There was no match. England ideally started their Six Nations Tournament with an improved victory against a weak Wales team (48-7) on Saturday at Twickenham, scoring seven tries including a hat-trick from Henry Arundell.
The XV de la Rose takes the lead in the Tournament after the first day, with the difference in points compared to France, also winner with the offensive bonus against Ireland on Thursday (36-14), and one point ahead of Italy, who defeated Scotland (18-15) earlier on Saturday. The English will go to Scotland next weekend, while the Welsh will host the Blues.
Faced with the Welsh who have been unable to win against a team other than Japan since the 2023 World Cup, and who had lost 68-14 in 2025 in the Tournament against these same Englishmen, the XV de la Rose did the job without trembling, helped by Welsh indiscipline at the start of the match, with nine penalties and a double numerical inferiority of 10 minutes during the first 25 minutes.
The Welsh save honor
Former Racing 92 winger Henry Arundell took the opportunity to score his team’s first two tries (15-0, 19), then imitated by Ben Earl (22-0, 24) against a defense that was far too tender. And during one of the rare Welsh attacking attempts in the first period, a pass not in time gave the ball back to England and Henry Arundell spun to give his team the offensive bonus even before the break (29-0, 37).
The Welsh, however, saved the honor in a second period without challenge by scoring a try by Josh Adams following a siege of several minutes from the English goal. But the English had previously scored through Tom Roebuck.
Less effective after being reduced to 14 following the yellow card addressed to Maro Itoje twenty seconds after coming into play, they waited until the last quarter of an hour to score again, with a penalty try compounded by a yellow card which once again reduced the Welsh to 13 (43-7, 68). Despite the entries of Marcus Smith and Henry Pollock, who gave more energy to the game, the English waited until the 79th minute to score again, through Tommy Freeman.
