Dan Biggar guided an injury-hit Wales to a thrilling 28-25 World Cup win over England at Twickenham on Saturday as they twice came from 10 points behind to record a stunning ‘Pool of Death’ victory.
Wales dealt killer blows in the last nine minutes when reserve scrum-half Lloyd Williams’s brilliant cross-field kick was gathered by scrum-half Gareth Davies for a spectacular try under the posts.
Biggar — whose 23 points haul is a record for a Welshman against England — converted to level the match at 25-25 and Wales then won a penalty 49 metres out and fly-half Biggar’s penalty edged them into a 28-25 lead.
England won a penalty wide on the right with three minutes left but they opted for an attacking line-out rather than go for a tough shot at goal that would have tied the match.
Reserve hooker Rob Webber found his man but Wales drove England into touch and the visitors held out.
England coach Stuart Lancaster was understandably glum.
“Gutted,” said Lancaster who added that England made “dumb” mistakes to give away penalties.
“We were 19-9 up and going well but then there was ill discipline from us and Dan Biggar’s great goal kicking,” added the English coach.
Wales, hit by injuries before and during the match, saw fly-half Biggar land all his goal-kicks — his only miss came via a drop-goal.
England, who next face Australia, had only their own indiscipline and failure to put Wales away when on top, to blame for this reverse.
An injury to centre Jonathan Joseph in England’s opening 35-11 win over Fiji saw Lancaster re-shape his backline dramatically.
He brought in rugby league convert Sam Burgess into midfield for just his second Test start in rugby union and recalled Farrell in place of Ford.
After a penalty exchange between Biggar — kicking after full-back Leigh Halfpenny was ruled out before the World Cup started — and Farrell made it 3-3.
Biggar then missed with a long-range drop-goal effort before kicking a penalty to put Wales 6-3 in front.
But Farrell’s excellent drop-goal — increasingly rare in modern rugby — compensated for slow ball and levelled the match at 6-6.
A huge drive by England’s front row led to a scrum penalty and Farrell, who starred off the bench against Fiji, gave England the lead for the first time in the match at 9-6.
England’s forwards got on top in both the loose and set-piece, with captain Chris Robshaw starring at the ruck.
Their dominance was rewarded with a try in the 26th minute when, after it seemed the move had collapsed with a poor pass by wing Anthony Watson, full-back Mike Brown kicked on and regathered.
Ben Youngs found wing Jonny May in space out on the left and, with Welsh flyer Hallam Amos, sucked inside before coming out in a last-ditch effort, he went in at the corner and then narrowed the angle to make the conversion easier for Farrell, who added the extras.
England had breathing space at 16-6.
Another Biggar penalty cut England’s lead to 16-9 at half-time.
Lancaster brought on dynamic lock Joe Launchbury at the start of the second half in place of Courtney Lawes.
Farrell, justifying his selection, gave England good field position with a well-judged kick and kicked an ensuing penalty.
But Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies’ quick tap and go led to a kickable penalty and England, for all their dominance, now led by just 19-12.
Farrell was on target again to restore England’s 10-point advantage at 22-12 before fresh English indiscipline enabled Biggar to cut the lead with two more penalties.
As both sides emptied their benches, Wales centre Scott Williams was taken off on a stretcher.
Wales then lost two members of their back three in the 67th minute, Amos going off with an elbow injury and full-back Liam Williams concussed.
Another powerful scrum shove led to a simple penalty and Farrell eased England out to 25-18 only for Wales to hit back in gutsy and clinical fashion.
Bushranger
Guest
After the Uruguay match Australia is now top of Pool A with same BP as Wales and better for and against than all the others. The pressure on England will be enormous next week however, lack of a BP against Fiji could cost Australia because a draw against Australia would probably be enough for England to go through if Australia lost to Wales, even if they scored a BP and assuming England beat Uruguay with a BP. However, a draw against both Wales and England would be enough for Australia assuming no BPs, to go through on for and against.
JimmyB
Guest
I tell you what Jake, give me one slice of evidence of how I give to the Aussies and I'll step back...nope didn't think so. And by the way...I always swing low.
