Slade and Mako Vunipola send England past Wales into Autumn Nations final
over 4 years in The guardian
Wales 13-24 England
Owen Farrell kicks 14 points to lead England home
When Johnny Williams scored his first international try after 10 minutes, it was the first time England had trailed in a match since they lost to France in Paris at the start of February. The Six Nations champions had dominated possession, but if they expected a side that at the start of the month sacked its defence coach to buckle after a few charges, they quickly realised that every point would have to be earned.
England threw the ball around from the kick-off, but with Wales’s line speed as keen it was in the days of Shaun Edwards, they were forced to bring in runners from deep. Wales’s defensive line held and England had to resort to the boot. They have developed the habit of finding a way to win: this was their seventh in a row, and if their dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard, they gave Wales nothing after Williams’s try. Continue reading...