Wales win in stunning comeback
Wales complete a stunning comeback to defeat England 26-19.
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Saturday, 02, Feb 2008 07:49
Wales completed a stunning comeback to defeat England 26-19, winning at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years in their opening Six Nations clash.
Superb Welsh pressure eroded England's ten-point half-time lead throughout the second half and in an amazing three-minute period, Warren Gatland's men soared into the lead with converted tries from Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips.
Beaten World Cup finalists England had dominated the game for the first 40 minutes, with a first-half try for Toby Flood, but continually kicking away possession and a determined effort from the Welsh saw them crown a famous win.
England had taken the lead after 75 seconds, but James Hook put the Welsh on level terms two minutes later with a confident touchline kick.
The excitement of winger David Strettle's return was evident just six minutes in, after his penetrating run from just outside his own 22 almost resulted in a try, only for the Harlequins man to mistakenly kick from hand rather than pass outside to Paul Sackey.
A physical game throughout, there were three substitutions in two minutes in the first-half, with Jonathan Thomas off for Wales and Lewis Moody and Strettle exiting for injury, the latter's injury allowing rugby league convert Lesley Vainikolo to make his England debut.
Wilkinson put England back in the lead on ten minutes after a line-out infringement and increased the margin with a textbook right-footed drop goal. And after a wayward pass from Shane Williams wasted a golden opportunity for the Welsh, England scored a super first try, with Vainikolo catching a high ball and offloading slickly to the oncoming Toby Flood on 22 minutes.
But the Welsh fans were unhappy after replays revealed Iain Balshaw's quick restart to Sackey hadn't gone five metres.
Wilkinson converted to give England a 13-point lead, but a sloppy penalty on 34 minutes followed when Sheridan pulled down in the line-out to give Hook the chance a 35-metre kick and keep Wales in the match at 16-6.
England almost extended their lead as the half drew to a close after the video referee consulted when a quick break from Balshaw was followed by a powerful burst from Sackey, with the Wasps man bundled over the line. However the footage was ruled inconclusive and the referee was unable to award a try, with Wales holding out until half-time.
Wilkinson claimed another three points minutes into the second half, before a sterling offensive effort from the Welsh and a Mike Philips charge-down as Gomersall attempted to clear was followed by a Welsh penalty after James Haskell failed to roll away in the tackle, with Hook keeping Gatland's men in contention with another crisp kick.
After another Hook penalty, the game was suddenly turned on its head, with Wales scoring after continued pressure when Hook danced past three English defenders before offloading to Lee Byrne for the try, with Ospreys fly-half Hook then levelling the scores with the conversion.
And Wales completed their stunning comeback just seconds later with Phillips charging down a lazy Balshaw kick and crossing the line after swift work from the Welsh pack, Hook's subsequent kick taking the Welsh lead to seven points with ten minutes to go.