England 25-21 Wales
By Nick Powell
England held off a late Welsh comeback to seal the Triple Crown and end Wales' title hopes after a thrilling finish at Twickenham.
England outplayed Wales in the first half, three early penalties moved them into a 9-0 lead and Anthony Watson crossed to give England a comfortable lead at half time.
Dan Biggar's charge down try gave Wales a route back into the game but Farrell added two penalties to all but seal the victory.
After an impressive move, Wales gave themselves a glimmer of hope through George North before Toby Faletau got Wales within 4 points. From the kick off they got within 20m of an extraordinary finish but Manu Tuilagi's vital tackle kept them out and England won.
The game was billed to be a tight encounter with Wales and England both unbeaten after three games, though Wales were narrowly favourites among pundits thanks to their experience.
By Nick Powell
England held off a late Welsh comeback to seal the Triple Crown and end Wales' title hopes after a thrilling finish at Twickenham.
Dan Biggar's charge down try gave Wales a route back into the game but Farrell added two penalties to all but seal the victory.
After an impressive move, Wales gave themselves a glimmer of hope through George North before Toby Faletau got Wales within 4 points. From the kick off they got within 20m of an extraordinary finish but Manu Tuilagi's vital tackle kept them out and England won.
The game was billed to be a tight encounter with Wales and England both unbeaten after three games, though Wales were narrowly favourites among pundits thanks to their experience.
England made an intense start to game, and with Mike Brown into space they had a big chance for a try. However he cut inside and England had to settle for three points.
They worked their way back into the 22 and again came close, this time Dan Cole going over the try line, but his try was ruled as being held up. Again however, England earned a penalty and doubled their lead.
It continued, Alun Wyn Jones was not rolling away and England had a shot for 9-0. Farrell made it three from three and England were in full control.
That was compounded as England scored their first try. Itoje broke the tackle of Scott Baldwin and Dan Biggar and after he gave it to Brown, he fed Anthony Watson, who dotted down for a sixteen point lead.
Wales began to attack before the break, but lacked direction and England went into the break in full control.
What Wales didn't need was to concede again after the break, but they did inside five minutes as England got back into their territory and Farrell slotted his fourth penalty, England seemed home and dry.
Wales finally applied pressure and after breaking into England territory, earned a penalty under the posts. From there, they repeatedly dominated scrums and looked set to score, but England won the penalty and cleared up-field.
Farrell cleared but from the line out, Youngs poor pass meant Ford took longer on a high kick, and it was charged down by Biggar who dotted down the awkward bouncing ball under the posts.
Wales had some momentum, but they lost it, Sam Warbuton suffered an injury which helped England regroup and soon they had the ball again in the Welsh half. Again, Wales were caught not rolling away and England re-extended their lead to a crucial 3 scores. Wales would need to produce an incredible comeback.
It got worse as they were caught holding on in their own half by George Kruis and England were surely home and dry, but then Wales came alive.
They kicked into English territory and began to camp on their line, repeated penalties saw Cole go to the bin but Tom Francis' potential foul play helped England clear their lines.
Wales re-gathered the ball as England cleared again, and after a nice move Williams cut through, and his offload to Jonathan Davies meant he could find North to get Wales' second.
It seemed as if it would be a mere consolation but Wales went forward off every phase from the resulting kick off and it seemed as if it would suddenly be a grandstand finish.
Wales broke into the 22 and after several phases the ball went into the hands of Faletau who broke through Care's tackle to get Wales within 4.
From the restart, Itoje conceded a penalty and Priestland's wonderful territory kick put Wales into the 22 again. England were on the ropes and if suddenly looked as if the 25-28 scoreline that won them that World Cup Game in September would repeat itself in incredible circumstances.
But from the line-out, Wales went wide and Tuilagi got North into touch and England had one of their own. It was won into the hands of Care who blasted the ball out of play to give England a win that gave them a second Triple Crown in 3 years and meant if France lose tomorrow at Murrayfield, England are Champions.
Player Ratings:
England: Brown 7, Watson 8, Joseph 6, Farrell 8, Nowell 7, Ford 6, Youngs 6, Marler 6, Hartley 5, Cole 5, Itoje 8, Kruis 7, Robshaw 7, Haskell 6, Vunipola 7
Total: 99/150
Wales: Williams 6, Cuthbert 5, Davies 6, Roberts 7, North 7, Biggar 7, Davies 6, Evans 6, Baldwin 5, Lee 7, Davies 6, Jones 5, Lydiate 6, Warbuton 6, Faletau 8.
Total: 93/150
Views from the Dressing room:
Eddie Jones: "It was one game for 60 minutes and another for 20. Luckily we got enough points in the first 60. It was a funny game, it was all Wales in the last 20. We dropped off a bit at the end.
"We made a number of changes on purpose to test players and to test the strength of the team and maybe those changes didn't work. If you look at our first 60 minutes there was some fantastic rugby.
"Maro Itoje - he's a BMW now (Jones described him as an Astra before the game).
"The Grand Slam is a reality and we can't wait to get to Paris and to do the business. We need to prepare well and the Grand Slam is there for us to take. France will play with a lot of passion and a lot of pride – I think we're good enough to do the business."
Warren Gatland: "I'm very disappointed with the first half. I said to them at half time that we needed some energy. I told the players they needed to come up with answers themselves. In the second half we got sime impetus and finished strongly and we wonder what could have been.
"It was unlike us in the first half. We looked tired and didn't look enthusiastic. But I'm proud the boys didn't give up and they kept their heads.
"England competed hard. We outscored them 3-1 in terms of tries but it was Farrell's kicks that were the difference. The best team won and I take my hat off to them."
"We made a number of changes on purpose to test players and to test the strength of the team and maybe those changes didn't work. If you look at our first 60 minutes there was some fantastic rugby.
"Maro Itoje - he's a BMW now (Jones described him as an Astra before the game).
"The Grand Slam is a reality and we can't wait to get to Paris and to do the business. We need to prepare well and the Grand Slam is there for us to take. France will play with a lot of passion and a lot of pride – I think we're good enough to do the business."
Warren Gatland: "I'm very disappointed with the first half. I said to them at half time that we needed some energy. I told the players they needed to come up with answers themselves. In the second half we got sime impetus and finished strongly and we wonder what could have been.
"It was unlike us in the first half. We looked tired and didn't look enthusiastic. But I'm proud the boys didn't give up and they kept their heads.
"England competed hard. We outscored them 3-1 in terms of tries but it was Farrell's kicks that were the difference. The best team won and I take my hat off to them."
Photos: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/mar/12/england-v-wales-six-nations-live
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