England just secured their most important win under Eddie Jones - especially as they didn’t really deserve it

Wales' controversial disallowed try is just one of the ways they could - and maybe should - have won

England failed to score for 60 minutes but still won (Getty)

Should England rugby have won their Six Nations grudge match against Wales rugby at Twickenham? That depends on which coach you listen to.

Warren Gatland, the two-time British and Irish Lions head coach, said that the “clear try” that was chalked off by television match official Glenn Newman was a decision that he couldn’t understand.

In contrast, Eddie Jones, the leading candidate for the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa, threw his support behind the officials, claiming that they were in a much better position to offer fact than his opinion.

What has been overlooked in the wake of England’s 12-6 victory though is whether or not they deserved it. The home side took their chances with a finishing touch that is rarely seen on a Test stage. But Wales had two clear chances to score after the break, and Gatland was right to be annoyed by his side’s failure to take either one of them.

The first, a fantastic break from Aaron Shingler when Maro Itoje rushed out of defence and Dan Cole missed the first-man tackle, went unrewarded as he failed to offload to Steff Evans wide-open inside him.

The second was much more difficult. A beautiful move through the hands saw Hadleigh Parkes take what should have been a crash ball. Instead, the Scarlets centre offloaded to Ken Owens, who fed a George North that looked like he had a point to prove. The wing was making an impact, yet had the awareness to offload to Scott Williams, yet when Williams dived early believing the soggy surface would carry him quickly to the try line, it didn’t. Cue Sam Underhill, and his potentially match-saving tackle.

But while much will be made about how that tackle won this match, more attention should be given to how Wales lost this. Jones said afterwards how he was pleased that England were “starting to win games like this”. He’s completely right, because very easily, England could have lost it.

There was plenty to be unhappy with, especially for a perfectionist such as Jones when your side fails to score in over 60 minutes of rugby. But this was a match marshalled by England’s big-game temperament, that in times gone by they would have lost.

It may have only been a six-point win, but for what this triumph will do for England’s belief, this may just be the most important victory under Jones’ reign.