Wales 10-20 England: Warren Gatland still searching for first championship point after three games

By Jared Parry at Principality Stadium

Wales’s miserable Six Nations continued as they were defeated 20-10 by England in Cardiff.

Tries from Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler and Ollie Lawrence cancelled out Louis Rees-Zammit’s second-half interception score to confirm Wales’s worst start to a Six Nations campaign since 2007.

After doubt as to whether the fixture would go ahead due to well-documented disputes between the regions and WRU which have left players with unacceptable financial uncertainty, the Principality Stadium was packed to the rafters for this fixture.

England were the first to work the scoreboard through the boot of Owen Farrell when Ken Owens failed to roll away from a tackle.

Steve Borthwick’s men quickly followed up with a try after a scintillating run from Max Malins broke the Welsh line. The ball found its way to Anthony Watson, who went over in the corner. Farrell struck the post with the conversion, leaving the score at 8-0 in the 19th minute.

Wales instantly responded, putting three points on the board through the boot of Leigh Halfpenny following an error from the restart by England.

And the home side finally approached the English try-line late in the half following a pressurised attack, but were penalised for holding on and failed to capitalise – a feature of their play throughout.

Minutes later, Wales were once again agonisingly close to the try line following a break from prop, Gareth Thomas, however, England’s Lewis Ludlam forced a turnover to halt the Welsh pressure and bring an end to the first half.

Wales carried the momentum into the second half, as Louis Rees-Zammit produced an inch-perfect interception inside the first minute to score Wales’s third try of the Six Nations, with Halfpenny’s conversion Wales took a 10-8 lead.

Yet celebrations were short-lived as Kyle Sinckler went over under the posts after an onslaught of pressure from England, with Farrell’s conversion, extending England’s lead to 15-10.

A bright spell for Wales almost ended in disaster when Leigh Halfpenny fumbled a kick into the Welsh 22. Wales withstood the pressure with Justin Tipuric producing a vital turnover on his own five-metre line.

However, England’s persistence paid off, as Ollie Lawrence went over in the corner with five minutes remaining for a third English try.

Farrell failed to convert, but the visitors’ 10-point lead ended the contest.

It means Wales are yet to record a win in the 2023 competition and sit bottom of the Six Nations without a single point.

England, meanwhile, went second in the table as they awaited the result from Scotland’s Sunday clash with France in Paris.