If France set the benchmark with their emphatic opening‑night time victory over Eire, then England proved they’re the principle rivals to their Six Nations crown.
Saturday’s emphatic 48-7 victory over Wales laid down a marker at the beginning of a match during which England should take the subsequent step in direction of silverware below Steve Borthwick.
England introduced a degree of brutality – each offensively and defensively – {that a} Welsh facet out of shape and in transition had no probability of containing.
World‑class scrum‑half Tomos Williams and Louis Rees‑Zammit, deployed at full‑again in his first Six Nations look since coming back from his stint within the NFL, had been neutralised and nullified, leaving Wales defenceless towards the onslaught that adopted.
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England head coach Steve Borthwick was stuffed with reward for Henry Arundell after he scored a hat-trick of their enormous Six Nations win over rivals Wales
England’s dominance was asserted at a canter, with out the necessity to transfer past second gear. They plundered 48 factors, and everybody inside Allianz Stadium agreed they may – and will – have had extra.
“We’re clearly delighted with the consequence, and by and enormous I believed the efficiency was good,” England fly‑half and participant of the match George Ford mentioned.
“There is a tad little bit of frustration in that as nicely. We wished begin, a good efficiency, and we obtained that. However we in all probability left a bit on the market at this time.”
Henry Arundell scored a first-half hat-trick towards Wales in England’s Six Nations opener
Tandy rues ‘self-inflicted’ elements of defeat
Disaster‑stricken Wales arrived at Twickenham with expectations at an unprecedented low given the off‑subject turmoil engulfing Welsh rugby.
On the pitch, they hastened their downfall with a brainless first‑quarter mired by disciplinary points.
In a 21-minute spell, Wales conceded 10 penalties and noticed entrance‑rowers Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake despatched to the sin‑bin.
England scored 12 factors whereas Wales had been right down to 13 to extinguish any hope of the unlikeliest of upsets.
“We’re actually annoyed,” head coach Steve Tandy mentioned. “By means of the autumn and dealing with the group, I’ve liked it, however we’re extra dissatisfied with ourselves at this time.
“A variety of what occurred was self‑inflicted. We felt we had been in place, however to lose whereas having 4 yellow playing cards and being very inaccurate with the ball, you are at all times going to fall behind on the scoreboard.
“It is a part of the sport, and a part of our journey to the place we have to go. We’re the place we’re for a purpose.
“In the end, we’re actually dissatisfied with our efficiency tonight. England are in a extremely great place, however we’re bitterly dissatisfied.”
Steve Borthwick is adamant England can enhance regardless of the seven-try mauling of Wales of their Six Nations opener
Borthwick insists loads of room for enchancment
England’s problem earlier than the Six Nations was clear: attain their Spherical 5 conflict with France in Paris with a Grand Slam nonetheless on the desk.
Trying that far forward, although, is a positive method to derail their ambitions – particularly with challenges tougher than Wales, starting with Saturday’s journey to Murrayfield, looming.
England could enter the Calcutta Cup as holders and Scotland could also be reeling from their 18‑15 opening‑spherical defeat in Italy, however England haven’t received in Edinburgh since 2020.
That victory got here two years earlier than Borthwick’s appointment, and the England head coach outlined quite a few areas for enchancment earlier than travelling to Murrayfield.
“Defensively we had been wonderful,” he mentioned. “We all know Wales have gotten so many harmful gamers and tempo out huge and we shut them down rather well.
“Our kicking recreation was good and the set‑piece did job, however there’s loads of room for enchancment. What is de facto pleasing is we created a great deal of alternatives and we are able to get higher at changing these.
“Particularly in that second half, we did not convert the alternatives within the method I would really like us to. There’s loads for us to go and work on.”
England’s 2026 Six Nations fixtures
All occasions UK and Eire
- England 48-7 Wales (Saturday February 7) – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (4.40pm)
- vs Scotland (Saturday February 14) – Murrayfield (4.40pm)
- vs Eire (Saturday February 21) – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (2.10pm)
- vs Italy (Saturday March 7) – Stadio Olimpico, Rome (4.40pm)
- vs France (Saturday March 14) – Stade de France, Paris (8.10pm)
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