Wales v England LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as brilliant England seal record win in Cardiff
Wales 14-68 England: Steve Borthwick’s side ran in 10 tries to humiliate Wales and put the pressure on France in the title race
England produced one of their best performances for years to crush hapless Wales by a record 68-14 scoreline to finish the Six Nations on a high and retain a chance of winning the title should France fail to beat Scotland later.
England have 20 points after winning four matches for the first time since taking the title in 2020 but France, on 16, will top the standings with any sort of Paris victory due to their points difference advantage. Wales will come last for the second year in a row after their 17th successive defeat – a record for a Tier One nation since the game went professional.
England were in total control from the start and tries by Maro Itoje, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman – who became the first Englishman to score in all five rounds of the competition – Chandler Cunningham-South and Will Stuart put them 33-7 ahead at half-time.
Debutant 20-year-old flanker Henry Pollock came off the bench to score two tries and Alex Mitchell, Joe Heyes and Cunningham-South crossed after the break to take the tally to 10 as England easily surpassed their previous biggest victory margin in Cardiff, the 43-9 success in a 2003 World Cup warm-up, and their previous highest score (44-15 in 2001).
Relive all the action from the Principality Stadium in our live blog below:
Wales 7-21 England, 38 mins
Ben Curry with a nice carry into the 22 before Roebuck has a dart down the right again.
England pushing for a fourth try here.
Wales 7-21 England, 37 mins
History for Freeman there as he becomes the first Englishman to score in every match of a Six Nations. Superb stuff!
Meanwhile, Earl shows off his jackalling ability again, getting over the ball and winning the turnover with Wales decently positioned.
TRY! Wales 7-21 England (Tommy Freeman, 35 mins)
And England convert! Pass out the back by Curry to Fin Smith and he fires a flat pass to Tommy Freeman, who slips between two defenders and races in. He’s now score din every Six Nations game this year!
Easy conversion for Smith-and England restore their healthy lead.
Wales 7-14 England, 34 mins
Lovely floated pass to Cunningham-South and he charges down the left flank - great tackle by Williams.
Then a cross-field kick all the way to the right, Roebuck dances infield, turning his man inside and out. England a few metres out
Wales 7-14 England, 33 mins
England charge down Anscombe’s clearance kick from the kick-off, Mitchell keeps it in by the touchline and England have possession on the 22.
Eventually they win a lineout just outside the 22
TRY! Wales 7-14 England (Ben Thomas, 31 mins)
Lineout clean and the maul drives towards the line. Penalty against England for bringing it down. No penalty try?
Nope but a free attack and they do get the score! Pass fired by Williams to Ben Thomas and he darts in under the posts. Freeman ball-watching slightly? A great pass from the scrum half regardless.
Wales 0-14 England, 30 mins
Decent quick ball for Wales as they go left, good carry by Morgan over the gain-lin, Llewellyn also gets on the front foot into the 22.
Penalty advantage for Wales and they reach the 10th phase, easily their longest spell of possession of the match, then try a cross-field kick but it’s defended easily enough. Back for the penalty and Anscombe goes to the corner. Nails it - five-metre lineout...
Wales 0-14 England, 29 mins
Show and go from Marcus Smith and then a lovely offload to Daly. He knocks on in contact though.
A little later on, Tom Curry is errant with his pass on halfway, Wales hack ahead and if the ball sits up right they might be in but it bounces into touch. Fine margins.
Dee messes up another lineout but Wales reprieved when Mitchell is pinged for deliberately knocking on. Lineout on the 22 for Wales to build
WATCH: England take early lead
Here’s that first England try from the start of the match
Wales 0-14 England, 26 mins
Tom Curry goes for an ill-advised grubber kick, Wales win the penalty and then miss touch with the kick. Suddenly it’s carnage in Cardiff! Great to watch though.
A scrum to settle things down and after a reset, England win it easily and go on the attack
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