Gazeta Lodz - Wales down England in Rugby World Cup warm-up opener

Second-half tries by Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies and centre George North proved the difference at the Principality Stadium.

England failed to cross the hosts' line and arguably more players harmed their World Cup chances than booked their place in a tournament squad due to be announced by coach Steve Borthwick on Monday.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny won his 100th Wales cap in a side led for the first time by 23-year-old Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan and featuring three new caps in props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti and centre Max Llewellyn.

England, 20-10 Six Nations winners at Cardiff in February, started with Marcus Smith at fly-half, rather than regular captain Owen Farrell, as Northampton flanker Tom Pearson won his first cap.

A host of new combinations contributed to an error-strewn start by both teams and Wales hooker Ryan Elias went off injured early on.

England led 9-6 at half-time, Smith kicking three penalties to Halfpenny's two after both teams had gone close to a try.

But it was Wales who broke the game open in the 47th minute.

Fly-half Sam Costelow's crossfield kick found Aaron Wainwright, with the No 8 passing to Morgan before the skipper beat two defenders and released Davies for a score Halfpenny converted.

Wales pulled further clear with another converted try approaching the hour mark.

Senior fly-half Dan Biggar, on as a replacement, produced a clever chip that bounced kindly for wing Louis Rees-Zammit

The ball was spread wide to the right and unmarked powerhouse midfielder North went in between the posts.

Rees-Zammit went close to a third try late on as he chased his own kick but was ruled to have knocked on.

The teams meet again for another warm-up match at Twickenham a week on Saturday.

W.Mroz--GL