Wynne Gray: England hurt by lack of conviction at death

Sam Burgess of England is tackled by Gareth Davies of Wales. Photo / Getty Images

One of the great delights in rugby is watching England squirm. Particularly at home on the manicured meadow at Twickenham, where supporters stoke their patriotic fervour to peak levels and create a frothing atmosphere.

If there's one thing they do well as a nation, it's support and boost England in their sporting quests. They fill the grounds, they get in costume and sing, they consume tanks of alcohol and food, and give plenty of banter and advice.

There are few limits to their carousing as they mix rugby and revelry with the best. England are world champions in that field but when they cross the white lines their national rugby side struggles to deliver matching results.

That's when things can get a bit tasty as their fans try to talk up their efforts. Often post-match unease is the reality as England supporters attempt to work out why the sweet chariot has got the wobbles.

England have good periods and were well worth their World Cup title in 2003 but despite massive playing numbers, funds and time spent tuning the latest squad, there is not a great natural look about their work.

They've got massive men throughout the pack and others in the backs, there are others such as Mike Brown, Jonny May and Anthony Watson with stacks of pace and elan but somewhere in the middle, they get lost.

Perhaps it's a consequence of churning through their long seasons, playing in slower conditions, too many imported players, a lack of stars to emulate or a blend of other issues but their rugby looks mechanical.

The nation which created the game struggles to absorb the diverse range of methods and tactics needed to be a regular success. All their instincts seem to be trimmed to deliver set-piece accuracy and defence, mega goal-kicking and brutal pressure to create mistakes. Even in its pomp, it looks a bit rigid.

They pounded Wales for about an hour and held a 10 point lead before they began to unravel. It did not seem possible. England were playing territory, Owen Farrell was kicking goals and their Twickenham guests were not offering too many problems.

Serious injuries arrived and mostly bit into Wales' player supplies. But not their will.

As England dithered, Wales rose on the back of fitness levels captain Sam Warburton said were supreme and an adventure which agitated their hosts.

A marvellous converted try to halfback Gareth Davies after his deputy Lloyd Williams centre-kicked adroitly from his fill-in left wing role, left a 25-25 scoreline.

When Dan Biggar kicked a 49m penalty to put Wales in front six minutes from time, England blew a valve. They earned a kickable penalty but captain Chris Robshaw spurned the chance of a likely draw and went for a try from a lineout drive. England were repelled, twice, Wales won the final scrum and Biggar kicked the ball into the crowd.

Wales were worth their win for the passion of their performance, while England had the victory sorted until they drowned in their conservative lack of conviction.

That can change and Twickers will ignite if England get past the Wallabies on Sunday. A week of tension that England's squad have never felt before and a Wallabies squad with a bit about them will make this Sunday's shootout (8am, NZ time) the hottest ticket in town.