The Fort Worth Press - Ten-try England rout sorry Wales to stay in Six Nations title hunt

England had the match all but wrapped up at half-time after scoring five tries to lead 33-7 at the break.

England captain Maro Itoje opened the scoring in the third minute, with Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Chandler Cunningham-South and Will Stuart all following the skipper's lead.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell, debutant Henry Pollock, with two of his own, Joe Heyes and Cunningham-South again added five more tries between them in the second half.

Freeman's effort equalled France wing Philippe Bernat-Salles' 2001 record of scoring a try in every round of the Six Nations.

England's points tally surpassed their record against Wales -- 62-5 -- set in a 2007 World Cup warm-up trouncing at Twickenham.

For Wales, their 17th successive Test loss represented an unwanted record for a Tier One country in the professional era, with Saturday's humiliation their heaviest defeat in Cardiff and the most points they've conceded in an international in the Welsh capital.

Wales' 11th straight championship loss also meant they finished with back-to-back wooden spoons for the first time.

- England 'building towards this' -

A delighted Itoje told the BBC: "We've been building towards this, each game we've shown a different side to us, we're just happy to finish it well.

"I applaud the team because even when results weren't going our way, and there was plenty of outside noise, we kept on being consistent."

Wales skipper Jac Morgan added: "It was a tough game. We are gutted with the result but full credit to England, they were brilliant today and clinical when they had that ball."

Itoje, whose side were beaten by Ireland in their tournament opener before securing one-point wins over France and Scotland ahead of last week's 47-24 defeat of Italy, had spoken in the build-up to the Wales game about the need to "start well".

The lock forward was as good as his word under the closed roof of a raucous Principality Stadium.

England kicked a penalty to the corner before Itoje dived over from a ruck as Wales were caught napping. Fly-half Fin Smith converted and England led 7-0.

Wales full-back Blair Murray sprinted in five minutes later but his try was disallowed after scrum-half Tomos Williams was offside in the build-up.

But there was no stopping a powerful England and Roebuck marked his first Test start with a 10th-minute try when the wing shook off the diminutive Murray at the right corner.

Fin Smith added the difficult conversion and England were 14-0 ahead.

Murray, however, then broke clear after chipping ahead only for England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie to bring him down with a brilliant tap-tackle.

Wales halved the deficit in the 31st minute when, following a close range line-out, Williams' pass sent in centre Ben Thomas for a try converted by Gareth Anscombe.

Just three minutes later, England pulled clear again.

- Slick 40 minutes -

Fly-half Anscombe's clearing kick was charged down and England worked out the ball back to Fin Smith before Freeman went over.

England, in arguably the slickest 40 minutes of coach Steve Borthwick's reign, scored two more tries before the interval.

Wales were once more out-muscled at the breakdown with Cunningham-South, on as a replacement for the injured Ollie Chessum, twice involved before he finished for the four-try bonus point.

England, with flanker Ben Curry outstanding, crossed Wales' line again as prop Will Stuart celebrated his 50th cap with only his third Test try.

Wales rallied early in the second half but it was scrum-half Mitchell who kicked ahead for England's sixth try.

Pollock and Heyes added to Wales' agony before Thomas scored his second try of the match only for Cunningham-South to have the last word late on.

T.Gilbert--TFWP