Few would have expected Wales to set aside their many woes by banking a bonus-point victory over an Italy side that had deservedly earned plaudits for their ambition and style in this Six Nations.
Even fewer would have expected England to concede more than 50 points against France at Twickenham.
But the Six Nations doesn't always play according to script.
You can read the reasons why Wales achieved their 29-17 victory here. Below is what the UK media thought about the win and about England's implosion.
Peter Jackson, The Rugby Paper
It was as if Ken Owens had told them a few home truths, a reminder, first and foremost, as to the nation they were representing. Wales, in the captain’s words, may have been ‘a laughing stock during the emotional maelstrom before the England game but Owens would have issued a harsh warning aimed at preventing a matter deteriorating into a critical one.
All the forebodings about the fate that supposedly awaited them would have justifiably goaded ‘The Sheriff’ into a stiff reminder that Wales, for all their problems, have never been in the business of dealing in wooden spoons or whitewashes.
Judging by what happened at the Stadio Olimpico, the penny dropped right from the off.
Rhys Webb, the scrum-half who some dismissed as too old at 34, did more than lift flagging Welsh spirits. He galvanised the whole team.
Tom Cary, The Telegraph
Wales have been dreadful in this tournament, the chaos in their domestic game spilling onto the field and even into Gatland’s selection policy. But more importantly, Italy have been a revelation. Kieran Crowley’s team can attack from anywhere and everywhere with lightning speed, their set-piece is solid, and they have a liberal sprinkling of X-factor players such as Ange Capuozzo, Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone who can cause any team problems.
Suffice to say, they will be furious with themselves this morning. Wales were there for the taking and they fluffed their lines.
Stuart Barnes, The Sunday Times
As a nasty drizzle drifted on the Twickenham air, France did the unexpected. Meanwhile England played exactly into the hands of Fabien Galthie’s men. This is where a predictable game plan leaves you against the world’s elite — chasing shadows.
If this new regime is building anything, it is an edifice that belongs to another time.
Dublin isn’t the final game of this Six Nations. After yesterday it seems clear it is the first match in the quest towards 2027.
The 2023 World Cup is beyond them.
Sir Clive Woodward, MailOnline
After finishing my television work for ITV, I looked out of the window at the scoreboard. It read England 10, France 53. I had to look at it two or three times to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me. Unfortunately, the nightmare was very much a reality. The hammering by France was a sobering reality check of where English rugby is right now. England could have played yesterday’s France match a million times and they would still never have won.
It would be easy to put the boot into Steve Borthwick now. But this France humiliation is not the fault of the new England head coach. The result merely shows that the Eddie Jones regime led English rugby into big, big trouble in the last three years, with a few one-off wins papering over the cracks.I never thought I would see such humiliation. The road to recovery from this defeat promises to be long and painful.
Luke Baker, Independent
Never before, in 152 years of playing international rugby, had an England team had a home defeat this heavy. France obliterated their hosts 53-10 – surpassing the 42-6 loss to South Africa in 2008 – to give Borthwick’s men a humbling reminder of exactly where they stand in the pecking order just six months out from a World Cup.
As a reminder, France aren’t even the best team in this Six Nations. That distinction belongs to Ireland and, as luck would have it, England head to Dublin next week to round off their campaign. Get your calculators at the ready – based on this performance, that 76-0 defeat to Australia on the ‘tour from hell’ in 1998 might be under threat.
Rob Cole, The Observer
Wales fans probably felt entitled to ask Rhys Webb: “Where have you been?” after he crowned his first start in the Six Nations for six years, and his first in any match for Wales since 2021, with a masterly display.
His control, calmness and pinpoint kicking were the building blocks of a performance that allowed Warren Gatland to extended his unbeaten run over Italy to 13 games and helped earn Wales their first win of this season’s Six Nations.
Badgered by his four children to explain “Why are you No 21 Daddy, not No 9 any more?” he ensured they are more likely to be seeing him wearing single digits for the rest of this year, rather than a replacement’s jersey. As homecomings go, this was pretty sweet after a period in exile while playing in France and then a rather unhappy return under Wayne Pivac.
Read more:
Wales player ratings as Rhys Webb rolls back the years but winger frustrated after Gatland call
Warren Gatland Q&A: The players that pleased me and what we still have to work on
Wales finally win a Six Nations match as old face returns to make difference
