Wales vs England LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations grudge match in Cardiff

Wales 10-20 England: England edge a scrappy clash in Cardiff as Anthony Watson, Ollie Lawrence and Kyle Sinckler score

Six Nations week one round-up: England struggle as Ireland make statement

Tries by Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler and Ollie Lawrence propelled England rugby to a nervy 20-10 victory over Wales rugby in a scruffy Six Nations encounter that showed how much both teams have to do to become competitive in the championship.

England started strongly with an Owen Farrell penalty and a well-crafted try for Watson, making his first start for two years, but Wales briefly led after an intercept try by Louis Rees-Zammit at the start of the second half.

England regained the lead when Sinckler burrowed over and though they were on top for most of the second half, they made the game safe only 10 minutes from the end with another well-crafted try finished off by Lawrence.

It was England’s second successive win following the home victory over Italy but made it three defeats out of three for Wales, who rarely looked dangerous, to complete a wretched week where the fixture was in doubt after the players threatened to strike in their row with the Welsh union.

Relive the action from Cardiff below:

Six Nations - Wales vs England

• England edge past Wales 20-10 in a scrappy Six Nations clash
• FULL-TIME! Wales 10-20 England
• 75’ - TRY! Patience from England rewarded with Lawrence going over out wide (WAL 10-20 ENG)
• 45’ - TRY! Sinckler burrows over from close range (WAL 10-15 ENG)
• 42’ - TRY! Rees-Zammit intercepts and races clear to put Wales ahead (WAL 10-8 ENG)
• 18’ - TRY! Great finish in the corner by Watson (WAL 0-8 ENG)
• Six Nations 2023: Full fixtures, results, schedule and TV channel guide
• Six Nations bonus points system explained

[25 February 2023 14:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 30 minutes

This could go either way - Cannone hasn’t changed his line but there does appear to be a slight dip towards Craig Casey. He might argue he was simply bracing for impending contact, but how will the officials view it?

Penalty only. That’s a slight surprise, actually - if the action was deemed illegal, there looked to be contact to the head or neck area.

Anyway, Ireland punt to ten metres out.

[25 February 2023 14:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 28 minutes

A helter-skelter half-hour continues. Italy turn the ball over twice in quick succession, Craig Casey snatching the ball out of the side of a ruck after it had been deemed out by the referee - and, ooh, that looks slightly nasty from Niccolo Cannone, directing a shoulder towards the dimunitive scrum-half’s head after he’d kicked ahead.

The TMO will have a look...

[25 February 2023 14:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 26 minutes

Finlay Bealham seems perplexed by Mike Adamson’s decision, but the Irish tighthead does seem to put too much weight on too soon. He’s pinged - Italy kick up again into good attacking position.

[25 February 2023 14:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 25 minutes

Italy’s lineout ball 35 metres out from their own line, then, and Irish disrupting hands get to it - but only succeed in knocking it on.

[25 February 2023 14:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 24 minutes

Out the back, out the back but few supporting players, and Italy are snuffed out on first phase. Caelan Doris pounces on a loose ball, and James Lowe gets a chance to make amends - theat’s one heck of a long punt from the wing, releasing all of the frustration of that error.

[25 February 2023 14:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-19 Ireland, 22 minutes

At some point this game will settle down, I’m sure, but not quite yet - James Lowe picks a spot in the tenth row far up the left touchline as Craig Casey fizzes a pass back to him, but Lowe takes his eye off the ball and shells the pass. Italy scrum five out from the Irish line with a chance to strike back.

[25 February 2023 14:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Italy 10-19 IRELAND (Bundee Aki try, 21 minutes)

To breaks in the lead up to tries and now Bundee Aki has a score of his own!

For as good as the Italian attack has been so far, their defensive structures are really struggling to combat Ireland’s fluency. Ross Byrne puts Josh van der Flier in to a sliver of space and the flanker survives contact to combine with James Lowe.

Lowe pops a pass back inside to Aki, who rides a tackler to the line, securely grounding with one hand in a manner that Lowe did not early.

[25 February 2023 14:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 10-12 Ireland, 19 minutes

Italy really do fancy this. Another foray from their own 22 shows space apparent, but Irish hands wrap around a loose offload...

[25 February 2023 14:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! ITALY 10-12 Ireland (Paolo Garbisi penalty, 19 minutes)

A fluent swing of the left boot from the Italy fly-half, tucking the kick from left of centre just inside the right-hand post.

[25 February 2023 14:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 7-12 Ireland, 17 minutes

Every time Italy go through the hands they look a threat, with Ireland struggling to handle their strike runners.

To illustrate the point, Tommaso Menoncello absolutely scorches a trail around Ross Byrne, chipping over Mack Hansen as he reaches full flow. Craig Casey gets back to the bouncing ball first - but only thanks to a nudge from Hansen on Menoncello. The Ireland wing is penalised.

Points or corner? Michele Lamaro gestures towards the uprights...