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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Pool A clash between England and Wales!
Click here for ESPN's match preview
This match has long been billed as the ''decider'' and the victor here at Twickenham will undoubtedly gain a crucial advantage in the race to qualify for the last eight.
Wales have their injury concerns and selection dilemmas which have arguably given the hosts the edge. But, will Stuart Lancaster's selection gamble backfire? There's only one way to find...
Follow ESPN's men on the ground, Tom Hamilton (@tomESPNscrum) and Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport), who'll be providing us with insight on the game directly from Twickenham.
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| 1 |
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Wales have won the toss and they've chosen to start proceedings.
First penalty to Wales already along the half way. Tom Youngs concedes for England.
Wales kick out and they have the lineout substantially inside the England 22 already.
England fail to deal with the lineout effectively and Wales have a penalty, with Biggar lining it up...
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| 2 |
0 - 3 |
Nails it. Dan Biggar secures the first three points in favour of Warren Gatland's men.
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| 3 |
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Tom Wood finds a gap in the Welsh line just along the half way but fails to really advance and make the most it. England dictating the possession during these first few minutes and you can already feel the energy spilling out from both sets of players already.
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| 4 |
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| 5 |
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First scrum of the evening with Wales to feed, just outside the England 22...
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| 6 |
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Penalty against Wales' Gethin Jenkins and Owen Farrell kicks out giving a some rest bite for England. They'll look to take advantage of this lineout, just inside half way.
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| 7 |
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Farrell kicks into the Wales corner in an attempt to push England further into Welsh territory but Wales comfortably collect and kick back.
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| 8 |
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Mike Brown offloads to Anthony Watson on his right, who chips down the line and continues to chase. He does well and earns England an eventual lineout deep in Wales' 22.
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| 9 |
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England couldn't get the lineout drive set and are later penalised for failing to release the ball on the deck. Penalty to Wales and Lancaster's side fail to take advantage of the ground they made from Watson's initial little chip.
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| 10 |
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Two England scrums, two England penalties. Wales are accused of wheeling that scrum around and Farrell has a chance - albeit a slim one due to how far out this penalty kick is - of gaining some English points.
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| 11 |
3 - 3 |
Judged to perfection. He makes it. Fantastic kick from Farrell, proving his laser-like precision once again.
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| 13 |
3 - 3 |
Biggar -
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| 14 |
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A high testing kick from Wales' No.10 and Mike Brown impressively takes for England amid a host of incoming bodies.
The game appears to be settling now and the initial energy is fizzling out slightly as the nerves start to calm.
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| 15 |
3 - 6 |
Wales penalty, and in similarly impressive style to Farrell's kick moments ago, Biggar makes it.
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| 16 |
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The game restarts and under the guidance of Faletau, Wales advance a few metres. The No.8 bundles his way through England's forwards being eventually being taken down. Some brute strength shown their by the Welsh flanker.
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| 17 |
6 - 6 |
DROP GOAL FOR ENGLAND!
Farrell sneaks one just over the bar form a fair way out - the second drop goal of the tournament so far. Very impressive stuff from the fly-half as he once agains proves his ability to handle the pressure of big games. England are now level.
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| 18 |
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England are giving it a go from their 22 and Sam Burgess is at the fore, advancing two metres before being chopped down.
Farrell eventually boots up field to release some of the pressure being mounted on them by their Welsh opponents.
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| 19 |
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No.6 vs. No.6. Wales' Dan Lydiate chops England's Tom Wood and England's man goes flying with his legs floating above head for a moment.
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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England scrum and another England penalty!
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| 23 |
9 - 6 |
Farrell lines it up and adds the points on offer. England, first the time in this game, are in front.
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| 24 |
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Wales lineout just inside the half way.
Faletau drives head first into the English line and is looking like one of main Welsh outlets at the moment. Little head-to-head contact from Burgess and Roberts there, too. Some tasty hits going in from both sides.
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| 26 |
14 - 6 |
TRY! Jonny May.
Ben Youngs offloads to May on his left who has a quick direct 10 metre run to the try line. Easy little try for May. Pat on the back to Mike Brown there with some relentless running. England's fullback picked the ball up well off the deck before going into contact. Watson also involved - some nice interchanging from England's back three.
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| 28 |
16 - 6 |
Farrell - conversion
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| 30 |
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Liam Williams collects the high ball off a Ben Youngs kick. Punts back upfield and Jonny May almost, ALMOST, puts England in trouble.
