In balmy spring sunshine, England ran in first half tries from Danny Care and Luther Burrell, only for five penalties from the faultless Leigh Halfpenny to keep the score to 20-15 at the break.

But similar kicking excellence from Owen Farrell punished an error-strewn Welsh performance as Stuart Lancaster's rapidly developing side produced another display of rich promise.

A year ago in Cardiff, Warren Gatland's men had smashed England's Grand Slam hopes in winning the title.

But despite the presence of 12 Lions in their team they were ponderous in attack and poor at the set-piece, kept tryless by relentless home defence and their own errors with ball in hand.

The win puts England level on points with Ireland and France at the top of the championship table. While an Irish win in Paris next week would almost certainly send the title to Dublin, a big English win in Italy and a narrow one for Ireland could yet see England top the pile. If France, with far inferior points difference, beat the Irish, any England win should secure the title.

(BBC)