CARDIFF, 24 August 2003 — A depleted England team crushed Wales 43-9 in a World Cup warm-up international yesterday, scoring 27 unanswered second-half points to record their 14th straight victory.
England’s forwards laid the foundation, grinding down a tiring Welsh side and scoring three of their team’s five tries through Lewis Moody, Joe Worsley and Dorian West. Winger Dan Luger and center Stuart Abbott also crossed after the forwards had smashed their way toward the tryline.
The victory margin would have been higher if flyhalf Alex King, hoping to go to the World Cup in Australia as back-up to Jonny Wilkinson, had not missed six shots at goal.
He finished with 16 points, while Wales captain and flyhalf Stephen Jones scored all of his side’s points with three first-half penalties.
Wales, who defended superbly in the first half, were unable to sustain the pressure after the interval as they slumped to a 10th successive Test defeat. The opening 10 minutes was furious, with an England side made up largely of reserve players producing superb phase rugby.
World Cup Boost for Scotland
In Edinburgh, Scotland boosted their World Cup hopes with a refreshing 47-15 win over Italy at Murrayfield yesterday in a game which saw several fringe players rewarding coach Ian McGeechan’s faith in them.
The Scots ran in six tries through Jason White, James McLaren, Mike Blair, Gordon Ross, Simon Danielli and Brendan Laney as they proved too fast and inventive for a disappointing Italian side.
Leading 28-8 at half-time, it was all in stark contrast to their Six Nations clash here earlier this year when Scotland were fortunate to come away with a narrow victory.
It comes after two narrow defeats for McGeechan’s men in South Africa and will add to the growing confidence in the squad ahead of the following World Cup warmup games against Wales and Ireland.
A makeshift half-back pairing of Mike Blair and Gordon Ross looked the part with Ross landing two conversions and three penalties before being replaced minutes from the end.
