WALES
No.Name
15Lee Byrne, FB
14Leigh Halfpenny, W
T
13Tom Shanklin, C
12Jamie Roberts, C
11Mark Jones, W
10Stephen Jones, FH
5
9Mike Phillips, SH
1Gethin Jenkins, P
2Matthew Rees, H
3Adam Jones, P
4Ian Gough, L
5Alun Wyn Jones, L
6Ryan Jones, FL
7Martyn Williams, FL
8Andy Powell, N8
Replacements
16Huw Bennett, H
17John Yapp, -
18Luke Charteris, -
19Dafydd Jones, N8
20Dwayne Peel, SH
21James Hook, -
22Andrew Bishop, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Principality Stadium
5:30 PM, February 14, 2009
Attendance: 74,594
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'23-15 End of half
82'23-15 End of half
81'+123-15 End of second half
80'England continue to run the ball at the Welsh line though Armitage and Easter to finish their day on a positive note. And after several phases, Flutey becomes isolated and is forced to hold the ball. Jones boots the penalty into touch to secure the Welsh win. That was a deserved win for Wales, who had the majority of the possession and territory, and made most of the running. They were ahead throughout and when they had to, defended resolutely and vigorously. They probably weren't at their fluent best but the quality told. England will be gutted that they couldn't do it, but they were far better than last week. They struggled early in both halves and when they were struggling their discipline broke down. Despite scoring two tries to Wales' one, they conceded penalties in their own half and were always chasing the game. Yellow cards for Tindall after 14 minutes and Goode at 41 minutes were indicative of this. Only if they solve this will we see if they can build any rhythm and play with any control or pace. Wales, with Henson and Williams to come back, and one senses another gear to find, look good bets for this tournament and if they play their best, the Grand Slam. This was a cracking game, befitting this rivalry, which now stands at 53 each. It was full of passion and effort, running and tackling- I really enjoyed watching and describing it to you, I hope you've enjoyed the commentary too. Please join me, Jamie Allaway, again tomorrow for Ireland vs. Italy.
79'The biggest boo of the day is reserved for the announcement of Joe Worsley as man of the match. Against my earlier judgment, he has been immense and demonstrated everything that England have done well in this game.
78'England regain the ball through a knock on in their 22 but are forced to kick through lack of options. The ball is returned to them and they try to run it out, but with a minute to go this game may now be beyond them.
77'The Welsh defence is solid and quick, fed on a chorus of 'bread of heaven' from the crowd, and forces a pass behind an Englishman and a knock on. Wales now have possession and a scrum to take their time over in Engish territory.
75'A crunching tackle by Ian Gough turn the ball over and Wales spin it wide looking fo the overlap, but Jones is isolated and the ball is turned over again. England come back at the Welsh, they're desperately trying to make something happen in time.
73'Ryan Jones is caught on the wrong side as the English pack roll the ball upfield and into the Welsh 22. A debate about what decision to make leads quickly to a shot at the posts by Flood. He's missed it! You felt that one had to go over to set up a final English charge. It wasn't straightforward but it wasn't right out on the touchline.
73'Substitute on - Dwayne Peel , Wales
73'Player substituted - Mike Phillips , Wales
72'23-15 Penalty goal - Stephen Jones , Wales
71'A great kick, chase and reclaim of the ball by Halfpenny on the right breaks the deadlock and gives the chance for some running phases in English territory. Easter is too enthusiastic to disrupt the ball in the ruck and gets himself the wrong side to give Wales a penalty 40 yards out and pretty straight. it is the 6th penalty they've conceded in their own half and it is killing their chances of getting into this game. Jones converts to put Wales two scores ahead.
68'Exchanges in the midfield at the moment, a lot of kicking as both sides try to build a base for a decisive attack. Time left in this game for England but Wales will want to close it out with another score and not give anything away.
67'Substitute on - Huw Bennett , Wales
67'Player substituted - Matthew Rees , Wales
66'A little dink over the top is recovered by Wales and Shanklin is almost put through, but scragged. Ball is worked left but the English defence drives Ryan Jones backwards and win the scrum.
65'England turn the ball over, go for territory but the kick is returned by Halfpenny. England run the ball and look to make some ground but knock on. Bit scrappy this passage of play, but still wholehearted.
65'Substitute on - Luke Narraway , England
65'Player substituted - James Haskell , England
65'Substitute on - Julian White , England
65'Player substituted - Phil Vickery , England
65'Player substituted - Lee Mears , England
65'Substitute on - Dylan Hartley , England
65'Player substituted - Paul Sackey , England
65'Substitute on - Mathew Tait , England
63'All change in the front row for England as Hartley and White come on for Mears and Vickery. Tait comes on for Sackey. Wales have a penalty which is put into touch well into the English half for an attacking lineout.
62'England have run the ball a couple of times and only kicked when the Welsh would have to return it and the possession has given them a bit of rhythm.
61'More shenanigans at the scrum as it is reset, they've been a bit messy today.
