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Thank you for joining me for this one. England were rampant and it felt like they were in third gear so fans can expect more from the team over this tournament. For Wales, well they have a lot of work to do and Rob Kitson sums it up perfectly in his report which you can read below: “Wales were not so much beaten as buried beneath an avalanche of seven white tries.” We will be back with all the second round Six Nations action next weekend, see you then.
England travel to Scotland next weekend, while Wales’ tournament does not get any easier as France are coming to Cardiff.
Wales captain Dewi Lake told ITV:
We are massively disappointed in ourselves. We can’t expect things to go our way all of the time we have to make it happen. We are not a team to get the rub of the green or 50/50s at the moment.
We spoke all week about discipline and we let ourselves down massively in that area today.
When we went to the air and stuck to the game plan we got some joy out of it early on… We stacked that penalty count early on and it ends up with two yellow cards. we have to action things we say in the week and we didn’t today.
The win means England are top of the table on points difference with France in second after their win over Ireland. Wales are bottom with Italy third after they defeated Scotland earlier today.
Player of the match George Ford told ITV:
Delighted with the result by in large I thought the performance was good a tad bit of frustration in that. We wanted to start with a good result and we did that.
The start of a test match is always massive the first 15 mins. I thought the boys did that well we were able to dominate territory because of the boys up front.
We are just trying to put bits of our game together… The more attacking opportunities we create the more we should take.
Wales conceded 16 penalties, seven tries and had four yellow cards. They were much better in the second half but they are the architects of their own demise. Some simple fixes may see them take some steps forward over this competition.
England are amongst the favourites for the title this year and that performance shows why. It was far from perfect, they left a few tries out there and they did have two yellow cards but Steve Borthwick will be happy. Wales, meanwhile, inflicting too much damage in the first half to recoup a win.
ShareFull time: England 48-7 Wales
A huge win for England.
Henry Pollock celebrates England’s victory with Fraser Dingwall. Photograph: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 13.54 EST
TRY! England 48-7 Wales (Tommy Freeman)
80 min: Cowan-Dickie snipes and finds Freeman who crashes over. Ford’s kick hits the posts.
England’s Tommy Freeman scores their seventh try. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/ReutersFreeman (left) celebrates with Luke Cowan-Dickie. Photograph: Anthony Hanc/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 13.42 EST
80 min: England are going for a late try here and before they can start the attack Wales make a change with Hardy on for Williams.
79 min: Thomas comes back on after serving his sin bin punishment and Wales are immediately on the front foot. But Rees-Zammit attempts a chipped kick which goes out of play. The story of Wales’ afternoon.
77 min: Ford has been named player of the match after conducting England perfectly from number 10.
ShareYELLOW CARD: England 43-7 (Tom Curry)
76 min: Curry puts in a dangerous tackle and he is sent to the sin bin.
75 min: That was a beautiful bit of rugby from England with Freeman streaming down the right. He puts in a grubber kick for Spencer but Rees-Zammit collects and clears.
73 min: Possession whams back and forth but Smith kicks it out on the full so Wales are on the attack. They go through a few phases but to no success so they kick it away. Wainwright puts in a high tackle on Arundell and so Ford kicks the penalty up the pitch.
71 min: England look to strike again but Arundell’s pass to Pepper is wild and Wales have a scrum to clear.
69 min: It was Plumtree who had that high tackle. England are now on the attack again, remember the hosts are now two players up. Freeman thinks he has scored but the referee pulls it back as Cowan-Dickie had a neck roll in the build up.
68 min: I am just finding which Wales player was the latest to get that yellow.
SharePENALTY TRY! England 43-7 Wales
68 min: Pollock’s foot is out but the high tackle means it’s a penalty try. He gets a yellow card for it too.
Henry Pollock celebrates. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 13.35 EST
Hang on though, they are checking to see if they tackle on Pollock is legal. If not the try may stand? Let’s wait and see.
ShareNO TRY! England 36-7 Wales (Henry Pollock)
Rugby’s star boy thinks he is over but his foot is in touch.
England’s Henry Pollock goes over but a try isn’t given as his foot was in touch. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.32 EST
66 min: The Pollock change has happened now with Smith on for Steward.
ShareYELLOW CARD: England 36-7 Wales (Ben Thomas)
66 min: There is no penalty try but Thomas is in the bin for stopping a score.
65 min: Itoje is back on the pitch and England are restored to 15. Pollock is coming on for Roebuck which would see Earl move into the backs but the sub is yet to be made, hold for that one as England go on the attack again.
63 min: A catch and drive is well defended by Wales and so England run it through the hands. A lovely offload from Steward unleashes Chessum but he is hacked down a few metres from the line. They continue through the phases but Roebuck doesn’t release and Wales win the penalty.
61 min: England go on the attack but a grubber kick by Mitchell does not go to plan, we come back for an advantage. Ford kicks to the corner, surely another try coming.
59 min: Possession goes one way and then the other before a knock-on sees England have the put in. The hosts win the penalty and Ford kicks up pitch (how many times have I written that today!).
