Pushover at HQ as England bulldoze sad Welsh

Head coach Gareth Jenkins clearly knows his strongest 22, judging by the horde of second and third-choice players on show yesterday, and it will do little to add to their confidence before the World Cup.

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However, after three years of serving up mostly dross, England contrived to look like a world-class team, and with their first World Cup game against the USA less than five weeks away, their timing could not have been better.

Just about everything went right for Ashton, despite Mark Cueto's injury in the warm-up which left him without a full-back. In particular, scrum-half Shaun Perry was in tremendous form behind the massive pack which totally dominated the visitors, while Easter's tries were the result of a monopoly of possession and territory.

Dallaglio's late try from the bench provides Ashton with a delicious selection dilemma, while inside-centre Andy Farrell went about his business well, with debutant Dan Hipkiss at outside-centre continuing his fine form of last season.

It was more of the same after the break despite the fact captain Phil Vickery failed to emerge after an ankle injury. Matt Stevens replaced him, Martin Corry took the captain's armband and, within four minutes, Easter had completed his hat-trick, scoring from around a metre out. Dallaglio watched from the touchline, grinning ruefully, and hoping his chance would come.

It did, but not before Easter claimed his fourth try, given the score later after appearing to touch down in tandem with scrum-half Perry on 50 minutes. It would be the No8's last act, completing a memorable afternoon that saw him become the first Englishman in that position to score four tries.

On came Dallaglio to a loud roar from the healthy 66,000, crowd at Headquarters.

Wales, ringing the changes, managed to get themselves on the scoreboard with a Dafydd James try in the corner but Dallaglio would have his say in the 66th minute, producing a classic No8's try by shepherding the ball at the base of the ruck with his feet, then picking up and forcing his huge frame over the line.

The former England captain's impact was in evidence again seven minutes from time when his clever pass gave man-of-the-match Perry a chance to score a try, and there was still time for Jason Robinson to score with a chip and chase and Mathew Tait to touch down Jonny Wilkinson's kick to round off a satisfying day for England.

Wales indicated they knew they would be in for a hard afternoon early into this warm-up Test by serving up a spear tackle and then a high challenge on Perry, now slimline and sharp after being ordered to lose a stone. Later, Aled Brew was lucky to escape with a yellow card after making no attempts to tackle Hipkiss when the Leicester Tiger produced a trademark run.

Wilkinson's resultant penalty was the last point of the first half, dominated by an England team fighting for World Cup places, against a Welsh side with arguably just four players likely to start in the tournament.

The points flowed thick and fast in a first half in which Wales failed once to threaten the English line.

Their first try was well constructed after Perry's quick pass gave Wilkinson the chance to loft a high kick into the sun.

Lee Byrne was sacked by Robinson and, from the ruck, Perry found the gap to dart through. The scrum-half, on the evidence of yesterday England's first choice No9,was brought down a couple of feet from the line, but Easter picked up and drove over in the 14th minute. The Harlequins No8 repeated the action seven minutes later after another Perry break and an almost identical pick-up and drive over, with Wilkinson converting.

On the half-hour Farrell, having returned from the blood bin with a thick bandage around his head, produced a break, fed Wilkinson and watched as the stand-off's dancing feet gave Steve Borthwick the chance to produce a bulldozing run. The Bath lock was brought down a metre from the line, but rose to barge his way over.

World Cup hosts France visit Twickenham next week, and they will present a different challenge to the limp effort served up by Wales, but Brian Ashton will at least wake up this morning with a broad smile on his face.

ENGLAND: Tait; Strettle, Hipkiss, Farrell (blood bin, Flood 4-17min), Robinson; Wilkinson, Perry; Sheridan, Regan (Chuter 56), Vickery (Stevens 41), Shaw, Borthwick, Corry (Moody 69), Worsley, Easter (Dallaglio 59). Sub (not used): Gomarsall.

WALES: Byrne; Brew, Shanklin (T James 78), G Thomas, D James; Sweeney, Cooper; I Thomas (Jenkins 55), Bennett (T Thomas 52), Horsman (R Thomas 52), W James, Sidoli, Wyn-Jones, Charvis, Owen (Popham 52). Subs (not used): Phillips, Hook.

Referee: J Judge (France).