By Mitch Phillips
LONDON Feb 25 (Reuters) – Wales departed the World
Cup with their reputation enhanced despite doubts over their
ability to close out tight matches but Saturday’s late Triple
Crown-clinching victory over England proved for the second time
in the championship that they have found a way to win the close
ones.
Three weeks ago a last-gasp Leigh Halfpenny penalty secured
victory over Ireland in Dublin and on Saturday, with Twickenham
roaring England forward at 12-12 with five minutes to go,
replacement centre Scott Williams stole the ball from Courtney
Lawes on the halfway line, kicked ahead and scooped up the ball
to score the only try of the match and seal a 19-12 win.
Wales have Italy at home next and, assuming they bag that
one, will face France in a potential championship and possibly
grand slam decider on the final day of the championship on March
17.
Saturday’s victory was only their second in 14 attempts at
Twickenham spanning 22 years and though they were by no means
dominant against an inexperienced England team who showed
encouraging signs of progress it was a massively important one.
“They had the chance to create history today and they’ve
done that,” coach Warren Gatland told reporters after his team
clinched their 20th grand slam and the first to be won at
Twickenham. “This is a team that’s going to be pretty special
over the next few years.”
However, the New Zealander, who led Wales to the semi-finals
of the World Cup last year where they were edged out by France,
was not about to start predicting a third grand slam in eight
seasons. “Italy is a potential banana skin if you start thinking
about France, but we’ve got to be confident of beating Italy at
home,” he said.
Captain Sam Warburton was also reluctant to talk about a
grand slam. “I’m not going to jinx myself and say it,” he said.
“We didn’t play well at all today. We knew England are a
quality outfit and that was one hell of a test match so to get
the Triple Crown is unbelievable.”
Continued…
