IT may not have mattered as much at this season’s World Cup or Six Nations trips to Twickenham, but defeat to England always hurts and the manner of this London loss leaves one fearing a summer of pain for Wales.

The number of cobwebs that were blown away in a five-try, 27-13 demolition was alarming and the worry is that plenty are still in place.

It was a hammering and were it not for George Ford’s abject kicking – 14 points went begging from the tee – then it would have been reflected on the scoreboard.

Wales may not be the most dazzling under Warren Gatland but they are usually well-drilled, powerful and miserly in defence but none of that applied in this ‘friendly’.

It was a deflating performance and the way that England, who weren’t exactly stunning, bossed matters during the second half doesn’t bode well given that Wales will soon be going up against the All Blacks – the most clinical, skilful and dazzling side on the planet – in three Tests.

Heck, even that midweek encounter with the Chiefs is looking slightly daunting.

Nonetheless, the post-match pledges will come and there’s little doubt that Wales will hit a higher standard in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. They simply have to.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb was lively, winger Hallam Amos showed some nice touches (one dazzling run in the first half showed the combination of fast feet, strength and pace that Newport Gwent Dragons supporters know all about), flanker Ross Moriarty had a few moments but too many players were off-colour.

Added to that, stand-in captain Dan Lydiate hobbled off in the first half.

South Wales Argus:

This was meant to be a vital tune-up – Webb declared it as “must-win” – and as such Gatland named his strongest possible team, only deprived of the injured Sam Warburton and Jonathan Davies and Luke Charteris, who were on club duty in France.

And the head coach got his wish for conditions to enable them to play a hi-octane game to prepare for All Blacks intensity.

The challenge had been laid down for Wales to fly out of the blocks after frustratingly only waking from their slumber late on in the Six Nations 25-21 loss.

They certainly did that. Scarlets loosehead Rob Evans went over for his first international try in the seventh minute after centre Jamie Roberts then fly-half Dan Biggar and tighthead Samson Lee went on the burst from quick lineout ball in the 22.

The number 10 added the extras for a 7-0 lead and then banged over a simple penalty to reward an excellent start in which they attacked efficiently and defended with snap and bite, something that they failed to do in March.

However, Australia-bound England struck back just past the quarter with a try that won’t have amused defence coach Shaun Edwards.

The pack did their job to defend a five-metre driving lineout but the slow ball didn’t stop Luther Burrell through Biggar, Wales seemingly getting their alignment wrong.

Ford missed a second simple kick of the afternoon but the English were starting to purr with centre Jonathan Joseph and wings Anthony Watson looking lively.

But Wales speedster Amos showed his ability to thrive in the wide expanses with the tremendous break that saw lock Courtney Lawes bumped off and scrum-half Ben Youngs left for dead.

His fly-half knocked over a penalty for 13-5 with 27 minutes gone – Webb making yet another stunning break in the build-up to the offence – only for England to have the final say of the half in the 33rd minute.

Wing Watson produced an incredible finish down the left but once again Edwards would have been grumbling – full-back Liam Williams missed a routine tackle, the sort that Leigh Halfpenny routinely makes.

Ford missed a tough effort from the left, albeit one that Owen Farrell would probably make, and Wales headed for the changing rooms with a 13-10 lead.

They were trailing six minutes after the restart with ANOTHER try to leave Edwards muttering.

Lineout ball was worked quickly to scrum-half Ben Youngs, who did Scott Baldwin too easily with a dummy and then powered through Amos, who didn’t quite get his feet right to win the collision.

Ford missed again but was then on target with a hugely controversial call when Harlequins back rower Jack Clifford raced over from halfway, the TMO deeming that there wasn’t enough evidence to show what looked like a knock-on by prop Dan Cole when trying to intercept a Biggar pass.

Wales – and Biggar in particular – were fuming but the harsh reality was that a three-point lead had been turned into a 22-13 deficit with half an hour remaining.

They were also making a hideous number of mistakes and the errors racked up in the 61st minute when England went over for try number five, wing Marland Yarde dashing over down the right.

Ford, thankfully, was wide from the tee again but Wales never looked likely of repeating their Six Nations exploits by rallying to provide the hosts with a scare.

Simply must do better or things will get ugly Down Under. Very ugly.

England: M Brown, A Watson, J Joseph (E Daly 65), L Burrell, M Yarde, G Ford (O Devoto 75), B Youngs (D Care 55), M Mullan (E Genge 66), D Hartley (captain, T Taylor 76), D Cole (P Hill 68), J Launchbury, C Lawes (D Attwood 62), T Harrison, J Haskell (M Kvesic 62), J Clifford.

Scorers: tries – L Burrell, A Watson, B Youngs, J Clifford, M Yarde; conversion – G Ford

Wales: L Williams, G North, S Williams (G Anscombe 55), J Roberts, H Amos, D Biggar (R Priestland 55), R Webb (L Williams 65), R Evans (G Jenkins 55), S Baldwin (K Dacey 55), S Lee (R Jones 62), J Ball, AW Jones (J TUrnbull 57), R Moriarty, D Lydiate (captain, J King 23), T Faletau. Replacements: K Dacey, G Jenkins, R Jones, J Turnbull, J King, L Williams, R Priestland, G Anscombe

Scorers: try – R Evans; conversion – D Biggar; penalties – D Biggar (2)

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)

Attendance: Rhys Webb

Argus star man: 81,128