More injury woe for Wales after victory over England

FORMER Newport Gwent Dragons star Dan Lydiate hailed Wales’ stirring 28-25 World Cup victory over host nation England as a win that “will stick long in the memory”.

After early dominance, England caved in under the pressure, and Lancaster has some questions to answer. “The current England team have got to learn pretty quick, because we need to win next week”.

“Two teams go through and teams in the past have lost and then made it”. “For us to come here, no one gave us a hope”, said the 25-year-old Ospreys stand-off.

The defeat comes as a crushing blow to England, who dominated large spells of the contest but were simply unable to finish their opponents off.

Wales twice trailed by 10 points but, crucially, never allowed the hosts to get out of sight.

With only 2 minutes left on the clock, and trailing by two points after a superb Welsh breakaway try, England captain Chris Robshaw opted to go for the corner rather than taking a draw. “We weighed up the option but we wanted to go for the win”.

“It was a tough kick, we thought that during the two line-outs before we had some good ascendancy in the drive, but unfortunately it didn’t come off there”.

“It didn’t work, but it’s now about having a big reaction”, Robshaw said.

The decision backfired, as Wales’ pack snuffed out the danger with a big shove.

“I don’t think we will be resting too many players, but obviously that’s down to the boss”, he said.

Repeated infringements, particularly at the breakdown, were punished by French referee Jerome Garces, pinning England back on the scoreboard time after time.

England were left to rue several moments of ill-discipline, as a Dan Biggar-inspired Wales picked up a crucial World Cup win at Twickenham.

Wales lost centre Scott Williams to a knee injury after a tackle by Brad Barritt in the midfield, meaning he had to removed by a stretcher, which must be feeling like an unofficial mascot for Wales world cup campaign.

But the Kiwi said: “Today was about some courage and we spoke beforehand about the responsibilty and leadership”.

“This game is about emotion”.

Japan’s heroics against South Africa may lay that theory bare for rugby romantics, but when Farrell is in the kicking groove you just have to take the points. The way that the players stuck at their task, I can’t ask for any more.

William and Kate’s support of Wales is also related to the fact that the couple spent the first years of their marriage living in the United Kingdom country, on the north-west Welsh island of Anglesey.

“It was a fearless call to make”. We did lose one of our best players.

“Those are the decisions you make sometimes”.

“You’ve got to remember what these lads went through in the summer”, he said.

“If we had been blown away that is one thing”.

“Once you give away more than nine penalties you are in danger of losing the Test match”.