Henry Arundell delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a hat-trick of tries to spearhead England’s commanding 48-7 victory over Wales in their opening Guinness Six Nations match at Allianz Stadium.
Following France’s emphatic 36-14 win against Ireland two days prior, Steve Borthwick’s England responded emphatically, crossing the Welsh try line seven times to secure their 12th consecutive Test win. Arundell, making his first Test start since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, illuminated the first half with three stunning tries. Contributions from Ben Earl, Toe Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, and a penalty try added to England’s dominance.
Fly-half George Ford orchestrated England’s attack with precision and creativity, directing play masterfully throughout the first half. However, England eased off in the second half, allowing a more determined Welsh side some respite.
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Wales, grappling with internal challenges, suffered a disastrous start marked by indiscipline that saw two front-rowers, Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake, sin-binned within the first 20 minutes for conceding numerous penalties. This undermined their effort and compounded errors that plagued their game, making this their 12th straight Six Nations defeat and highlighting their ongoing struggles.
Earlier in the day, Italy stunned Scotland with an 18-15 victory in Rome, but at Twickenham, England’s superiority was never in doubt. By the 15-minute mark, England had raced to a 15-0 lead, with Arundell scoring two early tries, both set up by Ford’s impeccable passing and tactical kicking.
Wales’ early disciplinary lapses put them on the back foot, with referee Pierre Brousset issuing early warnings before sin-binning Smith and Lake, which severely compromised Welsh discipline and momentum. England capitalized, with Ben Earl’s powerful work leading to a try after a sweeping attack. Arundell completed his hat-trick as England continued to exploit Welsh weaknesses.
In the second half, Toe Roebuck added another try, showcasing England’s attacking depth. However, the match’s flow shifted slightly after Maro Itoje received a sin-bin booking. Wales, reduced in numbers due to further yellow cards to Ben Thomas and Taine Plumtree, and Tom Curry’s penalty for a high tackle, managed to cross the line once through Josh Adams.
Despite a brief Welsh resurgence, England maintained control. Ben Earl’s adaptation to inside centre helped re-energize the team, culminating in a penalty try and a powerful finishing try from Tommy Freeman to seal the comprehensive victory. While England’s second-half intensity dipped, their first-half performance set an impressive tone for their Six Nations campaign.