SUPER JAMES HASKELL DOUBLES UP AS ALUN PAYS FOR YELLOW CARD

ABOVE: James Haskell

JAMES HASKELL scored two tries to celebrate Twickenham’s 100th ­birthday in style as ­England’s Grand Slam bid ­started in style.

The Stade Francais flanker scored a try in each half as ­England made Wales pay by scoring a match-winning 17 points while lock Alun Wyn-Jones spent ten minutes in the sin bin.

And Wales coach Warren Gatland pulled no punches as he slated Wyn-Jones.

Honest

He said: “The most ­disappointing factor is ­conceding 17 points when we were down to 14 men.

“We spoke all week about discipline and not giving anything away. That’s what cost us the game.

“We’ve got to be up front and honest with him. My assistant Shaun ­Edwards just said to him, ‘I hope you never do that again in your career’. It’s cost us the game.” Johnson’s team struck the first blow on 11 minutes.

Nick Easter stole a line out and Wales strayed ­offside, ­allowing Wilkinson to slot over for three points.

Stephen Jones levelled the scores after 27 minutes.

Then Wales were left to rue a moment of madness as Wyn-Jones cynically tripped Dylan Hartley.

Wilkinson landed his ­second penalty to edge ­England ahead.

And with Wyn-Jones on the sidelines, England laid siege to the Wales line.

Haskell drove over to score with Wilkinson ­adding the conversion.

It went from bad to even worse for the Ospreys lock in the last minute of his sin-binning as England skipper Steve Borthwick turned over Wales winger Tom James.

The ball came to England scrum-half Danny Care, who scampered across the line, with Wilkinson again converting. Wyn-Jones tried to redeem himself by ­setting up the try which started the Welsh fightback.

He supplied the pass to prop Adam Jones, who ­­crossed the line with Stephen Jones converting.

Wales then piled on the pressure but Jones missed a long-range penalty that would have reduced ­England’s lead to seven points.

But nine minutes from time, Hook bounced off ­attempted ­tackles from Tim Payne and Care to touch down and Stephen Jones converted again.

Wales could smell blood and were going for the jugular six ­minutes from time – which proved fatal.

Delon Armitage ­intercepted a Stephen Jones pass deep inside his own half. England set off on the counter-attack through Toby Flood – who sent his centre partner Mathew Tait flying down field with the Welsh lacking numbers.

The Sale Sharks man sent the ball out wide where Haskell was in support to cross the line.

Wilkinson landed his third penalty in the last minute to round off the win.

Manager Martin Johnson said: “I thought we played well.

Spirit

“At times we didn’t and we let them back into it but I’m happy with the way the guys responded.

“I think both teams will get a lot better”

Man-of-the-match Haskell said: “We have wanted a win for a long time.

“There was great spirit shown by the guys and we are very pleased with it.”

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