61'Substitute on - Dafydd Jones , Wales
61'Player substituted - Andy Powell , Wales
60'Cracking game this. Both sides giving everything. England run the ball back at the Welsh again but an accidental obstruction of Cueto by Tindall concedes the free kick.
59'Wales attack but it is again England's turn to turn over the ball. Ellis sees space behind and punts the ball upfield. Sackey wins the foot race but the ball doesn't bounce for him and he cant' control it at his feet. Narraway picks up but is bundled into touch.
57'Despite Wales' great start to the second half and some of England's flaws, the visitors have got themselves within 5 points and will be hopeful of swinging the momentum back their way.
57'20-15 Conversion - Toby Flood , England
57'20-13 Try - Delon Armitage , England
56'TRY England attack running the ball but it all looks a little messy and directionless as the ball bounces along the ground. However Ellis cleans it up and flicks the ball away to Armitage, it looks like he should spin it wide but he steps inside, breaks the Wales defence and his pace takes him over to score under the posts. Flood converts the simple kick.
54'Flood has an immediate impact, offloading in the tackle to give Easter a half break and work the ball out to Flutey, Sackey has to kick on the wing, the ball goes dead and Wales have a lineout on their 22.
54'Player substituted - Nick Kennedy , England
54'Substitute on - Tom Croft , England
54'20-8 Penalty goal - Stephen Jones , Wales
53'The penalty is converted, it was fairly straighforward. Shortly before all this, Goode's spell in the bin was finished but he did not regain the field, as Flood was sent on as a replacement.
52'From the lineout Wales launch an attack, set a ruck from which Stephen Jones runs the ball and beats 2 or 3 men. At the ensuing ruck England are forced offside and concede another penalty in their own 22.
52'Substitute on - Toby Flood , England
52'Player substituted - Andy Goode , England
50'wales again run turnover ball but to no effect this time, England have some ball and work it upfield keeping the ball close to the rucks. But eventually Sheridan concedes a penalty and Wales clear to touch deep in the England half.
48'Delon Armitage attempts a long range penalty from the halfway line but is well wide and short.
47'Wales run turnover ball from their 22 and the crowd respond. England will really have to do something to stop the Welsh getting a grip on this game backed up by a now vociferous crowd.
44'The conversion is missed but the Welsh will be delighted anyway at the way they have come out. They've improved in the areas they needed to and by having a man sent off yet again England have failed to improve where they had to.
44'17-8 Try - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
43'TRY Wales turn the ball over by sending men crashing into the ruck, alive to the fact that Borthwick is in the centres they run it quickly and with the overlap release Halfpenny down the right to score.
43'12-8 Penalty goal - Stephen Jones , Wales
42'Yellow card - Andy Goode , England
41'Jones slots a slightly tricky penalty as England continue to make life hard for themselves. Wales have done exactly what they hoped after the restart.
41'9-8 End of first half
40'Roberts immediately cuts a swathe through the English midfield and charges 40-50 yards. That's more like it from the Welsh already and the English concede a penalty resisting that attack. Goode it is for handling the ball off his feet and he goes to the bin too.
40'Eventually the ball is knocked on into English hands and Delon Armitage clears a long way upfield. The English chase and the ball ends up in touch. And that's half time.
40'9-8 Start of second half
39'Wales are running through some phases with good intention and directness, but the English defence is stout ahead of their 22 at the moment.
37'Superb cross field ball from Jones drops right into Halfpenny's run up the right wing but his inside pass out of the tackle is knocked on under pressure. Shanklin could have been clean away.
36'Lee Byrne, following up a high kick, takes Delon Armitage's legs out in the air. He is OK and the penalty is given, but no yellow card. It didn't look malicious, but we have had a few of those so far this tournament and they never look pretty.
33'A Roberts kick is charged down in the midfield but recovered by Halfpenny, working in the Welsh's favour as they launch an attach through Shanklin. Another couple of phases works the ball out to the right, but again England turn Wales over and win the penalty.
31'Now Wales work a number of phases, again favouring drawing men in on the left before swinging the ball right. Shanklin almost breaks the line, but it is England's turn to defend aggressively and they win the penalty as he doesn't release.
29'9-8 Drop goal - Andy Goode , England
28'After a couple of phases England ball is slow, so Goode kicks leading to a Welsh 22. Drop goal England work several phases of play, many more than managed against the Italians. When the referee gives a penalty for offside agianst the Welsh, Goode chances his arm, or boot, and is sucessful with the drop goal.
26'Tindall's back on. England have had considerably less territory and possesion and have been a man down for 10 minutes but are still competing in this game and now have a scrum on the halfway line. Then a free kick, and a further 10 for some Welsh chat.
23'The conversion is right on the touchline and Goode's attempt is nowhere near. However, that try will give England a lot of heart and give them the confidence to run with the ball. Goode has been involved in most of it and the extra man is not hurting the English too much at the moment.
