Another extraordinary episode in the ongoing saga between these two, it was ferocious in its commitment but decided by a stroke of precision, breadth of imagination and sheer pace, the smoking ruins of the collisions bypassed for a crucial, divine second that clinched the game for England. Wales had been superb, by far their best performance since the World Cup, their reliably stroppy distaste for visiting Englishmen inspiring them to heights reminiscent of their proudest moments against this lot in this stadium. That it was in vain will hurt horrifically, that the killer blow was delivered by stealth rather than any failing in courage of no consolation at all.
Elliot Daly’s brilliant try with five minutes to go was one to grace any occasion, further evidence that this England team have truly mastered the winning knack, even in adversity and in spite of their own misfiring. Not that they were misfiring, exactly. Certainly, this was considerable improvement on their performance against France. But they did not have to be very far off their best to look as if they were in trouble, because Wales were back up to theirs. For well over an hour, they had England on the rack, the contest between the packs something to behold indeed.
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