmer calls the England shots, Colin. He was good wasn't he. Great hit on... Lydiate? I forget.
Colin N
Guest
Content is how I would describe that performance. England did enough without playing that great against a potentially dangerous Welsh side. I was impressed with Wood and I thought Haskell put in an understated performance - he did the basics very well - which isn't like Haskell. I still feel we need a natural fetcher though. Enough has been said about Flood, who I've rated for a few years now and Ashton was typically predatory. Youngs was quiet and Hape was okay, Tindall still worries me though. I thought Palmer was excellent again. Also, Ben who calls the England lineout? Deacon does it for Leicester and does an excellent.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Most English fans I know of (on various forums) don't rate Flood, but that's because the average English rugby fan is a buffoon, frankly. Anybody who watches him regularly in domestic competition knows he does the very things you mention time and time again, Frank. When he attacks the defence he tries to free his arms (with the ball in two hands) like we all do when playing touch, out and over the man. For all Wilkinson's past glories he never offered that threat. I still don't agree with the clinical tag. England ground out a win, but they fluffed a few opportunities. Their try-line fever at the end of the match was anything but clinical. Still, lots to work on, and I'm pleased by the fact that Johnson seemed less than content. Time to build from here!
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Am I alone in thinking Toby Flood is a pretty solid five-eighth? He well outperformed Quade Cooper last year, and I think he’s a really solid player. Right now Jonny Wilkinson can’t get (and shouldn’t get) a look into the English side. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s close to as good as Carter ala 2005-2007 or Wilkinson ala 2002-2003, or even Carter ala now. But he controls the game well. I like how he attacks the advantage line and runs good angles too. He knocks over a few penalties too. If I was picking a British Lions side for right now, I’d pick him over the overrated Welsh five-eighths easily. I think most English fans quietly rate Flood. He ticks a lot of boxes: solid kicking game from hand and off the tee, has a eye for a gap and (without ever being quite Usian Bolt) has enough gas to exploit those he spots, mixes it up well and stands flat enough to exploit the quick ball he gets from Youngs. Both halfbacks being club mates is a nice bonus too. Wilko’s a nice option to have off the bench to shore up a winning position like he did last night (not so sure I’d fancy him to conjure up a win from a losing position now) but Flood’s rightly ahead on merit. Regarding Young and Flood's control of the game, yeah I'd call it 'clinical', just as the media are doing. They were clinical against Australia too. It wasn't a great performance, but they did the simple things right when the time came.
Ben S
Roar Guru
The word clinical seems to be the word of the weekend from the media. If anything, England were particularly un-clinical; they made lots of unecessary errors, gave away pointless penalties and botched try-scoring opportunities. However, that they attained a result in Wales minus the core of the pack, and without hitting any great heights is a positive sign, and an indication of progress. I'd still rather see Shaw start ahead of Deacon though. Wales seemed especially pumped for this game (whereas I thought England looked quite calm, surprised by the Welsh passion even), but their backline looked utterly bereft of wit when in possesion. Gatland should concentrate more on coaching than media bytes. He is ruining a squad of talented players.