World Cup warm-up/England 62 Wales 5:It would be dangerous for people to get too carried away. But on Saturday it almost felt like old times. England collecting multiple tries, big forwards thundering over the gain line, the scoreboard whirring like a fruit machine in a supercasino. Was it a mirage? Not entirely, no.
Admittedly, as Brian Ashton was quick to stress, England cannot rely on finding all future opponents as malleable as Wales were. They will have to be more ruthless close to the tryline and one or two of Ashton's men became too bosh-happy instead of offloading or seeking open space. Yet something crucial has been rekindled that may yet carry Ashton's men further than expected at the World Cup. It is called faith, both in their own individual ability and in their collective potential.
Up front, above all, there was plenty of encouragement, not least Nick Easter's muscular quartet of tries, which equalled Neil Back's record for an England forward.
Easter's rising status is a heart-warming story of perseverance and the slightly forced wry smile on Lawrence Dallaglio's face as he stood on the touchline spoke volumes.
Sure enough, when the latter did finally appear, he wasted little time in crashing over for one trademark try and creating another for the man of the match, Shaun Perry. His gladiator's roar following his own 66th-minute score was indicative of the intense competition for places in Ashton's World Cup 30 to be named tomorrow week.
The jut of the Wasps skipper's jaw at that precise moment made it hard to credit the theory that Wales have successfully lulled England into a false sense of security. It is more likely Gareth Jenkins's side have conveniently played Perry, Simon Shaw and Andy Farrell into some form although, as Dallaglio and his captain Phil Vickery reiterated, the better moment for reflection will be in Marseille on Saturday week after the second of two Tests against the World Cup hosts, France. "Next week will be much tougher," warned Vickery, who made it clear the ankle problem that saw him limp off at half-time was nothing serious.
As far as Ashton is concerned, however, England are now clutching some kind of road map where previously there was none. Joe Worsley's athleticism and the percussive impact of Martin Corry, briefly reinstated as captain after Vickery's departure, Easter, Shaw and Andrew Sheridan have also encouraged England to believe they can match the physicality of their pool opponents South Africa when it comes to the real thing.
Ashton's disgruntlement when a charging Worsley ignored a big overlap in the first half was obvious. Tom Rees remains the first-choice openside but the question of back-row balance remains. Easter has done himself a power of good and may have increased the chances of a 17th forward going to the World Cup at the expense of a spare back.
James Haskell and Dan Ward-Smith cannot afford to start sluggishly, assuming they feature in the side to face France, which should be confirmed today.
A more immediate issue is whether Mark Cueto's groin and Peter Richards's back are anything more than minor irritations. Cueto was injured in the warm-up, prompting a late call-up for Mathew Tait.
Farrell and Dan Hipkiss looked solid despite a recent lack of match practice and Jason Robinson's chip-and-chase try gave the crowd something to savour on what may well have been his final Twickenham appearance.
Jonny Wilkinson's seven conversions and a penalty hoisted him over the 900 Test points barrier, with his cute kick ahead for Tait to score England's ninth and final try being singled out for praise by Ashton.
Guardian Service
England: Tait; Strettle, Hipkiss, Farrell, Robinson; Wilkinson, Perry; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery; Shaw, Borthwick; Corry, Worsley, Easter. Replacements: Chuter for Regan (56), Stevens for Vickery (41), Moody for Corry (70), Dallaglio for Easter (58).
WALES: Byrne; Brew, Shanklin, G Thomas, D James; Sweeney, Cooper; I Thomas, Bennett, Horsman; W James, Sidoli; Wyn-Jones, Charvis, Owen. Replacements: T James for Shanklin (78), Jenkins for I Thomas (55), R Thomas for Bennett (51), T Thomas for Horsman (51), Popham for Owen (51).
Referee: Joël Jutge (France).
