We can’t rely on past glories - only look forward says England fly-half George Ford

It is understandable; England with their Six Nations title defence essentially over, have lost so much swagger and command about their play since that memorable night.

In fairness, with a dozen of the same starting line-up as in Japan in that World Cup semi-final, they had some of their elan back against Wales on Saturday, producing by far the better attacking plays.

Ultimately, though, they lost again, in part to two huge and contentious refereeing decisions that led to first half tries for Wales but also because of their own maddening lack of discipline.

When Ben Youngs sniped over for an opportunistic try in the 62nd minute, Owen Farrell converted to level matters at 24-24.

England were in the ascendancy and surely favourites to push on and secure victory in Cardiff.

Instead, they conceded three needless penalties in seven minutes, all expertly converted by replacement Callum Sheedy as Wales secured a Triple Crown and inflicted England’s second defeat of the Championship.

When Cory Hill rumbled over for a fourth try at the death, they were left staring at the most points ever conceded by an England side in this fixture.

Fly-half George Ford, whose assertive promptings had helped the Red Rose regain parity, was asked if it makes it all the more frustrating given that All Blacks vintage remains so fresh?

“No. We can’t keep looking back on that,” insisted the Leicester Tigers No10.

“That’s in the past now. We have to look forward. We’re a team where we are now, not a team where we were against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

“The situation and conditions are different and it’s finding a way of getting back to our best.

“That’s sport for you at the top level; you are always striving to play the ultimate performance and be a winning team. You go through periods where you are not that and where you struggle, where results do no go your way.

“Sometimes you have to go through that to get back to that winning team. We’re searching for that. We’re preparing hard, training hard and I’m 100 per cent we’ll come through this.”

But what of those refereeing decisions? England were furious about the first – even if they all refused to bemoan the incident afterwards – and rightly so.

Farrell had been told by Pascal Gauzere to go and speak to his team-mates about persistent infringements. But the referee restarted play while almost the entire side were still huddled in front of the posts listening to their captain.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar launched an admittedly inch-perfect crossfield kick to the left for winger Josh Adams to take on the full and score as England desperately tried to make up the ground.

Farrell was incredulous but his remonstrations fell on deaf ears. It was a farcical decision by the referee. Their second try was questionable, too.

Adams dabbed a kick through but fellow winger Louis Rees-Zammit failed to collect on the run as it bounced up, getting a hand to the ball but nothing else.

Still, it ricocheted off Jonny May back towards the England goalline and Liam Williams followed up to touch down, Gauzere awarding a try. It was checked and seemed an obvious knock-on – even Rees-Zammit’s reaction showed he thought so – but the officials ruled otherwise: the ball never hit the ground before coming off Rees-Zammit’s leg and hitting May but there is such ambiguity in the rule.

Biggar’s conversion made it 17-6. Anthony Watson responded with a fine try and Farrell added a third penalty for 17-14 at the break. But Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy scored from a quick tap penalty and, though England got level, they never got control.

On those referee calls – England will not complain to World Rugby – Ford insisted: “I want to look at us. I don’t want to look at anything other than us.

“I felt we played well in parts.

“The thing that has let us down significantly is our discipline. In Test matches one penalty is enough to swing and shift the momentum of a game never mind a handful. It’s not the first time it’s potentially cost us. Obviously there’s something and we’ll have to fix it very, very quickly.”

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, J Davies (Halaholo 50), Adams; Biggar (Sheedy 45), Hardy (G Davies 65); W Jones (R Jones 63), Owens (Dee 63), Tomas Francis (Brown 67), Beard (Hill 54), AW Jones (capt), Navidi (Botham 70), Tipuric, Faletau.

England: Daly; Watson, Slade, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs (Robson 70); M Vunipola (Genge 67), George (Cowan-Dickie 60), Sinckler, Itoje, Hill (Ewels 58), Wilson (Earl 70), Curry, B Vunipola. Replacements unused: Martin, Malins.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France).

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