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CARDIFF - Wales avoided a Six Nations whitewash and acclaimed a new hero today when they closed the tournament with a James Hook-inspired 27-18 victory over an England team who began the day dreaming of the title.
Hook, 21, playing at first five-eighths in place of injured captain
Stephen Jones, scored a try after two minutes and ended with 22 points as Wales avoided a second wooden spoon in four years.
Their win was fully-deserved and enough to haul them above Scotland on points difference.
The world champions, who needed an improbable 57-point victory to deny France the title, were second-best all day and have to settle for third place on six points behind Ireland and the French.
Wales, whose victory in this fixture two years ago propelled them to the grand slam, tore out of the blocks on Saturday.
They had the first seven points on the board inside two minutes. A clearance kick by Toby Flood was charged down by opposing first five-eighths Hook, who scooped the ball up to touch down and convert.
The Welsh were in ferocious mood, their forwards smashing into their English counterparts with massive intent and their backs, particularly wing Shane Williams, full of running.
The second try arrived after 13 minutes when prop Chris Horsman was shoved over, and with Hook also on target with a penalty they were well-worth their 15-0 lead.
England had barely got a hand on the ball but regrouped to hit back strongly. Mike Catt, just as he was against France last week, was the catalyst as the 35-year-old captain slipped through a midfield gap, blazed clear and chipped ahead for Harry Ellis to score after a fortunate bounce.
Wales continued to exert the pressure but Ellis then made another 30 metre break and unloaded for Jason Robinson to fly down the left wing before expertly stepping inside two tacklers at the last second and score his fourth try of the tournament.
Wales will have wondered just how they turned around only three points ahead and even that slender reward for all their efforts disappeared with a Flood penalty shortly after the restart.
However, England then suffered a blow when Catt went off injured, opening the door for Shane Geraghty to win his second cap as part of a callow backline, with Robinson taking over the captaincy.
England lost their direction but when Kevin Morgan and Mark Jones then managed to mess-up what seemed a certain try and Hook missed a penalty the Welsh fans began to get nervous.
Hook settled them when he was on target with a three-pointer after 63 minutes and he stretched the lead to six with a drop goal soon after following relentless pressure from the home pack.
England had no answers and when Hook landed another penalty to make it 27-18 the crowd were able to roar their side home for a hugely gratifying victory.
- REUTERS