Wales celebrated fullback Leigh Halfpenny’s 100th Test match in style by overpowering England with a terrific second-half performance in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Dragons launched their World Cup warm-up campaign with a 20-9 victory, after trailing 6-9 to England at the break.
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Second-half tries by Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies and centre George North proved the difference at the Principality Stadium.
💥 @George_North slicing through for @WelshRugbyUnion 🙌
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England failed to cross the hosts’ line and arguably more players harmed their World Cup chances than booked their place in a tournament squad due to be announced by coach Steve Borthwick on Monday.
👊 Textbook from @jacmogs7 💪
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— Summer Nations Series (@autumnnations) August 5, 2023
Halfpenny won his 100th Wales cap in a side led for the first time by 23-year-old Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan and featuring three new caps in props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti and centre Max Llewellyn.
England, 20-10 Six Nations winners at Cardiff in February, started with Marcus Smith at fly-half, rather than regular captain Owen Farrell, as Northampton flanker Tom Pearson won his first cap.
A host of new combinations contributed to an error-strewn start by both teams and Wales hooker Ryan Elias went off injured early on.
England led 9-6 at half-time, Smith kicking three penalties to Halfpenny’s two after both teams had gone close to a try.
But it was Wales who broke the game open in the 47th minute.
Flyhalf Sam Costelow’s crossfield kick found Aaron Wainwright, with the No 8 passing to Morgan before the skipper beat two defenders and released Davies for a score Halfpenny converted.
🙌 Beautifully set-up for Gareth Davies
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— Summer Nations Series (@autumnnations) August 5, 2023
Wales pulled further clear with another converted try approaching the hour mark. Senior flyhalf Dan Biggar, on as a replacement, produced a clever chip that bounced kindly for wing Louis Rees-Zammit
The ball was spread wide to the right and unmarked powerhouse midfielder North went in between the posts.
Rees-Zammit went close to a third try late on as he chased his own kick but was ruled to have knocked on.
The teams meet again for another warm-up match at Twickenham a week on Saturday.
Photo: @autumnnations/Twitter