Saturday 25th February 2012
The clash at Twickenham on Saturday didn't quite go to script. All week, there was talk of the Welsh coming to London to smash an inexperienced English team. What we didn't bet on was the level to which the English played.
Much like the Calcutta Cup game, it boiled down to a one off score to split the sides. The English put up a titanic defensive display to nullify the revered giants that are the Welsh backline, but in the end it was the back-up Scott Williams, on for the injured Jamie Roberts at half time who tackled, stripped, ran, kicked, chased and gathered to score an outstanding individual effort.
For all of the positives that England will take away, Wales did not play to their fullest potential.
They got off to a flyer with George North streaking through the defensive line from 1st phase lineout ball only to be tap tackled by the covering David Strettle just as North was lining up Ben Foden.
England held out through the early storm and even posed their own threats with the central axis of Ben Morgan at 8, Lee Dickson at 9 and the excellent Owen Farrell at 10 all contributing to England's halftime lead of 9-6.
For me, this game was all about the English defence holding out the expected and enormous Welsh attacking force and the Welsh defence having to cope with an English attack that not even they weren't expecting.
The hits were huge, bodies were relentlessly thrown down in the name of each cause and every ball was competed for with unremitting power.
Unfortunately though, the game's biggest influence was referee Steve Walsh.
Never far from controversy on or off the pitch, the New Zealander was, at times, blatantly ignorant of flagrant offences at the breakdown. Mike Phillips, the Welsh scrum half, had a frustrating day at the office as the English forwards slowed down a lot of ball at ruck time. It should be said, the vast majority of it was legal, but at times in the second half Walsh and his touch judges seemed to ignore hands in the ruck, forwards off their feet and players coming in from the side.
Referee Steve Walsh did not have his finest game
It wasn't just the Welsh who were hard done by. When Jonathan Davies rushed out of the defensive line to tackle Owen Farrell, clearly knocking on the ball in the process, the resultant lineout was awarded to the Welsh. When questioned by an English player, Walsh was heard responding nonchalantly that he got it wrong and dismissed it with a sarcastic sounding 'sorry mate'.
It does beg the question as to why referees from outside the competing 6 nations are refereeing these tournament fixtures?
The final result did come down to a huge decision by the officials. Luckily, Walsh and his line running counterpart referred Strettle's last minute try/no try decision to the TMO.
I believe the resultant verdict was the correct one as it was judged inconclusive. Strettle's hand appeared to be underneath the ball and there was no apparent downward pressure.
Fortunately for the sake if this game, the result didn't come down to a Steve Walsh bad decision and Wales clinched a victory they had to work a lot harder than they had expected to earn their 20th Triple Crown.
With two home games against the French and Italians, the Welsh are now firm favourites to clinch their third grand slam in 8 years.
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