International Roundup

It was another busy, record-breaking weekend for Wales in six nations action and here's the roundup...

Wales 21 - 13 England  

Wales' record-breakers seized control of the Guinness Six Nations with a brutal and monumental triumph over England. Warren Gatland's men smashed the 109-year record of 11 consecutive wins to move to the summit of the 2019 Championship table after a gruelling encounter with Eddie Jones' men.

It looked as if some ferocious early defence had won possession for Wales before the TMO intervened to penalise Justin Tipuric for a no-arms tackle on Billy Vunipola.

Elliot Daly eyed up a long-range penalty but sliced his kick wide, and Wales marched downfield to mount their own spell of attacking pressure.

But England won a penalty to allow Owen Farrell to fire the visitors in-front after 16 minutes.

Kyle Sinckler was penalised for a no-arms tackle under heavy pressure and Gareth Anscombe stepped up to even the scores.

But Wales were their own worst enemies when the ball was knocked free at a maul deep in their own territory after 26 minutes. England secured possession and Curry found a gap on the fringes of a ruck to snipe through and score.

Farrell converted to give England a 10-3 lead at the break.

Anscombe cut the deficit to 10-6 after 52 minutes with a penalty after man of the match Liam Williams pinned Jonny May down and prevented him from releasing the ball.

Anscombe was then taken out by Sinckler moments later but picked himself up to send a kick deep into the Red Rose 22.

Cardiff Blues playmaker Anscombe maintained his perfect kicking record to make it a one-point game on the hour mark after a penalty against England/

Farrell split the uprights to move England into a 13-9 lead before a rapid counter-attack took Wales to within five metres of the try-line.

Sensing the opportunity, Cory Hill hit a devastating angle to crash over the line after an astonishing 35 phases.

Biggar's first act as a replacement for Anscombe was to land a conversion four metres in from the touchline to send Wales into a 16-13 lead.

As Land of my Fathers reverberated around an electric Principality Stadium, Biggar looked up and sent a pin-point kick to the right wing.

Adams leapt above Daly and picked himself up to wriggle over the line to guarantee the stunning Cardiff triumph and extend Wales' winning record to a record-breaking 12 matches.

 

Wales U20s 11 - 10 England U20s 

Wales Under 20 refused to be over-run by England and conjured up an 81st minute try to win 11-10 against all the odds. Replacement wing Deon Smith crashed through England full back Josh Hodge in the last move of the match to score the match winning try after England had retaken the lead 10 minutes earlier with the first try of the match.

At that stage it looked as though it would be the visitors who would come through to back up their recent 31-19 home win over world champions France. But true Welsh grit shone through in the end with skipper Dewi Lake, man of the match Jac Morgan and Dragons back row man Lennon Greggains leading by example.

With only two minutes left on the clock, Wales coach Gareth Williams changed both his outside half Cai Evans, who had kicked two penalties to give his side the lead, and Lake. At that was at a time when Wales had a penalty on half-way.

It was a bold move, but it paid rich dividends. Costello found touch, Griffiths hit his man at the line-out and Wales moved in for the kill. They didn't find an initial chink in the English defence, but when centre Connor Doherty came through a ruck illegally to take out Welsh scrum half Dan Babos it gave Wales one final shot at glory.

Once again Costello kicked for the corner, Griffiths found the target and the forwards drove for the line. When they were held up near the posts, Babos fired the ball left to Costello, who picked out Smith on a deep, supporting line off his wing and the rising Dragons star sped for the line.

He crashed into and over Hodge before touching down in the left corner to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the clock deep into the red and showing 81 minutes. It mattered little that Costello pushed his conversion attempt wide, Wales had twice come from behind to win 11-10.

 

WALES WOMEN 12 - 51

Wales Women pushed England hard and produced an impressive second-half display as they were beaten 51-12 in the Six Nations at Cardiff Arms Park. Rowland Phillips' side scored tries in either half through Jess Kavanagh and Cerys Hale with Robyn Wilkins converting the second of those scores.

England pair Sarah Bern and Jessica Breach both scored a brace of tries as they made it three straight wins to stay on course for Grand Slam glory. The Red Roses scored nine in total with Zoe Harrison kicking three conversions.

Tighthead prop Bern opened the scoring and Breach made it two before flanker Marlie Packer was driven over in the corner.Harrison kicked a conversion to leave Wales 17-0 down.

Bern then grabbed her second with a sensational sidestep which left Wales' Elinor Snowsill on the floor and the same player was then handed off by Breach on her way to the line.

A conversion from Harrison and a Wales effort from Jess Kavanagh gave England a comfortable 29-5 interval lead. The ball was spread left and along the back division before wing Kavanagh scorched through to score. Wilkins was unable to kick the goal from wide out.

Quick England tries then followed in the second half as lock Catherine O'Donnell crossed before Abigail Dow waltzed down the wing for a sublime finish.

There was still time for further England scores from Sarah Beckett and Katy Daley-Mclean and a late Wales consolation from replacement Cerys Hale who was driven over close to the posts.