It was an entertaining spectacle at Twickenham, though it’s doubtful any observer from the southern hemisphere would have been impressed. England were deserved winners but should have put a poor Welsh team to bed much earlier in the match, with a number of stupid penalties allowing Leigh Halfpenny to keep his team within reach. Chief culprit was Dylan Hartley, he alone conceding 12 points and whose reckless indiscipline is a recurrent theme surely wearing thin with Stuart Lancaster.

Wales had opportunities to score tries and each of Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, and George North botched chances with hopeless grubber attempts rather than keeping ball in hand. Attack coach Robert Howley would have been pulling his hair out over such lamentable decisions, and even more so over the state of his halfbacks, who were dreadful and should have been pulled at the half. As it was Rhys Webb came off injured and at last Rhys Priestland was subbed, but it was too little, too late.

Lancaster’s men played well, though it wasn’t a vintage performance. Owen Farrell still struggles to move the ball wide, and Jonny May ran into trouble running too laterally and away from his support. The scrum had some problems and there were a few too many missed tackles. On the other hand Billy Twelvetrees had a very good game and at last showed the versatile skill set that all have been hoping to see, and Luther Burrell ran well outside him.

Wales must now make changes. The championship is lost and some players are just not making their mark. Dan Lydiate is off the pace, distracted by his new family addition, and should make way for Justin Tipuric. Gethin Jenkins is nearing the end and although Paul James didn’t exactly take his chance against Italy, he deserves another go after impressing in his cameo from the bench. Halfpenny blew out his shoulder in a try-saving tackle on Burrell and will need replacing. Liam Williams is most likely but Hallam Amos would be a pleasant surprise.

The halfbacks are a big problem. Webb’s injury will probably necessitate his replacement anyway, with the return of Mike Phillips virtually assured. Rhodri Williams probably comes onto the bench, though Gareth Davies has been keeping him out of the Scarlets side all season and deserves a chance. Priestland should be consigned to the scrap heap until he finds his form. With Rhys Patchell out injured it’s down to Dan Biggar to get the job done as it seems James Hook is not considered a reasonable option to start at no10 by the Welsh management.

Even with the victory England have some work ahead to win the championship. Ireland’s brilliant performance in Dublin has put them all but out of sight on points, though Paris is the last place any Irish fan would want to travel in a championship decider. A strong performance to cap their tournament is a necessity in Rome, after that they’ll need a little help from lady luck and a lot from Les Bleus to taste victory from the cup.

ENGLAND 29 vs 18 WALES
Sunday, March 9, 15:00 GMT, London

SCORING
05 mins – D. Care try 5-0
06 mins – O. Farrell con 7-0
08 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 7-3
19 mins – O. Farrell pen 10-3
22 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 10-6
26 mins – O. Farrell pen 13-6
31 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 13-9
33 mins – L. Burrell try 18-9
34 mins – O. Farrell con 20-9
37 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 20-12
40 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 20-15
46 mins – O. Farrell pen 23-15
54 mins – O. Farrell pen 26-15
57 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 26-18
59 mins – O. Farrell pen 29-18

CARDS
53 mins – G. Jenkins yellow (repeat infringements)

ENGLAND
M. Brown (A. Goode 79); J. Nowell, L. Burrell, B. Twelvetrees, J. May; O. Farrell (G. Ford 79), D. Care (L. Dickson 79); J. Marler (M. Vunipola 64), D. Hartley (T. Youngs 69), D. Wilson (H. Thomas 73); J. Launchbury (D. Attwood 73), C. Lawes; T. Wood (T. Johnson 79), C. Robshaw (capt.), B. Morgan.

WALES
L. Halfpenny (L. Williams 74); A. Cuthbert, J. Davies, J. Roberts, G. North; R. Priestland (D. Biggar 62), R. Webb (M. Phillips 52); G. Jenkins (P. James 64), R. Hibbard (K. Owens 54), A. Jones (R. Jones 66); J. Ball (A. Coombs 73), A.W. Jones; D. Lydiate (J. Tipuric 73), S. Warburton (capt.), T. Faletau.

Referee: R. Poite (FFR)
Assistants: S. Walsh (ARU) & L. van der Merwe (SARU)
TMO: S. McDowell (IRFU)