57 min: There is the Rees-Zammit that Wales fans will fondly remember, a beautiful break from the full-back. Wales then kick it away and Steward calls the mark.
56 min: England give away the ball with a kick falling into Wales hands and they eventually clear their lines.
54 min: Wales could build some points now, especially with England down to 14. I don’t think it will be enough to pull off a comeback though. The hosts now with the ball.
ShareTRY! England 36-7 Wales (Josh Adams)
52 min: Muted celebrations but they are finally over. Edwards spots space and kicks it to Adams. Their first try in two-and-a-quarter hours. Wow. Edwards gets the kick.
Josh Adams gets Wales on the scoreboard. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.09 EST
YELLOW CARD: England 36-0 Wales (Maro Itoje)
51 min: Itoje has just come on but he is off for giving away a penalty.
51 min: England defend the maul well and so Wales run it through the phases. They spill it but there was another advantage so we come back to that. George is given a talking to by the referee about the penalty kick. Cowan-Dickie, Curry and Itoje enter the fray before Wales tap and go.
50 min: Wales knock on but we come back for the advantage. Edwards kicks to the corner, they need to find points in this next attack.
49 min: England cleared their lines but Wales come again with a penalty advantage.
47 min: Wales have a bit of attacking play now with Adams finding James but his free flowing run is chopped down by England’s defence. They work it up into the 22 but England win it back.
ShareTRY! England 36-0 Wales (Tom Roebuck)
45 min: George’s lineout is clean and they put a drive on through a maul. They gain good metres but they run it through the hands. Phases and phases roll and Roebuck is the one to finish it off. Ford adds the extra two.
England’s Tom Roebuck scores a try. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PAShare
Updated at 13.07 EST
44 min: Wales knock on and we have a scrum, England win the penalty. Ford kicks upfield and England pick up where they left off.
42 min: It is Rodd’s Six Nations debut, what a game to come into. Genge is not injured, it was a tactical change. Potentially keeping Genge fresh for the Calcutta Cup clash next week.
ShareBack underway: England 29-0 Wales
Wales surely cannot claw this back but they will want to restore some pride in the shirt in the next 40 minutes. Less penalties and some points would do that. Play as they did in the first half and England could be on for a record win. The current record is a 57-point margin. England have made a change, Rodd is on for Genge.
Wales have conceded 10 penalties and four tries in this first half. England have played well and would no doubt be ahead if Wales’ discipline were better but they have shipped at least 14 points because of the penalties they have given away.
ShareHalf-time: England 29-0 Wales
England in cruise control, Wales scrambling for any type of form. Steve Borthwick’s side are putting out a statement performance here and Henry Arundell is nailing himself into the wing shirt.
40 min: Wales with another error as Lake didn’t tap when he chose the tap and go so it’s England’s ball. That is embarrassing.
40 min: Wales are knocking on the door to get on the scoreboard before half-time but one attack goes awry with Rees-Zammit not picking it up. They come back for a penalty advantage.
38 min: England, particularly Arundell, are absolutely running riot and I don’t know if I have seen Wales so lost and out of ideas.
ShareTRY! England 29-0 Wales (Henry Arundell)
37 min: It’s a hat-trick. Wales come up with the ball from the scrum but a loose pass sees England pounce and Arundell is the hero. Ford gets the extra two.
Henry Arundell heads to the try-line before going over for England’s fourth try. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersArundell celebrates his hat-trick. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersWales players understandably look dejected. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 12.50 EST
35 min: Wales’ lineout is overthrown and England are away. Chessum runs a great line but fumbles the ball and so it is scrum time once more.
34 min: Wales find some possession and Genge gives away a breakdown penalty, Edwards puts in a good kick upfield. Can the visitors get on the board here?
33 min: A kicking battle ensues and Ford comes out on top with huge territory gained. It is Wales’ lineout, which is clean, and the visitors clear their lines.
31 min: The scrum is reset and then England win the set piece penalty, they clear their lines and Wales’ best chance so far goes begging.
30 min: Wales’ lineout from the penalty is almost stolen but Chessum knocks on, a scrum to come.
29 min: Wales have possession and their first proper attack of this game so far. They are going one pass phases at the moment but they then win a penalty. Before they kick to the corner Wales are restored to 15, the subs have been reversed too with Mann and James back.
27 min: ITV’s mid half advert has happened while we wait for Genge to tie up his shoe so fans didn’t miss anything. A lot of opinions on the new adverts, what do you think of them? Email me.
26 min: England confident and purring. Wales shaken and shadows of their once formidable selves. The hosts could not have wished for a better start to this game.
ShareTRY! England 22-0 Wales (Ben Earl)
24 min: Oh my, Wales cooked already. What a finish from Earl. Ford gets the extras.
Ben Earl goes over to score England’s third try. Photograph: Alastair Grant/APEarl celebrates with teammates. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.13 EST
24 min: That was a nice piece of defence as Genge is held up over the line, another try there for England would have been devastating for Wales.
23 min: Luckily for Freeman, whose wild pass saw Roebuck unable to continue the attack, England had an advantage and they kick to the corner.