Wales - 9 England - 26 If reports of Welsh rugby's imminent death have been exaggerated, England suddenly look more mortal by the week. As Wales used to do in their heyday, their opponents now arouse such levels of public expectation that mundane wins are no longer acceptable, even ones notable for the individual brilliance of Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio's fire and brimstone.
For as they edge closer to a title decider against Ireland next month, Clive Woodward's team appear to be in two minds, torn between their love of free expression and their stifling desire not to blow another grand slam.
Just as this young Welsh side is not as bad as people imagine, England are also finding that without quick ball and some key individuals their all-singing, all-dancing game is not as easily accessed.
Injuries, to be fair, are not helping their rhythm, with Jason Robinson and Neil Back, who suffered a twisted knee and calf strain respectively here, both doubtful for the next game against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday week. Jonny Wilkinson expects his sore knee to have healed in time to play for Newcastle next weekend but Lewis Moody's troublesome left shoulder could rule him out for the rest of the season.
Woodward does have plenty of back-row back-up, with Joe Worsley, a second-half try scorer, deserving of a start in a reshuffled unit against the Italians but, once again, it is the back-line mix which will preoccupy him.
If Wales deserve credit for the up-and-at-em attitude so lacking in Rome, here was further evidence that, in certain areas, England's collective efficiency is less than the sum of its parts.
It depends, naturally, who you talk to. The former England centre Jeremy Guscott is among those deeply unconvinced but, in the bowels of the deserted stadium late on Saturday night, Woodward remained adamant that the Charlie Hodgson experiment at centre has been "a huge bonus", at least in terms of giving the talented Sale outhalf much-needed Test experience.
England's failure to make the inroads they achieved in the autumn Tests was also, in Woodward's opinion, more a consequence of the referee's reluctance to yellow-card players who enter rucks illegally.
"If someone comes in from the side and kills the ball, just get him off for 10 minutes," pleaded Woodward, admitting some Englishmen had been as guilty as the Welsh. "It would soon stop it, but it's not happening. It affects the whole game."
As long as the right to contest the ball is not totally removed Woodward is correct, but, quick brain or not, Hodgson is not an instinctive centre. If you take away Greenwood's stunning contribution, England's attacking efforts paled in comparison to their defence's and Leicester's Ollie Smith, among others, will be closely monitored this weekend. The in-form Josh Lewsey of Wasps is in the frame at full-back if Robinson is ruled out.
Greenwood conceded that England had felt hot Welsh breath on their necks at half-time when they led only 9-6 with Phil Christophers in the sin-bin for pulling back Gareth Thomas. "The scenario felt very similar to Paris last year at that stage. We weren't quite firing, the home side were playing very well. But international rugby's all about taking your chances and they didn't take theirs."
Most costly was Mark Taylor's failure to use the two men outside him after a slicing 45-metre surge towards the English line. The soft tackling which allowed Greenwood through for his 46th-minute try compounded the sin.
There was only one outcome after that, England stretching away thanks to Worsley's short-range lunge within 30 seconds of entering the fray as Back's replacement and Wilkinson's second penalty in a personal haul of 16 points.
"I never thought we'd lose the game," concluded Woodward. "Maybe I'm just getting older and calmer in my old age."
WALES: Morgan; R Williams (Harris, 67), Taylor, Shanklin (Watkins, 65), Gareth Thomas; Sweeney,Cooper; I Thomas, Humphreys (capt, G Williams, 58), Evans (G Jenkins, 58), Sidoli, S Williams (Llewellyn, 73), Jones, M Williams, Gavin Thomas (Charvis, 58). Scorers: Pens: Sweeney 3. Sin-bin: S Williams, 55.
ENGLAND: Robinson (Christophers, 40); Luger (Gomarsall, 77), Greenwood, Hodgson, Cohen; Wilkinson (Simpson-Daniel, 77), Bracken (Rowntree), Thompson, Morris, Johnson (capt), Kay (Grewcock, 64), Hill, Back (J Worsley, 56), Dallaglio.Scorers: Tries: Greenwood, Worsley. Cons: Wilkinson 2. Pens: Wilkinson 2. Drop-goals: Wilkinson 2. Sin-bin: Christophers, 40.
Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand)
