• Players accept they lost focus when game got niggly
• ‘We bought into it and that’s where they grew,’ says Billy Vunipola
England’s players have admitted they failed to deal with Wales’s wind-up tactics as their Six Nations grand slam hopes came to an end – but rejected Warren Gatland’s stinging criticism that they are big-match chokers.
Gatland claimed after his side’s 21-13 win that the ploy to target Kyle Sinckler had paid off after the England tighthead prop was withdrawn before the hour, having given away two penalties in quick succession and been lectured by the referee, Jaco Peyper.
Written by Gerard Meagher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/feb/24/england-lack-of-discipline-wales-billy-vunipola under the title “England rue lack of discipline against Wales but reject idea that they choked”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
