England’s Six Nations hopes are over after losing a controversial match 40-24 to triple crown-winning Wales in Cardiff while Ireland beat Italy 48-10 in Rome.
Revitalised Wales remain on course for the most unlikely of Six Nations grand slams after winning the triple crown with a 40-24 defeat of undisciplined England in a controversial match in Cardiff.
A dramatic affair followed Ireland’s routine six-try, 48-10 hammering of Italy in Rome on Saturday.
At Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Wales moved two victories away from a grand slam by after their bonus-point win while England’s Australian coach Eddie Jones saw the champions’ hopes of retaining their title reduced to ruins.
Josh Adams and Liam Williams scored hotly-disputed first-half tries for the hosts but the game was level going into the final quarter after tries for Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs for England.
But England’s discipline, terrible from the first whistle, came back to haunt them as Callum Sheedy landed three penalties. Cory Hill finished things off with a late try.
Having come into the Championship on the back of a very poor 2020, Wales now top the standings on 14 points with games against France and Italy to come.
France, whose match against Scotland on Sunday has been postponed due to COVID-19, are second on nine from their two wins.
Ireland are now third on seven points, with England trailing on six after two defeats.
Wales led 17-14 at halftime through two of the most controversial tries seen for many years in the championship.
The first came when England were breaking out of a huddle after the referee had instructed captain Owen Farrell to address his players and they were unprepared for quick-thinking Dan Biggar’s kick to the corner that Adams collected in acres of space.
Farrell’s complaints were brushed away by French referee Pascal Gauzere and the captain was fuming again when Louis Rees-Zammit appeared to knock on – he certainly thought he had – before Williams scooped up the loose ball to score.
The TMO ruled that there was no knock-on due to the ball hitting the young winger’s foot.
In the second half, England started playing their rugby of the tournament as Youngs threw a dummy to scamper over.
Farrell converted – bringing up his 1000th international point – to level the scores but England gave away three penalties that Sheedy gleefully converted into nine points, with Hill burrowing over for the fourth try at the death.
Farrell was asked about the refereeing decisions but shrugged: “There is no point in talking about it now. That is for everyone else to talk about. We will control what we can control.”
In Rome, scores from Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, CJ Stander and Keith Earls, plus a brace for Will Connors, helped Ireland rebound from defeats to Wales and France in the most emphatic fashion.
Captain Johnny Sexton, returning from a head injury, added all six conversions and two penalties as Andy Farrell celebrated the first away win of his tenure to ease mounting pressure.
Defeat for Italy was a 30th in succession in the championship, dating back six years to a victory over Scotland at Murrayfield.
Flyhalf Paolo Garbisi conjured a moment of magic to set up a consolation try for Johan Meyer late in the first half but it was an all-too-familiar story for the hosts.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Launch bury is injured. Note the poor performance of Wasps for whom he is so critical
GibbonRib
Roar Rookie
It's It's interesting one - at what point does a player "lose possession"? It can't be at the point at which the ball leaves his hands, because then you wouldn't be allowed to kick the ball (unless you dropped it backwards). So is it when he loses control? Or after his last touch with the hand? LIZ'S last touch with his hand was to press the ball against the back of his thigh, and from there it went backwards. So you could say it's not a knock-on for that reason.
Kane
Roar Guru
This is from the law book: Knock-on: When a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it. If a player juggles, drops, then kicks the ball before it hits the ground it would still be a knock on because they never regathered the ball. I think this wasn't classed as a knock on because they deemed that the ball was propelled behind him and then on to the leg which then made it a kick.
Kane
Roar Guru
The thing that annoyed me was there were three potential outcomes from that tackle. A penalty, a yellow or a red. But somehow they came up with a fourth? No Penalty??? Based on recent history there is no way that is not a penalty, regardless of where he originally hit, his shoulder still made contact with the head? There is just no consistency at all.
GibbonRib
Roar Rookie
I actually read the laws for the first time because of this, and you're absolutely right, it seems pretty clear that it wasn't a knock on. Which is strange, because I think most of the time this would be given as one. I'd very similar to the scenario where a player juggles the ball, and kicks it befit it hits the ground. That looks legal according to the laws, but is usually given as a knock on.
CUW
Roar Rookie
Did u guys notice there was not a single high tackle in both matches? the closest was the review of England 7 on Wales 23 it just shows how severe penalties can change any patterns or actions for the better.
CUW
Roar Rookie
Eddies reliance on Sarries players is affecting the team. Sarries not playing and it shows - Itoje Vunipollas Farrell all look out of sorts and ignoring the better perfomers like Dombrandt Symonds Harris Launchbury et al is not sitting well with the pundits. soon the love affair is gonna end - like it did in aussy. true we the mere mortals never understand selections - but sometimes there are things even caoches cant ignore like Sam Symonds is a unique 8 !!!
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Wales may have had the bounce of the ball but when the game was on the line at 24-24 with 16 to go it was them who found the nerve to rattle up 16 points unanswered. Worth noting that Itoje was again 4th best lock on the field in a big game, giving away 5 (or 6, depending on who you believe) penalties and, one charge down aside, bringing little. And the battle for the Lions 8 was a no contest. How consistently good is Faletau in big games? I’d still like to see England change up 9/10/12 but all played their best game for months so now may not be the time.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
As a fellow Welshman the ‘knock on’ was the least contentious of the two....as soon as it hit his leg, according to the laws, it wasn’t a knock on but a kick, as strange as that may be.
England got back to 24 all so not sure how that 2nd wales try affected anything at all...Wales were just better in the final 1/4 and too good for the English.....Pretty to watch and I must say it was unexpected.......England have gone backwards big time......
GibbonRib
Roar Rookie
I understand why England were aggrieved about the second try - it certainly looked like a knock on to this Welshman - but they only have themselves to blame for the first. They don't get to decide how long Biggar has to wait before play starts, that's the ref's job. Half of them looked like they thought Bigger had already pointed at the posts