23'9-5 Try - Paul Sackey , England
22'TRYEngland are running the ball and seem to be going backwards, until Flutey makes a break and gets pass the halfway line. A short pass inside to Goode continues to break, he kicks the ball upfield and Sackey shows his pace, beating all the Welshmen up the right wing to score.
22'9-0 Penalty goal - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
21'It's actually Halfpenny, who has the better distance, and he slots this one comfortably. Wales' lead is now 9 and they are stretching their lead without having to extend themselves too much.
20'England have their own turnover and gain a scrum. Or scrums, as Kaplan has a word or two and resets. Both packs here trying to establish a little bit of superiority. Wales gain the upper hand as Vickery is penalised for binding on the arm. Another chance for Jones about 45 metres out.
18'England try to keep it close to the ruc k and retain posession but Sackey is slammed backwards as he takes the short pass. He retains it, but more aggressive defence from the Welsh creates the turnover.
16'6-0 Penalty goal - Stephen Jones , Wales
15'As you'd expect, Wales run the ball at pace and again England play the ball on the floor in the ruck. Kaplan is good to his promise and puts Tindall in the sin bin. Jones converts the kick and England are now 6 points down, and have to negotiate 10 minutes with a man down.
15'Yellow card - Mike Tindall , England
14'Through a series of rucks, Wales work their way upfield and then across to the left. They are trying to work themselves some room to release the backs, but on this occasion the ball doesn't come out and they win the scrum as they were still moving forward. Kaplan has another word with Borthwick and it appears England are playing close to the line at the breakdown.
12'England show some ambition in their running through Tindall and Cueto, although the chip is caught cleanly by Byrne in the 22 and marked. He clears upfield quickly.
10'Wales' attack from the line out is broken up by aggressive defence, leading to a Welsh knock on from the tackle by Worsley. England run the ball but Goode becomes isolated and has to give away the penalty.
9'a chip from Goode out of defence is picked up by Phillips, who runs and chips into the English 22 but Armitage recovers and retrieves the ball for England to clear.
7'Halfpenny takes the long penalty, 15 metres in from the left touch and just inside his own half, but doesn't quite make it.
6'We have our first bit of aerial tennis of the day until Wales drive the ball forward through Shanklin and at the ruck Easter gets completely on the wrong side of the ruck to concede the penalty. Kaplan warns Borthwick that the next infringement will lead to a card.
4'3-0 Penalty goal - Stephen Jones , Wales
3'A series of Welsh attacks from a line out all break the game line and they are staight into a pattern. Phillips kicks down the wing into a gap and Ellis has to clear to give the Welsh a line out in the English 22.At the ensuing ruck England concede a penalty for going in from the side and Jones has the simplest of kicks right in front of the posts. Duly converted, Wales 3-0 up.
1'That was a cracking half of rugby, fiercely contested and showing some quality from both sides. Wales had the majority of possession and showed the greater amount of running. England were resolute in defence and tackled relentlessly. The selection of Worsley seems to have added some strength here and they are still competing around the field. It would be interesting to see what would have happened if the English had managed to put their discipline issues behind them and not given away so many penalties or got through a half with 15 men. I'm looking forward to the second half- can the English carry on competing and can the Welsh come out and convert their running rugby into points? Williams and Henson are up in the Welsh hospitality area- what difference might they have made? It hasn't been for lack of running from the Welsh, but a little magic from one of them could have put a different complexion on this game. England come out, now followed by the Welsh. Time to see if what was said at halftime can change the course of this game for either side. Jones to kick off.
1'Fairly safe start, until Delon Armitage tries an ambitious and ultimately fruitless drop goal attempt from far out.
1'5.00pm Hello and welcome to Scrum.com's commentary of Wales vs England from the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. I'm Jamie Allaway and I am going to be keeping you informed and hopefully entertained whoever you are supporting. The key team news is that Shane Williams is out and replaced by Mark Jones, Ryan Jones is fit again and comes in for Daffyd Jones and reclaims the captaincy. Williams would be a loss to any side but you feel they still have plenty of firepower and running ability in the backs. Ryan Jones forms a formidable back row with Williams and Powell. For the English, Tindall brings his experience and physical presence into inside centre and Worsley replaces Steffan Armitage at open side. He bring plenty of experience, ball carrying and tackling ability. The key here may be how he, and the rest of the English back row, compete at the breakdown. They are a big physical group but Williams is a genuine seven and world-class player so they will need to prevent the Welsh getting too much quick ball and secure some of their own. 5.20pm The roof is open, but the weather is good, so hopefully we're in for a game of quality, exciting rugby. The atmosphere is building nicely and you can feel how important this game is going to be, as it always is. Wales are looking to continue some fantastic form as they become a major force in world rugby. England, stung by criticism after a weak performance last week, will be desperate to get some momentum going. If Wales win this one it will be 53 games a piece; both teams have a win under their belts in this tournament, so are playing to keep alive their Grand Slam chances. 5:30 pm There is huge noise as England come out but the place positively erupts as the Welsh walk slowly onto the pitch. The crowd roars as the Welsh anthems finish, Goode to kick off for the English, here we go!
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2009 News