MIKE BROWN: England need to go up several levels to win Six Nations

After my comments last week that no Welsh player would get in a combined England and Wales side, I must admit I was feeling pretty smug when Alex Dombrandt’s try made it 17-0.

Then, as Wales mounted a late comeback, I got pretty nervous. I was panicking a bit at the end! I thought it was going to be a rerun of the 2015 World Cup game all over again!

I got plenty of stick from Welsh fans on social media for what they saw as an attack on their players, but I’ve got to give credit where it’s due to some of their squad now.

Taulupe Faletau put in an unbelievable shift. For him to play like that after so long out injured was remarkable. He played like the Faletau I remember facing when he was at his peak.

Alex Cuthbert also looked back to his best. He’s had a lot of flak from Welsh fans and spent a long time away from Test rugby, but his performance at Twickenham was superb.

For him to make 176 metres from 14 carries is unbelievable. I also thought Tomos Williams – who I’m a big fan of – came into the game late on with the speed of his play.

Cuthbert would definitely make my combined team from the sides which played yesterday and the other two would come close. I’m happy to eat humble pie on that!

But it still wasn’t enough for a Welsh victory. England did just enough to come out on top and keep their Six Nations title hopes alive. But they will have to go up several levels if they are to trouble Ireland and France in the next few weeks.

I thought that from the 50-minute mark, England looked tired. It was the same against Italy in Rome.

I’m not inside the camp, but I do know from working under Eddie Jones that his sessions are incredibly tough. They have to be because Test rugby is a big step up from the club game.

But maybe