Rugby World Cup: Six things we learned from Wales' win

Sam Warburton of Wales applauds the fans as he walks off the pitch during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Wales. Photo / Getty Images.

Herald columnist Chris Rattue looks at six things we learnt from Wales' win over England this morning.

1) Be afraid, very afraid...if this was a goalkicking competition.

There are a few dead eye dicks in the Six Nations. The frenzy over Leigh Halfpenny's injury, which robbed Wales of their top goalkicker, ignored that Dan Biggar was always a quality replacement from the tee.

2) Wales won this battle but they can't win the war

They've got too many injuries and their notorious scrum looks ready to topple. Wales put a lot of energy into this game - it was a magnificent rearguard action. But it has come at too much of a cost to a team already depleted by injuries.

3) Fortress Twickenham...

...is no more. It is not an impossible place to visit in the way that Eden Park seems to scare visitors. And Wales went into the game with two fairly recent victories at Twickers. But England wanted to turn this into a foreboding place at the World Cup, and ended up being embarrassed on home turf. They might not even get to the quarterfinals.

4) England's captain is a problem

Chris Robshaw is a decent loose forward, but he is not an openside. Having a cart horse at No. 7 is limiting even by England's traditionally dour standards.

5) Even his captaincy is questionable...
...after a ridiculous front of the lineout move in the final moments. It exposed the ball to the touchline, and Robshaw's fellow forwards didn't even seem to know what was on, giving Wales an easy job defending the half-hearted drive and securing the win. All those coaches, all those laptops, all those gizmos...

6) Even a kick dominated game full of penalty goals can be a thriller in the right circumstances

Tension was high, and the finale gripping...helped by the battered underdog winning.