Rugby World Cup: England 25 - 28 Wales

England's Rugby World Cup hit a roadblock as a Gareth Davies try and 23 points from a flawless Dan Biggar helped Warren Gatland's men to a historic victory.

Stuart Lancaster's men were in control thanks to Owen Farrell's boot and a Jonny May try, but they were not able to hold on as Biggar slotted a monster 50m penalty in the closing stages.

England had led 19-9 with 25 minutes to play, and with Wales reduced to playing replacement scrum half Lloyd Williams on the wing, George North in the centre and Biggar at fullback as they were decimated by injuries, it was Lancaster's side to lose. 

But a brave fightback and a controversial decision not to go for the draw in the dying stages gave Wales a huge boost as they sit top of Pool A. 

Alun Wyn Jones set the tone by plucking the ball out of the air like Michael Jordan in his pomp to set up a Wales maul.

As it progressed towards the line, Courtney Lawes brought it down illegally allowing Dan Biggar to slot three points and open the scoring with just more than a minute gone.

It wasn't a great start for Sam Burgess, who was manhandled by Scott Williams in his first carry before shanking a kick into touch.

England opened up the first real chance as a Mike Brown run unleashed Anthony Watson, who chipped over the top and forced Gareth Davies to concede the throw.

The hosts' first venture into the Welsh 22 was short-lived as Jamie Roberts turned the ball over.

With 10 minutes on the clock, England began to assert their dominance in the set piece by pinching a lineout before devouring Wales' scrum to allow Owen Farrell to tie the scores with a long-range shot.

Roberts climbed above Burgess to win the ensuing restart, and his team began to pile into the English half.

Biggar decided to opt for a drop goal, which sailed wide, despite his side going forward, but he was given the chance to put his side ahead when Dan Cole was penalised at the breakdown on 15 minutes.

Two minutes later, Farrell showed his opposite number the way as he punched a drop goal through the sticks from more than 40m out.

A quarter of the way through, Dan Lydiate uprooted Tom Woods as all 30 men locked horns in a match of shirt grabbing, but referee Jerome Garces rightly let the situation settle down before restarting with a scrum.

Sam Burgess' first major involvement was a huge hit on his counterpart Roberts on 25 minutes, and it seemed to spark him into life.

A minute later, he was used as a decoy runner along with his centre partner Brad Barritt.

Had it not been for a sloppy Watson pass, England would've cruised in, but Brown's clever trap with his boot allowed the attack to continue and from the resulting ruck ben Youngs exploited Wales' blindside and sent May over for the first try.

He was in form in defence too, as he danced out of three tackles to feed Brown who clear

Wales went through the phases as the half-time whistle approached, but weren't making any headway, typified by Scott Williams kicking the ball away.

With two minutes to play, Wales managed some decent line-out ball, which they'd been starved thanks to Geoff Parling.

Scott Williams scythed through and Mike Brown conceded the penalty in front of the posts which Biggar knocked over for the last points of the half.

Joe Launchbury replaced Courtney Lawes at half time, and England started on the front foot.

Scott Baldwin was pinged for not rolling away and Owen Farrell extended his team's lead.

Biggar hit back with one of his own before Wigglesworth came on for Ben Youngs and Wales switched up the front row as Ken Owens and Samson Lee replaced Baldwin and Francis.

The Ospreys fly-half narrowed the gap again on 54 minutes with another penalty as the game began to open up.

Wales' rolling maul defence came to the rescue a minute later turning over English ball, leading Sam Warburton to tell his troops it was a game-changing moment.

Dan Biggar slotted his sixth penalty from the resulting attack to bring it to within four points before George North surged up field for the first time in what seems like two years.

Wales had a spring in their step and a languid run by Liam Williams eventually gave them a lineout just outside the English 22 with Mako Vunipola now on for Joe Marler.

Wales got ball off the top and Scott Williams threw a monster pass off his left hand to George North only to be caught by Brad Barritt.

As the Welshman lay sprawled on the turf outside the England 22, his centre partner spilled the ball and Watson set off down the flank, but as he kicked into the Welsh 22, England were penalised and Wales made their way back up field.

Williams, stretchered off, was replaced by Alex Cuthbert and in their first scrum since entering the fray, Lee and Owens weren't able to turn the tide of English dominance.

With 15 minutes to go, England put together a glorious offloading move, before Wales' injury crisis took another hit.

Biggar, Hallam Amos and Liam Williams all required medical treatment - and only the fly-half remained on the field.

From the resulting scrum, England hammered the Welsh tryline, and Gethin Jenkins brought it to an end by coming in from the side.

Farrell added the three points and was joined in midfield by his old pal George Ford, who replaced Sam Burgess.

Trebanos boy Justin Tipuric and Luke Charteris were sent on in a final roll of the dice for Wales.

It immediately paid off, and a perfect cut-out ball from Biggar sent makeshift wing Lloyd Williams down the left flank.

He kicked smartly inside for Gareth Davies who gathered and scored under the posts.

Biggar slotted the extras to level the game and set up a grandstand last ten minutes.

Mike Brown took a Biggar high ball just inside his own half and Sam Warburton latched onto the ball as he was tackled.

He immediately pointed to the posts and Biggar stepped up to nail the penalty from 50m to give Wales the lead.

England went through the phases, and it was Warburton - desperate for the turnover - who was penalised for not releasing before going for the ball.

Robshaw decided to go for the corner instead of the three points to draw level, but Wales' driving maul defence held out again and pushed the England forwards into touch with just two minutes left on the clock.

Wales could only clear to 15m out, but Wigglesworth dropped the ball from the top of the line and handed Wales a scrum with less than a minute to play.

They won the scrum and man of the match Dan Biggar smashed the ball into touch as the fulltime whistle blew.