England (6) 19Try: Itoje Con: Ford Pens: Farrell 3, FordWales (0) 17Try: Penalty, T Williams Con: Biggar Pen: O Williams
England captain Owen Farrell could miss their World Cup opener against Argentina after being sent off in their warm-up win over Wales at Twickenham.
Farrell became the first England player to have a yellow card upgraded to a red by the new ‘Bunker’ review system, after a high tackle on Taine Basham.
Tomos Williams scored after a penalty try to hand Wales the lead with three England players in the sin bin.
Maro Itoje’s try cut the deficit and George Ford kicked the winning penalty.
Farrell kicked three penalties in a scrappy Test match in which neither side was close to their best as England looked to avenge last week’s defeat by Wales in Cardiff.
Wales reduced England’s lead to a couple of points with a penalty try as Freddie Steward tackled Josh Adams in the air before the game sparked into life with Farrell’s red card.
The newly introduced ‘Bunker’ review system for foul play, which is being used during the Summer Nations Series, was called into action as on-field referee Nika Amashukeli could not decide if Farrell’s tackle on Basham warranted a straight red card.
He was initially shown a yellow card and took his place in a chair on the touchline before later being shown a red card and sent down the tunnel into the bowels of England’s headquarters.
Wales cut loose with Steward, Farrell and 50th cap winner Ellis Genge all off the field as Tomos Williams scored a simple run-in to threaten a first Welsh win at Twickenham since the 2015 World Cup.
Urged on by a vocal home support, England quickly responded and Itoje was the beneficiary at the back of the rolling maul to end England’s two hours and 34 minute wait for a try since Jamie George’s consolation against Ireland in Dublin at the end of the Six Nations.
Ford kicked the winning penalty a few moments later as England ended their run of three defeats in a row, but any pleasure the home side take from the win will be offset by the prospect of a likely ban for their experienced skipper.
England end losing run at what expense?
This was not a vintage England performance as they continued their preparations for this year’s showpiece in France but the victory was important to boost morale.
Steve Borthwick’s men returned to Twickenham for the first time since their humbling by France in the Six Nations and struggled for attacking cohesion early on.
Farrell’s boot handed them the advantage but Ollie Lawrence’s powerful run, as he cut back inside and shrugged off Tom Rogers with an outstretched palm, was a rare moment of incision.
England lacked discipline but showed resilience to recover from a losing situation to wrestle back momentum and clinch victory.
More important than warm-up results and performances, however, is the ability to come through a pre-tournament schedule unscathed and Borthwick will be concerned at the potential loss of half-back pairing Farrell and Jack van Poortvliet.
The scrum-half had to be supported as he hobbled off the pitch before later emerging on the sidelines in crutches, while Farrell’s fate now lies in the hands of governing body World Rugby, who will determine the length of any ban and whether there were any mitigating factors.
More to follow.
Line-ups
England: Steward; Arundell, Marchant, Lawrence, Daly; Farrell (capt), Van Poortvliet; Marler, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Hill, Willis, Youngs, Ford, Malins.
Wales: L Williams; Adams, Roberts, Tompkins, Rogers; O Williams, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Francis, Beard, R Davies, Lydiate, Reffell, Plumtree.
Replacements: Parry, Mathias, Lewis, Tshiunza, Basham, G Davies, Biggar, K Williams.
