TWICKENHAM, where England have lost just once in the last eight seasons in the International Championship - to Ireland two years ago - yet again proved infertile territory for the visitors on Saturday. This time it was Wales who went under - as they have done on their last four visits to the ground.
It was perhaps a measure of Welsh anxieties prior to this match that the six-points defeat appeared to come as something of a relief if one is to judge by the comments of their captain John Humphreys. While admitting that defeat was hard to take, he said that all of his side had played well.
It is equally indicative of England manager Jack Rowell's unease at the performance that provided the win that he was far from enthusiastic about his team's efforts. He knew that his side had been less than proficient against an opposing force that, at best, one could term very moderate and who could not be deemed credible championship challengers.
One must harbour some reservations, too, about England's championship prospects. There is still power in their pack, but on the evidence of this match there is not the fluency, drive and authority that characterised the play of their forwards so often and that was so important in carrying the side to three Grand Slams since 1991. Some of the old hands have gone and their guiding influence is badly missed.
Perhaps that was what was in Rowell's mind when he said England needed to "get smart." He complained about the fragmented nature of some of their play, the slowness of the heel from the scrum and the fact that they were comprehensively beaten by Wales in the line-out. He was right on all counts.
Gareth Llewellyn was by some way the most influential figure in the line-out. He and his colleagues certainly contained the threat posed by Martin Johnson and Martin Bayfield. England missed the cuteness and guile of Dean Richards and Wales a craftsman to harness the possession they won out of touch. But in this task of depriving England of the ball in a crucial area, they succeeded admirably - not that they were able to do very much with what they got.
Their new half-back combination of Robert Howley and Arwel Thomas may have promise and Thomas has a precocious talent. Coach Kevin Bowring referred to it and intimated he would not seek to stifle it in short-term interests. He may well prove to be correct, but Thomas's lack of judgement and experience were evident on occasions. And like much else in this match, the standard of line and tactical kicking was very poor on both sides.
England captain Will Carling, who had to retire because of a knee injury early in the second half, believed that his team looked good with the ball in their hands and this win will now ease the pressure on his side. England did look more menacing at times in back-line attacks, but it was a disjointed performance and, as Rowell pointed out, continuity was not a feature of their play. "It is not a question of more training," said Rowell. He could have added it is more about thought and maybe talent.
One could not doubt the Welsh spirit or their will, but they lacked the real power to harness it to effect. Their rucking and mauling was far from proficient, and England's superior strength was at times evident in these facets. Nor were the Welsh adverse to killing the ball and got penalised for it several times - not that England outside-half Paul Grayson was able to take any ad vantage of penalty chances in the tedious first half as he missed with four attempts.
Wales had to endure a whitewash last season. They may improve on that this time, but while courage and will are admirable attributes, the depth of skill in the side may make the scramble from the bottom of the ladder hard to achieve. But to their credit they tried and may be on the right lines in the rebuilding process.
Having gone ahead in the 10th minute through a try from Hemi Taylor after Arwel Thomas ran a penalty when England expected him to kick, Wales might have stretched that lead. Thomas does not lack confidence or the willingness to indulge in his attacking instincts. Judgement will come with experience. The try was a tribute to his quickness of thought. He moved the ball left though Gwyn Jones and Leigh Davies before Taylor crashed over the line. Thomas was wide with the conversion.
England did not equalise until shortly before half-time. Having opted three times for scrums from penalty awards, they failed to make their superiority in this area pay a dividend. However when the try came in the 38th minute, the pressure was maintained inside the Welsh 25 and John Sleightholme did well to keep an attack alive. He fed Mike Catt on his left and Rory Underwood did the rest. Grayson converted.
Eight minutes into the second half, Jeremy Guscott got England's second try in fortunate circumstances. He ran to challenge Justin Thomas and blocked down the full-back's kick. The ball rolled over the Welsh line and Guscott had only to run in pursuit, with no Welshman in sight to score. England then led 12-5 and it was 15-5 five minutes later when Grayson kicked a penalty.
Arwel Thomas reduced the deficit with a penalty for Wales. Then England moved 21-8 clear when Grayson landed two more penalty goals. But far from building on the lead, they seemed to lose their way and their concentration.
Then, with four minutes remaining, Wales scored a second try when Howley got through a gap after two rocks had been won. Arwel Thomas converted and only six points separated the sides. Wales sensed possibilities in the last few hectic minutes but their attacks were more frantic than methodical and England held on.
