Rampant England find new ways to impress

ENGLAND were asked to “play big” by head coach Steve Borthwick, and victories do not come any bigger than this record 10-try Six Nations rout of a Wales side that was so outclassed that this game at the Principality Stadium was a done deal by the interval.

- By NICK CAIN

At that stage, England led 33-7 having scored five tries by showing a fluidity, cohesion and ruthless finishing edge in Cardiff which was far sharper and more consistent than anything we have seen so far from them in the Six Nations during Borthwick’s tenure.

It was also a victory of such magnitude that they chased France all the way for the title, scoring another five tries in the second half, including Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old Northampton flanker, marking a bright debut with two touchdowns.

Securing second place in the table was also their highest finish in five seasons, but it comes with the cautionary note that Wales are not defensively the most abrasive or accomplished team in the Test arena, having now lost 17 Tests in succession.

It is why the ease with which England opened them up for the second-half touchdowns by Alex Mitchell, Joe Heyes, Pollock, and Chandler Cunningham-South, who also scored a brace, should ensure this team does not get ahead of itself.

It was clear yesterday that if Wales were going to spring an upset against England to match their 30-3 triumph in 2013, and summon the tsunami of hwyl required to defy the odds, and the gods, they were going to have to hit the men in white with a thunderclap from the start.

However, the boot was on the other foot, with England scoring the opening try after just three minutes through captain Maro Itoje, and shaking the confidence of a Welsh team which was at best fragile given their long losing streak.

Their new coach Matt Sherratt’s coherent messaging and selection had seen an improvement against Ireland and Scotland, but in a first-half dominated by England any opportunity for it to grow was rapidly nipped in the bud.