JimmyB
Guest
Just a word of advice Fox, if you're using Spiro's 'analysis' to back up your point...you've already lost the argument mate.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
I'd be concerned about the excellent place kicking of both England and Wales. Goal kicking hasn't been a Wallaby strength this year and if they can't score tries, the three points can quickly add up and place real scoreboard pressure on the Wallabies. Wales now have the luxury of knowing what they need to get through in that last game. England are still not too bad in the bonus point stakes. Of course the Wallabies must just look for a win against England and assess from there. What they can't control is the desperation that England will bring. That's a double edged sword in that it might lift them or bury them if Australia get a roll-on. Australia England was already compulsory viewing. Now it's got that little bit more spice added to it. Shaping up to be the most decisive pool match in the tournament to date. Great game last night and great heart shown by Wales. Their injured players must now be all out of the tournament and replacements will be permanent. How will that affect them?
soapit
Guest
perhaps not with the injuries. just havent been too impressed with them so far so no real reason to reasonably expect the extremely unexpected othe than the injuries (how many times has fiji beaten wales in history?)
taylorman
Roar Guru
No but another three injuries to key players and four days break against a desperate Fiji side who are not mathematically out yet isn't such a massive upset is it? Fiji is just the sort of did to take advantage of that. They'll be better rested this time as well. It's not like it's a Japan boks match
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree Garces should have yellow caded for repeat infringements. The only reason Eng scrum is a danger is that the ref ignored their boring in, overhead cam made it obvious, of course they only showed it on one scrum. Trouble is Poite will ignore it as well.
Fox Molder
Guest
As per my original comment. Wales got on top when they went wide. This is not made up. From Spiro's analysis... "But Wales, finally, found the room to get outside this brick wall. Although the Wales attacks were launched from well behind the advantage line, generally a no-no, the length of the passing and the restricted England defence wall (and some tiredness, perhaps) allowed Wales to make gains down the wide channels. England just could not cope, in the end, with these wide attacks. The point about the press/rush defence is that it is a strict liability tactic. If it works, it works and the attack is effectively shut down. This is what happened for 60 minutes. But, like the football off-side trap, if the press/rush defence fails, even once, it is generally fatal. It is, therefore, a high-risk tactic. Can England use it against the Wallabies who have a much better passing game than Wales?" QC is the best distributor the Wallabies have and must play v England.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fiji unlikely to beat Wales with Nadalo suspended for a nothing tackle.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Then it would be very, very tight. Dont get me wrong buzzard I also want japan (and Scotland or samoa) to qualify but I just dont see that happening after the bp win the scots had over japan. I am not sure japan has bp wins over samoa or the usa in the tank and considering bpwill be crucial I reckon both SA and the scots will find ways to finish one and 2. The scots have a team that can put big scores on weaker teams and I reckon they will get another bp win over the yanks tonight. Then next week is the big one vs SA. No matter what happens they will have their destiny in their own hands when they play samoa intheir last game.
soapit
Guest
my point is tho just because 1 unbelievable result came in doesnt necessarily mean others are more likely
Eddy
Guest
Youngs was limping in the first half and he couldn't stay on late in the second.
Eddy
Guest
Yeah, the WBs scrm will suffer against the Poms because Marler bores in with impunity. If the ref polices that properly England will be in trouble.
Not Bothered
Guest
I would say he has a great chance of being a Lion. Sexton Farrell Biggar Ford With 1 to miss out under Schmidt and Cotter?
Eddy
Guest
I think there'll be a lot more pressure on England in that scenario.
Not Bothered
Guest
People just make up stuff. Wales made the most of their opportunities but were outplayed for most of the game in most aspects. I actually thought May, Brown and Watson posed a great deal more of a threat than their Welsh counterparts.
Buzzard
Guest
What if Japan beat Samoa & USA and Scotland lose to Samoa & Sth Africa?
Not Bothered
Guest
My pick is that Aus wont make it out of their pool. They will beat Wales but Wales will get a bonus point. Wales will beat Fiji with a bonus point. England will beat Aus. Aus goes home.
StuMac
Guest
Well done Wales, a gutsy victory. The game was wonderful theatre in a full Twickenam, but hardly a spectacle of a game. Another NH set piece marathon - kick, line out, scrum, penalty, goalkick, drop goal x multiple. Too much game time wasted setting up one the above. Oh yes, 2 tries, 1 off a kick...... Off side not controlled, so no chance for fluidity in this game. NH fans may love this stuff and the ensuing injuries as 'real rugby' warfare. Why are NH fans critical of SH rugby preferring an open contest, with off side policed so teams can attack and defend over 80 minutes and build fluidity and pressure, without constant stop/start set piece rests & penalty kick breaks...... Do it well and tries are scored, instead of a boring penalty goal kick-off contest. Nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying it has to be a try fest, just more RUGBY played, not a stoppage-a-thon. Hopefully WBs get through the group to the next stage playing positive winning rugby. Importantly, that the teams that succeed in this RWC come 'playing to win' with positivity, rather than 'playing not to lose' and strangling the game with negativity. Garland coached Wales got the result today playing to win for 80 minutes with positivity and belief against all odds today. Well done to them. Perhaps there is something in that.
bill
Guest
Thats awesome . Counts for me. Although not playing at cardiff arms park etc might mean it doesnt count