Faultless England continue Welsh woes in ten-try massacre

A rampant England flexed their muscles to reach their highest ever Six Nations winning margin in Wales and break into the top two for the first time since 2020.

England were ruthless in the first half scoring five tries as their physicality dominated their counterparts, while Tommy Freeman became the first England player to score in every round of a Six Nations.

Fin Smith, on his first start in Cardiff, flourished from the off with precise kicks to the corner and gave a wonderful looping pass for Tom Roebuck's try.

The Northampton Saints fly-half scored ten points off the tee, while Borthwick's wholesale changes in his forward pack paid dividends with scrum dominance from his mobile pack.

Any hope of a first Wales win in 16 tests were all but ended on the stroke of half time as super sub Chandler Cunningham-South crossed to score England's fourth - the first time since 2001 the Red Rose have achieved that feat in the Welsh capital.

Following England's breathtaking start that saw captain Maro Itoje and Roebuck cross, Wales scored a legal try through Ben Thomas after Blair Murray's early effort was ruled out for offside.

Ollie Chessum was a menace from the off securing maul turnovers, lineout steals and making mammoth hits but was replaced by Cunningham-South through injury after just 20 minutes. However, his replacement, a makeshift second row, made an instant impact touching down for a bulldozer-like try following Freeman's score which set the tone for an inspired display.

Will Stuart, on his 50th cap, rounded off a fine English first half to score following a trademark step.

Wales needed a response and spent the first 10 minutes of the second period camped in the English 22 but white line fever cost the hosts.

Meanwhile, their visitors failed to have the same issues as Jarrod Evans' pass hit Elliot Daly's head and found the grateful grasp of Alex Mitchell.

Debutant Henry Pollock profited from a wicked George Ford flat pass which evaded four Welsh defenders on its way to the Northampton flanker.

Joe Heyes gathered Tom Willis' spectacular offload for another and the visiting supporters' minds turned to title permutations as chants in support of Scotland sprouted in the stands, broken only by cheers as Pollock and Cunningham-South doubled their tallies.

A large proportion of Wales fans had departed before the end, missing Thomas' 77th-minute try which proved little consolation as England secured their fourth victory on the spin - a far cry from their dismal autumn.