Leigh Halfpenny kept Wales in the game with his accurate boot but in truth England were deserved victors in a game where the visitors never really threatened to cross the try-line.
Both Ireland and England will be going into the final round next week with aspirations of winning the championship title.
Giving the points difference standings, England will almost certainly need France to beat Ireland in Paris in the final round of fixtures to win the title, but if that happens, a victory over Italy in Rome should be enough to secure England the championship.
Wales were guilty of turning the ball over and poor kicking from hand gave England’s back three of Mike Brown, Jack Nowell and Jonny May plenty of opportunity to run the ball back in the first half.
Danny Care and Luther Burrell scored tries for England in the first half but each time the home side threatened to break clear poor discipline gifted Wales opportunities to claw back points and the ever reliable Halfpenny banged over five penalties to reduce the red rose brigade’s lead to just 20-15 at halftime – the first time in history 35 points had been scored in an international between the two sides in the opening spell.
Wales needed to get out of the blocks quickly in the second half but it was England who asserted their authority with referee Romain Poite running out of patience with the Welsh scrum.
He warned Wales captain Sam Warbuton about his side’s future conduct at the set-piece as Owen Farrell banged the penalty straight through the middle to ensure Wales would have to score twice to take back the lead.
Poite finally had enough and Jenkins’ tatics in the 54th minute and sent the Blues front row to the sin bin in his record equalling 104th Test appearance. Farrell banged over the penalty to put England 26-15 ahead.
Toby Faletau, who had a quiet game by his standards, was upended by Dylan Hartley and Halfpenny continued to keep his side in the game with a long range penalty to peg back three points.
But just as it looked like Wales were getting back in to the match Jonathan Davies was immediately penalised for hands in the ruck and Farrell continued the 100 per cent success rate with the kickers’ boot by putting England 29-18 ahead after 60 minutes.
Wales tried to rally but England were able to keep them at bay as the hosts ensured they were able to gain revenge for their humiliating 30-3 defeat last year to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
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