Steve Borthwick’s side ran riot in their opening 2026 Six Nations clash
It was a miserable day at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham for Wales. However, was their thumping loss to England a record defeat for Wales or a record win for England in the Six Nations?
Steve Tandy’s side were massive underdogs coming into this opening-round clash of the 2026 Six Nations having lost to the same opponents 68-14 in Cardiff in their last outing in this competition last year.
While England’s emphatic win over Wales was one-way traffic on Saturday, it is not in fact the biggest win the hosts have recorded in this fixture.
For a start, England racked up more points the very last time these two met on Super Saturday 2025 in the Welsh capital. Borthwick’s side totted up 68 points then with Henry Pollock marking his debut off the bench with two tries at Principality Stadium.
On Saturday, Henry Arundell steamed in for a first-half hat-trick to blow an ill-disciplined Welsh side away. England finished with seven tries.
However, their biggest win over Wales at home came back in 2007 when they won 62-7 in a World Cup warm-up with Nick Easter racking up four tries against a much-changed Welsh outfit.
That 57-point winning margin is England’s biggest in any fixture against their rivals, narrowly pipping the 54-point gap in last year’s fixture.
While it feels like a long time ago now, Wales’ most comprehensive victory over England came in 2013 with a famous 30-3 victory in Cardiff.
Statistician Russ Petty pointed out that Saturday’s encounter saw Wales record their joint-biggest half-time deficit as they went into the break 29-0 down.
The scale of the defeat raises serious questions for Wales heading into the remainder of the Six Nations. Having been comprehensively outplayed in Cardiff last year, and now suffering a heavy loss on English soil, Tandy’s team faces an uphill battle to regain any momentum in the tournament. The performance highlighted a significant gulf in discipline and execution between the two sides.
For England, the victory provides a significant boost and establishes them as early contenders in the 2026 Six Nations. Arundell’s hat-trick was a clear demonstration of England’s attacking intent, and the team’s overall performance suggested a cohesive and well-drilled unit. The ability to capitalize on Welsh errors and maintain consistent pressure throughout the match was key to their success.
The match also served as a reminder of England’s historical dominance in this fixture. While the 68-14 win last year and the 62-7 victory in 2007 represent the largest margins of victory, Saturday’s result further underscores England’s ability to consistently outperform Wales. The rivalry, however, remains fiercely contested, and Wales will undoubtedly be looking for redemption in future encounters.
Looking ahead, England will need to maintain this level of performance as they face tougher challenges in the coming weeks. Wales, will need to address the issues exposed in this match and find a way to regain their competitive edge. The remainder of the Six Nations promises to be a compelling contest, with both teams looking to build on their respective performances.
