England 23 Wales 19: Red Rose’s Six Nations hopes still alive as Marcus Smith kicks Jones side to Battle of Britain win
MARCUS SMITH'S trusty right boot ensured England’s Six Nations hopes remain alive.
But Eddie Jones’ side will have to find another level altogether if they are to rise to the looming challenges of Ireland and France.
On a day when Ben Youngs became England’s most-capped player, coming off the bench for his 115th appearance, it was the half-back at the other end of an international career who proved the stabilising influence - just as Jones’ men looked to be throwing the game away.
England appeared to be cruising when Alex Dombrandt rumbled over after a catastrophic Welsh line-out blunder to put them 17 points up at the start of the second half.
But tries from Josh Adams and Nick Tompkins saw Twickenham hearts fluttering and the Dragon roaring as Wales sniffed a remarkable comeback.
Yet Smith, just 23 and in his first Six Nations campaign, kept his head when all about were losing theirs, adding a fifth and sixth penalty to his four first half efforts as England stuttered over the line.
In truth, Smith was the stand-out exception in an otherwise stunted, stumbling and at times difficult to watch display, in which England’s limitations were more obvious than their qualities.
Jones will know his side were lucky to come up against a Welsh side seemingly determined to inflict damage on themselves.
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That was apparent from the two needless penalties allowing Smith to slot his side six points clear in the opening six minutes, the fast start Jones had demanded.
The visitors, though, were almost offered an instant response when Elliot Daly, drafted into the team at outside centre to replace the injured Manu Tuilagi after Jones and his side arrived at Twickenham, was dragged into touch behind the goal line.
Yet despite spending five minutes on England’s doorstep, Wales were unable to get inside, with returning skipper Courtney Lawes making a vital line-out steal.
Smith showed he was fallible as he missed a third chance from kickable distance after more errors at the breakdown before England should have increased their lead.
Harry Randall’s clever box kick forced a line-out deep in the Welsh 22 but with options outside, Charlie Ewels tried to go for the line and was held up inches short.
Liam Williams, though, was spotted interfering on the deck by the TMO, sent to the bin as a result, only for England’s front row to fold when they opted for a scrum in the shadow of the posts.
That inability to turn possession and territory into points was eerily and worryingly familiar, an echo of the failings that cost them so dear at Murrayfield three weeks ago.
Too many poor decisions and handling errors, by both sides, and a scrum that was an absolute mess, contributed to what was a far from impressive game.
And had Wales, with Dan Biggar becoming increasingly influential, seen out the Williams yellow card without conceding it would have been a massive psychological blow.
Instead, with Williams about to return, Wales were pinged at a ruck 40 yards out, Smith making amends as he bisected the uprights.
Despite Smith’s mercurial hands and side-steps, England’s performance was summed up as they squandered a glorious opportunity after Henry Slade’s brilliant kick earned a line out close to the Welsh line five minutes before the interval.
Maro Itoje soared, gathered and flipped the ball inside but Dombrandt toppled over the ruck to gift Wales a clearing penalty.
However, the half ended with Smith making it four out of five kicks when Ross Moriarty prevented England using the ball, clipping over from close range.
Far from great but 12 points was a platform - and Wales then committed a cardinal sin at the start of the second half.
Smith’s little kick was clever but the Welsh line-out self-destructed as Ryan Elias somehow missed all his jumpers, throwing straight to Dombrandt.
The Harlequins No 8 could not believe his luck as he was given a clear run to the line, stretching out to touch down.
Smith missed from the touchline before a game that had seemed there for the taking was suddenly transformed.
Prop Gareth Thomas wasted one gaping chance but then scrum half Tomos Williams created the space for Adams to scamper over in the corner, with Biggar unable to add on the extras.
And as Wales found hope and dash, another series of drives ended with Tompkins barging over, Biggar this time cutting the deficit to just five points.
On came Youngs, overtaking the watching Jason Leonard, to help turn the changing tide back in England’s favour.
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Another Smith penalty, after Alex Cuthbert was penalised, extended the lead again, with a nerveless three more points following from a similar distance to punish Adam Beard’s line-out misdemeanour.
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And although substitute Kieran Hardy scored Wales’ third try in the final minute, England were able to hang on through a nervy final attack. Just.
HOW THEY RATED
England: Steward 6; Malins 6, Daly 5 (Marchant, 74, 5), Slade 6, Nowell 5; Smith 8, Randall 6 (Youngs 62, 6); Genge 6 (Marler, 72, 5), Cowan-Dickie 5 (Genge 25, 6), Sinckler 5 (Stuart, 68, 6), Itoje 7, Ewels 6 (Isiekwe, 68, 6), Lawes 7, Dombrandt 6, Curry 6 (Simmonds, 41, 5)