His main role was to feed Robinson after fielding failed touch kicks.Mathew TaitWelcome to Test rugby – a couple of bumps from Henson for today’s birthday boy, and then an early bath.Jamie NoonLike his young Newcastle team-mate, nerves clearly got the better of him. A big lad, and a strong runner for a prop.Robin McBrydeNot used.Jonathan ThomasNot used.Ryan JonesCame on after 63 minutes for his namesake Dafydd and promptly knocked on.Gareth CooperLate arrival so Peel could rest his weary limbs. Best uses his talent when going forward with the ball.ReplacementsJohn YappCame on for his first, brief taste of Six Nations. His usual speed off the mark was missing.Michael OwenWorked tirelessly to stabilise the back row and line-out.

Kept coming back for more.Brent CockbainA bruising presence in the heart of the Welsh engine room. Started to lose his way in the line-outs as Kay took control.Robert SidoliAlso found himself increasingly out-gunned in the line-outs, but was a match for his opponents on the floor.Dafydd JonesProvides physical authority to the Welsh back row, but didn’t have his greatest day and looked a bit ponderous.Martyn WilliamsOnly declared fit for duty a few days ago and seemed a little subdued. Kicking from hand, though, was solid.Dwayne PeelShaded the scrum-half contest with his more experienced adversary. Never frightened to dart over the gain line.Gethin JenkinsHeld his own in the set-pieces and more than once peeled away from contact situations having stolen the ball.Mefin DaviesGloucester’s gain from the Valleys was obvious as he hit his men consistently in the line-outs and showed up in the loose.Adam JonesStruggled in the front-row exchanges but scrapped gamely in the rucks and mauls. It was that kind of evening for England on a pitch which was in dreadful condition. It has been recently relaid and groundstaff were repairing the torn strips of turf after each scrum. Somehow Wales flowed over it at times in the first half.It set up a second half which was too edgy to be a classic, but mesmerising for all that.

In the end, Stephen Jones kicked the penalty their overall play just merited England slumped. Young Tait, on the bench, must have wondered just what he had walked into. Still, only France next…Man for man marking at the Millennium StadiumWalesEnergetic behind livewire back line, especially when pinning Lewsey. Unlucky sin bin for slap on Grewcock.Gareth ThomasHal LuscombeOnce again looked out of his depth. Has a tendency to knock on and not positionhimself tightly enough to the touchline.Tom ShanklinSaw little of the ball but was a threat whenever the England midfield went on the attack. Brawny and reliable.Gavin HensonThe outstanding player on the pitch Tackled ferociously, ran strongly, timed his passes. Oh, his kick won the game.Shane WilliamsGave a dress rehearsal of his peerless running skills by wrong- footing three English, then helped himself to a try.Stephen JonesWas off target with his first two place kicks and scuffed a drop- goal attempt.

Noon appeared nervy, and errors crept into his game, including the conceding of a penalty, which was not converted. Tait could only man the barricades, although the assault on England culminated in a Shane Williams try. Hodgson’s penalty quelled fears that England would be overwhelmed in those early stages.In cavalier mood, the fly-half’s attempted drop goal struck a post before the interval, before he spurned another penalty. This was his 66th cap, more than the combined total of the England back division. Robinson maintained beforehand he remains the best in the world in terms of leadership, management and organisation.In truth, though, there was a lack of the kind of impetus within the England team that in years past would have been provided by a Martin Johnson.Tait had been offered words of encouragement from Noon and the captain, Jason Robinson, having thumped himself on opposite shoulders, appeared composed. Which explains why Celebrity Big Brother, Matt Dawson, the World Cup final and Wasps scrum-half, who at 32, returned from exile in televisionland, having linked effectively with Sue Barker and Ally McCoist and expected to do the same with the young guns.His return was a question of sporting necessity, you could say, considering that England are currently denied the midfield prowess of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Will Greenwood.