CAPTAIN Alun Wyn Jones hailed Dragons lock Cory Hill for his special finish that helped beat England and put Wales within two games of a Six Nations Grand Slam.

A tense tussle at Principality Stadium went the way of the hosts 21-13, with the Dragons skipper coming up with the key score in the final quarter when they were losing 13-9.

Hill ran a superb line to crash over from close range at the end of 34 phases of hammering away at the English line.

It earned Wales a lead that they didn’t let slip with Dan Biggar converting before wing Josh Adams sealed the victory at the death.

Hill was recalled to the XV after having to be content with a role of impact sub behind Adam Beard and the 27-year-old repaid the faith shown in him by Warren Gatland.

“It was at the tail-end of 30-odd phases and it was a good team try, but to be able to cut a line like that and take the opportunity was pretty special,” said captain Jones.

“It’s good to see the strength and depth in the second row at the minute, everyone is putting their hands up at the minute.”

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Wales boss Warren Gatland believes his side reaped the rewards for their toil at their Vale Resort headquarters that meant they came on strong as English legs tired.

“We finished incredibly strongly,” said Gatland. “We went through some pain last week in terms of how hard we trained, the message to the players was that there was no way anyone else was training that hard.

“That paid off, not just from a physical point of view but a mental one. We said before we left the hotel that we would win because we have forgotten how to lose.”

Wales now head to Murrayfield to face an injury-hit Scotland before finishing the tournament against champions Ireland.

“We’ve got to go up to Scotland and they have been very tough to beat up there,” said Gatland.

“I knew how important this game would be and my experience with Wales in the past is that we’ve always got stronger as tournaments go on.

“When it really matters in big games the boys have fronted up in the past and tended to perform.

“They will enjoy tonight and start thinking next week about Scotland and the challenge of them, they will be disappointed with their result in France but they have been making Murrayfield a bit of a fortress.

“The challenge for us is that we are not complacent and that we do not drop our level, because there is a huge amount at stake.”