England thrash Wales in Six Nations opener as Henry Arundell runs riot

By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent

Henry Arundell plundered a hat-trick of tries as England launched their Guinness Six Nations title quest by overwhelming Wales 48-7 at Allianz Stadium.

Two days after France swept aside Ireland 36-14 with a statement performance on the opening night, Steve Borthwick’s men responded by breaching the Welsh whitewash seven times to register their 12th successive Test win.

Arundell celebrated his first Test start since the 2023 World Cup by running in three first-half tries and there were also touch downs for Ben Earl, Toe Roebuck and Tommy Freeman, as well as a penalty try.

George Ford directed play masterfully at fly-half and England’s precision in the first-half was impressive, but they took their foot off the pedal after the interval against opponents who had discovered their stomach for the fight.

Crisis-stricken Wales hastened their downfall with a brainless first-quarter disciplinary implosion that conceded 10 penalties in 21 minutes and saw front rows Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake sent to the sin-bin.

Errors compounded across their game and apart from an improved second half, Wales’ 12th consecutive Six Nations loss in a run dating back to 2023 was more evidence of how far they have fallen.

Earlier in the afternoon, Italy rocked the Six Nations by ambushing Scotland 18-15 in Rome but at Twickenham it quickly became clear another upset was unthinkable.

Instead, by the end of the opening quarter England had surged 15-0 ahead through two simple Arundell finishes, both of them set-up by Ford who displayed his pinpoint passing and kicking for the assists.

But the drama extended beyond the scores with Wales’ early disciplinary wobble placing them in an impossible position.

By the 16th minute referee Pierre Brousset warned Lake he would start to issue yellow cards in response to the rising penalty count – it stood at five – and within a minute Smith and Lake were in the sin-bin.

Earl was getting through a mountain of work and after England had attacked one corner, they swept left where their number eight had the strength to touch down.

When a rare Welsh attack broke down, the ball was slipped to Arundell who completed his hat-trick before left wing Roebuck also got in on the action by crossing early in the second half.

In a sign of how easy it had been, Roebuck had three unmarked white shirts outside him who could also have scored.

Maro Itoje was sin-binned seconds after stepping off the bench and Wales rounded off a promising spell with Josh Adams gathering a Dan Edwards kick and strolling over.

England had lost their spark but with visiting centre Ben Thomas in the sin-bin and the impressive Earl moved to centre, they rediscovered their mojo with Pollock forcing a penalty try.

Taine Plumtree joined Thomas in receiving a yellow card and Wales were back down to 13 men, but Tom Curry then incurred the wrath of the busy Brousset for a no arms tackle.

Freeman had the final say with a powerfully finished try, although England will know they left points begging in the second half.