May collects the ball deep in the England 22 unaware that the Welsh forwards are hot on his tail and tries to run it on his own. Fortunately Mike Brown is nearby and May eventually offloads. Brown then kicks high and long.
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England have run 178 metres as opposed to Wales' 60 so far. Make of that what you will...
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| 33 |
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Welsh lineout on the edge of the England 22.
Wales having real problems with their set piece. They fail to find their intended jumper and Courtney Lawes collects and collapses down, gaining an England scrum.
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| 35 |
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A fairly scrappy period of play here featuring a lot of end-to-end kicking.
Big, big jump and catch from Farrell as he clatters into his opposing Welsh number at high speed. Not sure how either of them are still standing but they are.
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| 36 |
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Mike Brown continues to battle hard and is a proving a proper handful for Wales - and a vital weapon for England.
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| 37 |
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Wales lineout proves fruitful this time and they eventually manage to find Scott Williams. He drives hard and looks like he's through destined for the try, however, Brown's last gasp tackle catches the legs of the No.13. England's saviour, again.
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| 38 |
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Wales penalty!
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| 39 |
16 - 9 |
On the cusp of half-time Biggar's penalty gives Wales a useful three points.
Gatland's men have undoubtedly looked a threat throughout, most notably through Faletau's brute strength at barging through the English line but still Lancaster's men stand strong and look the safer bet of the two.
England's back three are putting in a great shift. Farrell's kicking proving vital, too.
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| 40 |
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| 40+1 |
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ESPN's Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport) who's at Twickenham had this to say:
"England did not start well amid a raucous Twickenham atmosphere, and a nervy opening saw them gift Wales six points. However, that was before the calm head of Owen Farrell took over and the Saracens man showed exactly why he was selected for such a crucial contest. His kicking not only settled English nerves but got them going on the scoreboard and set the platform from which they ultimately struck. Wales are by no means beaten and Dan Biggar's third penalty keeps them in striking distance. They just need to cut out the errors that have crept into their own game."
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We're back underway...
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| 40 |
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Farrell kicks into the corner and Biggar fails to handle and dribbles it into touch. England lineout on the edge of Wales' 22.
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| 41 |
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Lineout has proved helpful and England end up shifting the ball down the line and further forward. Mid-way inside the 22 and Farrell goes for another drop goal. But, unlikely the first, he misses.
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| 42 |
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Penalty to England. Play is brought back for a high tackle and it's within Farrell territory again just inside the 22.
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| 43 |
19 - 9 |
Farrell restores England's 10 point cushion!
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| 44 |
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Burgess kicks the ball - not very effectively - into the Welsh 22.
...and the ball is kicked back by Wales.
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| 45 |
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England concede a penalty which Davies takes very quickly relying on the element of surprise to catch England out.
Better from Wales and they receive a reward for their work in the form of a penalty. Biggar to take.
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| 47 |
19 - 12 |
Biggar squares things up and claims back a further three points. The fly-half's kicking is vital but they're going to need more than his boot to keep them in this game.
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| 48 |
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Nice little offload from Williams to George North on the right flank, but he's quickly shut down by Sam Burgess and pushed out of play.
Wood wins the lineout along the half way.
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| 50 |
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England penalty, Farrell to take...
Nails it! Flawless kicking from Farrell, not missed a kick all night.
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| 51 |
22 - 12 |
The initial little Welsh surge we've seen has been pinned down it seems. Just as they look like clawing their way back in, England shut them back down, usually via the boot of Owen Farrell. What next for Gatland's men?
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| 52 |
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England's captain dives in a bit over enthusiastic and knocks on giving away a Welsh penalty. Biggar to take again.
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| 53 |
22 - 15 |
Biggar secures the points on offer. Three to us, three to them...
Will either side make a break through or is this a battle of kickers?
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| 54 |
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Amos kicks to Brown, who kicks to Amos again, who then collects well considering his surrounding of several English players.
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| 55 |
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England lineout, results in the first rolling maul of the evening. However, it collapses to the ground and Wales have the scrum. Good work from Gatland's men.
Tackles so far....
England - 66
Wales - 68
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| 57 |
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Wales penalty. Both sides putting each other under pressure here with the scoreboard now looming over the men in red - can they recover from their current seven point deficit?
And that penalty kick is a start. Great kick from Biggar from a pretty tricky angle and distance. Both capitalising on these penalties.
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| 58 |
22 - 18 |
Biggar - penalty goal
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| 59 |
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Amos kicks into the corner and have lineout deep in the England 22.
