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England scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet carried off as Wales lose skipper
By Ian Cameron
England head coach Steve Borthwick will be left sweating over the fitness of England scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, who had to be carried off against Wales with just 34 minutes on the clock.
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The Leicester Tigers nine was wincing in pain after going down with what looked like a lower limb injury. The sight of his untimely exit has immediately cast doubt over his participation in the Rugby World Cup.
The 22-year-old was replaced by fellow Tigers player and England veteran Ben Youngs, coming half an hour into a what was scrappy, stop-start affair in Twickenham.
A Farrell penalty rewarded England’s solid start as they took control of territory and possession with a hesitant Wales unable to get their hands on the ball.
The one-way traffic was eventually broken up by a 50-22 that gave the visitors a short-range line-out, but England defended the ensuing maul well and a rare chance was gone.
It wasn’t much better for Warren Gatland and Wales, who lost skipper Dewi Lake, who managed to hobble off the pitch unaided.
Gatland made 15 changes following Wales’ 20-9 victory in Cardiff in the first of two clashes between the rivals, with Lake named captain.
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The half finished with a red rose assault on the whitewash but they were unable to break through and had to settle for a second Farrell penalty that gave them a 6-0 interval lead.
additional reporting PA
