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Tommy Freeman showed a glimpse of the future with the No 13 on his back - Getty Images/Michael Steele
England took the Six Nations title race to its final game after destroying Wales 68-14 in Cardiff.
Steve Borthwick’s team guaranteed themselves a top-two finish, ahead of favourites France hosting Scotland, in emphatic bonus-point fashion but Wales were condemned to a second successive wooden spoon and 17th Test defeat on the bounce – a record for a tier-one nation in the professional era.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, respective patrons of the Welsh Rugby Union and Rugby Football Union, looked on at the Principality Stadium as England collected a bonus point by half-time before completing a record Six Nations win against Wales in 10-try fashion.
Wales
15. Blair Murray
The try-scoring gods have been against him this championship. Wales’ most industrious player, but was caught daydreaming for Roebuck’s try. An outside hope for the Lions, perhaps. 6
14. Ellis Mee
The youngster has an exciting international future ahead of him, even if he was pinged early on for not releasing and butchered a three-on-one chance when Wales had the overlap. Still very raw. 5
13. Max Llewellyn
A pariah at the start of this championship, showed glimpses of his ball-crashing ability but ultimately needed to involve himself more. 5
12. Ben Thomas
Looks infinitely more comfortable at inside centre, his tries book ending a tough day at the office for Wales, but his midfield partnership with Llewellyn lacked firepower. 5
11. Joe Roberts
Looked hungry and alert but had precious few chances to craft anything of note and was caught ball watching when Pollock glided in. 5
10. Gareth Anscombe
His struggles were symptomatic of Wales’ wretched championship. His inability to exit from a restart when Wales had a foothold put his side under the pump. Sacrificed for Jarrod Evans earlier than he would have liked. 3
9. Tomos Williams
Missed touch early on which invited England to assert their swagger and then impeded Tom Curry for Murray’s score to be scratched off. 5
1. Nicky Smith
Some promising carries and made a nuisance of himself in defence. You feel he’ll be an important player for where Wales go next. 4
2. Elliot Dee
His arrows weren’t as clean as they have been this campaign. Hooked for Dewi Lake at the break, despite finishing as Wales’ top tackler in a nightmarish first half. 5
3. WillGriff John
Scrummaged decently and did the fundamentals well enough before being replaced by Keiron Assiratti at the break. 4
4. Will Rowlands
Pretty powerless to stop Itoje’s early pop over the whitewash early doors but, like much of Wales’ attack, looked static. 4
5. Dafydd Jenkins
Punched a few holes in England’s defence and was a bundle of energy defensively but was far less prominent as a ball carrier. 4
6. Aaron Wainwright
Drafted in for Tommy Refell to provide more ball-carrying power but did not quite have the impact he is capable of, unfortunately spilling the ball over the try line. 6
7. Jac Morgan
One of the players of the tournament, which is some statement given Wales’ fortunes. Finished as his sides’ top tackler in another assured performance that cemented his Lions call-up. 8
8. Taulupe Faletau
Wales’ war horse hit some form towards the end of the championship and in front of Andy Farrell made some good yardage with a gritty display. 6
Replacements
Dewi Lake and Kieron Assiratti gave Wales some good go-forward in a prolonged spell of possession after the break, while Jarrod Evans and Rhodri Williams struggled to add any real intensity or tempo. 5
England
15. Marcus Smith
Probably his best game in a No 15 shirt. Always looked dangerous in possession without fully exploding. Stood up to the high ball test, although put one kick out on the full. 7
14. Tom Roebuck
Was as good as advertised under the high ball, dominating the aerial battle. Barely put a foot wrong elsewhere, scored one try and rock solid in his defence on the wing. 8
13. Tommy Freeman
This feels like a glimpse of the future with the No 13 on his back. Maintained his record of scoring in every game in this Six Nations and was always busy. 8
12. Fraser Dingwall
Just makes everyone else play better. By my reckoning he provided key pass before three assists and saved another getting back to Murray. Making himself mighty hard to drop. 8
11. Elliot Daly
So classy. Invariably picks the right option and even produced a headed assist for Alex Mitchell. Might just be on the plane for a third Lions tour. 7
10. Fin Smith
Already looks like a veteran in just fourth Test start. A consummate exhibition of fly half play with hand and boot, especially with his missile of an assist to put Roebuck in the corner. 8
9. Alex Mitchell
Almost makes box kicking look sexy. The accuracy and hang time of his bombs were a key difference between the sides. One egregious drop but great gas for his try. 9
1. Ellis Genge
With his wife due to give birth imminently, Genge played like a man with ants in his pants. Scrum was dominant and produced a couple of rampaging runs. 8
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
The trysaving tap tackle was a work of art. His close range carries may not make many metres but keep England on the front foot. A couple of miscues in the lineout. 7
3. Will Stuart
From liability to Lions lock, no Englishman has done more to improve their touring prospects than Stuart who marked his 50th cap with a try. 8
4. Maro Itoje
England played exactly how he promised with bravery and boldness. Only real blot on his Lions’ captaincy prospects was the concession of three penalties. Otherwise excellent. 8
5. Ollie Chessum
Few England players have suffered so much misfortune with injury and hopefully his shoulder injury stinger is not as bad as feared. One great lineout steal was he was on. 6
6. Tom Curry
Needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap now until the Lions tour as his body must be in bits. Always packed punch in the tackle, but now equally destructive as a ball-carrier. 8
7. Ben Curry
Completely outplayed Jac Morgan opposite him, feasting on the breakdown in England’s day of the jackal (x4). Link play was also outstanding. 9
8. Ben Earl
Best performance in more than 12 months. A dominant force at the breakdown, forcing two jackalling penalties in the first half before shifting seamlessly to inside centre. 8
Replacements
The worst-case scenario of a lock and centre came to pass and England barely blinked. Replacements delivered five tries including two by debut boy Henry Pollock.
Jamie George (for Cowan-Dickie, 47), Fin Baxter (for Genge, 61), Joe Heyes (for Stuart, 47), Chandler Cunningham-South (for Chessum, 19), Henry Pollock (for Freeman, 49), Tom Willis (for Ben Curry, 58), Jack van Poortvliet (for Mitchell, 58), George Ford (for Fin Smith, 55)
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