Solid passage of play from the Welsh men here. With Tipuric and Charteris to come on, you can help but feel there's a twist to come here.
Tom Youngs is the first to fall to the floor with cramp.
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| 60 |
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Wales' lineout results in a rolling maul but Richard Wigglesworth collects the ball and clears the ball. England has a moment to regather themselves here. Wales do have the lineout again but England will be relieved to see that 50 metres further up the pitch.
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Don't forget, you can follow ESPN's men on the ground for some extra insight to what is a very tense affair...
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| 62 |
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After a brief moment to deal with Vunipola's cramp, Wales restart with the lineout and they manage to find George North in a lot of space on the right flank. However, Brown saves England again.
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| 63 |
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Watson explodes up field, gently kicking the ball before taking on the Wales back three. Amos just about gets there before the English winger, but a nail biting moment for Welsh fans.
Wales have an injury. Yes, another injury. Scott Williams is on the deck after a heavy collision with Brad Barritt and is stretched off. Vunipola has gone off with a knock, too. Strength in depth proving to be key here, especially with such a strong pool.
Massive kick from Biggar as he kicks their penalty from Wales' five metre line five metres in the England half.
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| 64 |
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Huge, huge tackle from Owen Farrell as he stops Wales on the advance. They were progressing well down the right flank and England fly-half comes to the rescue, pushing the ball out of play.
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| 65 |
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England lineout bang on the half way which leads to a rolling maul. May erupts, finding Watson who then finds Robshaw five metres out from the try line. The England captain is taken down by Amos - a good tackle. Where did that passage of play come from?
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| 66 |
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Amos is now injured. This is madness. Welsh players dropping like flies. Looks like his elbow is dislocated on first look as he hobbles off. Liam Williams is now off with concussion too.
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| 67 |
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Play finally restarts and England have pushed their way deep inside the Welsh 22. Some scrappy play but we come back to an England penalty right under the posts. Chance for Farrell to make another three points.
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| 68 |
25 - 18 |
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| 70 |
25 - 23 |
WALES TRY! Unbelievable scenes at Twickenham as Gareth Davies makes the try for Wales! Lloyd Williams kicks into the midfield from the left flank and gets the lucky bounce on the ball, Davies meets it and drops the ball down in between the English uprights. This game is right on a knife edge now.
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| 71 |
25 - 25 |
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| 73 |
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Wales penalty on the half way line. And yes, Biggar's going for it....
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| 74 |
25 - 28 |
HE'S DONE IT. WALES ARE IN THE LEAD.
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| 75 |
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England penalty in their half and Ford boots up field for the lineout.
Biggar's set a record with 23 points for a Welshman against England, too.
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| 76 |
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Wales push England back slightly but the men in white do still have ball possession. They continue their attempts to make forward progress but Wales are doing their best - which is proving enough - to keep them at bay.
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| 77 |
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ENGLAND PENALTY! Very tough angle along the right flank. Inside the 22 but can they squeeze it from there?
Huge call as Ford kicks it out in the corner for a lineout!
Wales push England out from the subsequent lineout. Great defence from Wales there, brute force. Impressive stuff from Gatland's men.
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| 78 |
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England lineout midway in the Welsh 22. And Lancaster's men lose the ball and Wales have possession again. Sloppy from England there and time is running out quickly. It's getting desperate and what looked like a fairly certain win considering the decimated Welsh side thanks to injuries is now looking more and more unlikely...
Wales scrum!!
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| 79 |
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Wales manage to collect and hold on to it from the scrum. Gatland's men bang it into touch. Is that it?!
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| 80 |
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IT'S DONE! OVER! Wales have beaten England 28-25 at Twickenham!
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| 80+1 |
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ESPN's Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport) had this to say:
"Rarely has Twickenham seemed so tense as during the final 10 minutes of what was a frenetic Rugby World Cup match. Stuart Lancaster will wonder how exactly his side lost it, but in truth they only have themselves to blame. Lancaster's selections were vindicated yet his side were unable to make their first-half pressure count while careless penalties kept Wales in it for large spells. But credit Warren Gatland's men as red bodies lay strewn around the famous turf they raised themselves for a huge 10 minutes in which they left England shell-shocked. Owen Farrell was superb for England, as was Sam Burgess, but Dan Biggar came of age. Whether Wales have enough backs left to beat Australia and Fiji only time will tell but they've given themselves a chance."
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| 80+2 |
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