LIGHTNING STRIKE

Borthwick's men lay down Law against tame Dragons

- NEIL SQUIRES

ENGLAND smothered woeful Wales as they won for the first time in Cardiff in six years to continue their upturn under Steve Borthwick.

The result was hardly surprising given the contrasting build-ups, with Wales incoherent and inaccurate in much of what they did – but any victory at the Principality Stadium for an England side is precious.

It was workmanlike but deserved for England who scored three tries to one to silence the home fans, with Ollie Lawrence settling the outcome five minutes from time.

In the end, after all the talk of industrial action in the build-up, that was the strike which mattered.

England captain Owen Farrell said: “I thought it was a step forward for us.

“It was a different challenge for us to come away from home to a place like this.

“It was a good test for us and we took control in that last 20, I thought.”