Two contrasting post-Cardiff verdicts are still vying with each other. One is that Wales, who have lost 12 of their past 15 internationals, displayed almost no cutting edge and even less tactical acumen. The second is that England defended so capably and did such an effective job of suffocating Welsh momentum that, enticing for neutrals or not, this was among their more valuable results since they reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
Both conclusions felt valid on Saturday night, especially when you listened to one of the visitors’ try-scorers, Kyle Sinckler, speaking from the heart after England’s biggest win in Cardiff since 2003. Sinckler, who now has 59 caps for his country, endured a traumatic time at the same venue in 2019 when his loss of discipline helped Wales to a significant 21-13 victory and few redemption stories have involved more honesty or self-awareness.
