England reign at Twickenham

England bounced back from their autumn disappointments with a battling 30-17 victory over Wales in their RBS Six Nations opener at Twickenham.

In a match lacking quality but full of endeavour, lock James Haskell crossed in either half and Danny Care registered a try of his own as England ended a three-year winless streak against Wales.

The turning point of the match came five minutes before half-time when lock Alun-Wyn Jones was sent to the sin-bin for a cynical trip - a moment of ill-discipline which enabled England to open up a commanding 17-point lead with their numerical advantage.

Prop Adam Jones and outside centre James Hook brought Wales within three points with nine minutes remaining, but Haskell sealed the win when he collected Mathew Tait's deft offload following a late interception.

Indifferent

Jonny Wilkinson kicked England's 2010 Six Nations campaign underway and an early Jamie Roberts knock-on put Wales under immediate pressure.

But it was the visitors who squandered the first points-scoring opportunity in the sixth minute when Hook's penalty attempt drifted wide and Wilkinson kicked England in front shortly afterwards.

England continued to dominate early possession as the Welsh errors continued - Lee Byrne's dropped catch epitomizing the visitors' indifferent start to proceedings.

Wilkinson' inch-perfect penalty kick into the corner put England five yards from the try-line on 17 minutes and only stoic Welsh defending prevented a certain home score.

A loose kick from scrum-half Care gifted Wales and Hook a second three-point opportunity on 23 minutes, but the outside centre was off-target once more with a kick he would have expected to make.

Openside flanker Martyn Williams broke from behind a ruck down the blindside momenths later, but he was held up with the try-line in sight and England managed to clear.

Stephen Jones assumed kicking duties after Toby Flood was penalised for not releasing, and his precise penalty brought Wales level at 3-3 on 28 minutes.

With the game in the balance, a petulant trip from Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones saw him sent to the sin-bin shortly before half time and, more significantly, allowed Wilkinson to edge England 6-3 ahead.

Buoyed by their numerical advantage, England surged forward looking for what would be a crucial score in the context of the game. Ugo Monye and Tait both made telling breaks but it was Haskell who found enough room to squeeze over the line in first-half injury time.

Wilkinson's routine conversion put England 13-3 ahead at the break.

Wales returned after half time with just five minutes to survive with 14 men, however on 44 minutes England struck again through Care.

Virtuoso

Nick Easter made the initial break and when the ball was recycled the Harlequins scrum-half darted through a gap in the Wales defence to touch down under the posts. Wilkinson's nerveless conversion put England 20-3 ahead.

Alun-Wyn Jones' re-introduction sprung Wales back into life moments later and some over-zealous defending from England captain Steve Borthwick presented Warren Gatland's men with a perfect opportunity to get back into the match with a scrum under the posts.

Wales number nine Gareth Cooper fed Luke Charteris and he in turn helped the ball onto Adam Jones, who crashed over the whitewash. Stephen Jones' conversion cut the gap to 10 points with a mouthwatering 30 minutes of action remaining.

With Wales pressing, Stephen Jones missed a gettable penalty kick and Tom James had a try chalked off shortly after when he knocked Hook's pass forward with the line beckoning.

Easter drove England forward and a rare second half attacking foray nearly resulted in a try for the hosts, however Byrne came across to intercept Mark Cueto's kick through, with Delon Armitage lurking close-by.

Wales continued to probe and they were rewarded on 71 minutes when Hook made amends for his lacklustre kicking display with a virtuoso solo score.

After jinking past Tait and a motionless Wilkinson, the powerful Osprey handed off the covering Care to strike under the posts. Stephen Jones added the extras and all of a sudden Wales were just three points adrift with plenty of time remaining.

However, this was to be England's day and when Armitage intercepted Stephen Jones' loose pass and freed Tait, the Sale centre was able to stretch his legs before deftly flicking the ball onto the onrushing Haskell who crashed over for his second try of the match.

Wilkinson fired over the conversion and a late penatly sealed a much-needed win for Martin Johnson's men.