Wales hail Henson as their hero

Wales - 11 England - 9: The chant was deafening. His name bounced off the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium, the din reaching a crescendo as he grabbed the ball.

There were three minutes left on the stadium clock when Gavin Henson offered a nerveless display of a burgeoning talent. Wales were trailing 9-8 at the time.

All week the 23-year-old maintained that pressure was something that other people felt. This one moment would judge those assertions, damn him or provide irrefutable proof that he is the new poster boy for Welsh rugby. As a nation fretted, Henson nonchalantly thumped the 45-metre penalty between the posts thereby ending a run of seven successive defeats to England.

It was his first place-kick of a frenetic Six Nations Championship clash but it didn't cost him a second thought.

Henson smiled: "It was important to be positive. I wanted it. I knew I was going to kick it because I have been kicking them all week. I don't tend to feel pressure. I built myself up in the papers all week but I think I delivered. We earned that win."

The fact that the man-of-the-match award nestled in the crook of his arm suggested he already knew the answer. It was apposite that Henson's intervention was decisive to the outcome for he had provided many of the game's most illuminating moments. He punted the ball with clinical precision, distributed shrewdly and looked to exploit any gaps but it was his tackling that proved a real crowd-pleaser.

Having drifted young England centre Mathew Tait the first time they clashed in the first half, driving him back three or four metres, there was a sense of anticipation when the pair collided again after 44 minutes. This time Henson picked up Tait, who celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday, shook him like a rag doll and swept him backwards, securely pinned under one arm.

England coach Andy Robinson had stated before the game that "I have never been afraid to select young, talented players if I feel they are ready," in reference to Tait. In Cardiff he discovered the Newcastle prodigy might not quite be ready for this level of hand-to-hand combat. In mitigation Tait was not the only one to be unceremoniously dumped by Henson: English prop Julian White had his progress arrested in emphatic fashion.

Henson's assured performance provided a stark contrast to the Welsh display, the home side desperately trying not to lose rather than ruthlessly exploiting England's fallibility. Shane Williams's early try, as much for the manner in which it was scored as in the five points, should have provided the impetus to impose their patterns.

Instead Wales retreated to a more conservative approach, placing an emphasis on territory. It allowed England the respite they required to acclimatise gradually.

Having shredded a Welsh scrum, Danny Grewcock broke the initial red line and the home side eventually conceded a penalty inside their 22. Charlie Hodgson had little difficulty landing it, a feeling that would be unfamiliar to him on Saturday, his place-kicking aside. The English outhalf failed to impose his authority on the game and along with Jamie Noon at inside centre, looked nervous and unsure. It wasn't until Olly Barkley came on in the centre that England found a kicking pivot that earned them the field position they craved.

It was that sort of afternoon for English hopes, submerged under a welter of error. Steve Thompson's lineout-throwing frailty surfaced again, the backrow, with the honourable exception of Joe Worsley was second best all afternoon, Matt Dawson was a dithering presence at scrumhalf and Jason Robinson's first instinct was to kick.

Only in brief snatches did the visitors produce the patterns they wanted, passing out of the tackle and thereby guaranteeing momentum. Too often though the ball carrier was isolated, turning over possession. In this respect Welsh openside Martyn Williams enjoyed a superb afternoon, his cloying presence slowing down ball.

Robinson's captaincy will once again come under scrutiny. As the match progressed he appeared to retreat to the shadows when his team needed him to provide inspiration and guidance. Yet for all England's shortcomings they came within a whisker of winning.

The Welsh coach Mike Ruddock will hope that finishing on the right side of a tight tussle will allow Wales to loose the mental shackles for the next match. They have graduated from playing well to winning, an important difference.

Williams' try came as a result of a patient build-up and number eight Michael Owen's superb cut-out pass. Hodgson kicked a penalty on 14 minutes, Stephen Jones responding in kind after English flanker Chris Jones was deemed guilty of some careless rucking. The same accusation can be levelled at English second row Grewcock and his Gulliver-like step over a ruck.

He caught Welsh scrumhalf Dwayne Peel in the face with his studs and got the bin but Gareth Thomas reacted rather unwisely and he too was handed a 10-minute sabbatical.

Two Hodgson penalties on the resumption, the second with 10 minutes remaining, suggested that England had discovered an escape clause buried in the script.

It was the cue for Henson-mania. The supporting cast was no less effective especially loosehead Gethin Jenkins, Owen and Martyn Williams. Wales appear to have taken a significant step forward, provided they heed the lessons of Saturday.

A lack of fear sparked their renaissance in the November internationals and now that they are climbing ever higher, they must not lose that inhibition.

It got them there in the first place.

SCORING SEQUENCE. 11 mins: Williams try, 5-0; 14: Hodgson penalty, 5-3; 21: S Jones penalty, 8-3. Half-time: 8-3. 47: Hodgson penalty, 8-6; 69: Hodgson penalty, 8-9; 77: Henson penalty, 11-9.

WALES: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); H Luscombe (Gwent Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Neath/Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath/Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Montferrand), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath/Swansea Ospreys); B Cockbain (Neath/Swansea Ospreys), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues); D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), M Owen (Gwent Dragons), M Williams (Cardiff Blues). Replacements: G Cooper (Gwent Dragons) for Peel (63 mins); R Jones (Neath/Swansea Ospreys) for D Jones (66 mins); K Morgan (Gwent Dragons) for Luscombe (67 mins); J Thomas (Neath/Swansea Ospreys) for Cockbain (78 mins); J Yapp (Cardiff Blues) for A Jones (78 mins).

Yellow card: G Thomas (Wales) 34-44 mins.

ENGLAND: J Robinson (Sale, capt); M Cueto (Sale), M Tait (Newcastle), J Noon (Newcastle), J Lewsey (Wasps); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester); B Kay (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath); C Jones (Sale), J Worsley (Wasps), A Hazell (Gloucester). Replacements: J Forrester (Gloucester) for Worsley (40-42 mins); P Vickery (Gloucester) for Rowntree (58 mins); O Barkley (Bath) for Tait (61 mins); H Ellis (Leicester) for Dawson (66 mins); S Borthwick (Bath) for Grewcock (70 mins); Rowntree for White (77 mins). Yellow cards: D Grewcock (England) 34-44 mins;

Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand).