With two defeats in three days, even the advantage of the field to host France, undefeated after their clear 36-17 success in Scotland, in two weeks, and a seemingly easy trip to Rome on the last day, will not be probably not enough for the leek XV to keep its crown.

The English will have almost a semi-final to play against Ireland, again at Twickenham, before a trip to the Stade de France which could be decisive for the title.

"England and Wales strongly condemn the aggressive invasion of Ukraine. We are on their side", had proclaimed the bright screens before the match, to echo the very troubled geopolitical context currently.

But if the sport then resumed its rights, winners as they are, the English do not really have much to celebrate after this success that is all but controlled, at the end of a match in which they believed at least twice to remove everything suspense.

After a first period studded with hand fouls and avoidable penalties, the XV of the Rose had turned quite clearly in the lead, taking advantage of the indiscipline and Welsh slowness around the regroupings to take a 12-point lead (12-0 ).

The Welsh and the English try to recover the ball, during their match of the Six Nations Tournament, on February 26, 2022 at Twickenham Stadium, west London Adrian DENNIS AFP

Hardy prolongs the suspense

They had not even really managed to exploit a numerical superiority after a yellow card inflicted on Liam Williams (21st).

But shortly after returning from the locker room, a touch badly made by the visitors had even allowed the third center line Alex Dombrandt to tear himself away to register the first try (17-0, 43rd).

Number 8 Alex Dombrandt scores the first try for England against Wales, during the Six Nations Tournament, on February 26, 2022 at Twickenham Stadium, west London Adrian DENNIS AFP

Despite Smith's failed conversion and the time remaining to play, it was unclear how the Welsh would fare.

And yet, with pride and with pass combinations that finally followed, they scored 2 tries in 7 minutes to come back to 5 points, first by Josh Adams, served on the small side by a tense pass from Tomos Williams (54th), then by Nick Tompkins who had taken an interval to win everything until the in-goal (17-12, 61st).

The joy of Welsh center Nick Tompkins (c), after scoring the 2nd try against England, during the Six Nations Tournament, February 26, 2022 at Twickenham Stadium, west London Glyn KIRK AFP

England managed to get their hands on the ball and break away thanks to two additional penalties from their young opener (68th, 72nd) to push the Welsh back eleven lengths.

England opener Marcus Smith, author of 18 points, hits a penalty against Wales, during the Six Nations Tournament, February 26, 2022 at Twickenham Stadium, west London Glyn KIRK AFP

But a try at the very last minute by Kieran Hardy and a ball recovered by the Welsh almost on the engagement prolonged the suspense for several minutes of added time, before a new ball lost in a regrouping by the reds freed them. .

Scrum-half Kieran Hardy scores Welsh's third try against England during the Six Nations Tournament on February 26, 2022 at Twickenham Stadium, west London Glyn KIRK AFP

The ability to alternate the very correct and the very mediocre is undoubtedly the main characteristic of an English team in full transition, and Eddie Jones will probably only retain the 4-point lead which will spare him harsh criticism.

© 2022 AFP