England player ratings vs Australia | 2nd Test July 2022
England levelled their series in Australia with a much-improved display that delivered a 17-25 win in Brisbane.
Eddie Jones’ team led 7-19 at the break thanks to 14 points from the boot of Owen Farrell plus a Billy Vunipola try from a well-worked close-range lineout to which Australia responded with Noah Lolesio’s conversion of Taniela Tupou’s late score.
Farrell added another three points for England early in the second half, but when Lolesio upgraded Samu Kerevi’s 48th minute score then added a penalty just ahead of the hour mark, the Wallabies were back in the contest.
However, Farrell’s sixth penalty then extended the visitors’ advantage to eight points with 13 minutes remaining and after surviving this third-quarter wobble the visitors eventually closed the game out for a win in relative comfort.
15. Freddie Steward – 6
A rock at the back Steward always seems to be there when the ball goes in the air but he didn’t really register as an attacking force during a first half when England had plenty of possession and territory.
14. Jack Nowell – 8
Typically hard working, Nowell was able to put in a couple of superbly-timed hits underneath Jack van Portfliet’s brilliantly judged box kicks. Led the defensive charge for England in the opening 40 minutes with eight tackles then sparked a fine move which lifted the second-half pressure on his team when he claimed Farrell’s kick-pass and took play deep inside the home 22.
13. Guy Porter – 6
The Premiership-winning Leicester debutant made a confident start with a sharp break but otherwise saw little of the ball.
12. Owen Farrell – 8
As the only England starting back aged over 25, Jones’ former captain’s ability to play alongside Marcus Smith came under plenty of scrutiny in the wake of England’s first test defeat. Seven days on his goal-kicking was on point, he made a crucial defensive intervention when Marika Koroibete threatened to go the length of the field and opened Australia up with a brilliant kick-pass to Nowell.
11. Tommy Freeman – 6
Making his England debut, the Northampton winger showed some slick early hands to release Jack Nowell. Replaced by last week’s star man Henry Arundell with ten minutes remaining.
10. Marcus Smith – 5.5
Started badly by kicking possession away in the home 22 following Genge’s break and – perhaps playing to orders – the Harlequins no.10 put boot to ball on plenty of occasions when England had possession inside the home half. With his team already under the pump Smith was sin-binned at the worst possible moment for a brainless deliberate knock-down.
9. Jack van Portfliet – 9
The Leicester no.9’s first England start immediately showcased his slick service from the base while his box kicks were well-judged and he also showed an eye for a gap reminiscent of clubmate Ben Youngs. A very fine display.
1. Ellis Genge – 7
Started brilliantly by bouncing off a tackler and charging 30 metres into the home 22 but then showed his frustrating side by conceding a needless penalty for roughing up Nic White. Replaced by Mako Vunipola with 25 minutes remaining.
2. Jamie George – 7
Played a big part in his country’s fastest start for some time and was very prominent with ball in hand during his 55-minute stint.
3. Will Stuart – 6
Made good ground with his first carry before being – perhaps unjustly – penalised in the game’s third scrum in the run-up to Australia’s opening try. There was no doubt however when Stuart was then pinged again on England’s feed prior to the home side’s second score.
4. Maro Itoje – 7
The most prominent figure in England’s lineout and an influential figure in the loose prior to departing shortly before half-time following a head knock.
5. Jonny Hill – 7
Worked hard in the loose, carrying hard at close quarters and leading the way in England’s defensive effort with 12 tackles.
6. Courtney Lawes – 6
A quiet outing for England’s skipper who was unable to provide his usual dominant defensive input.
7. Sam Underhill – 6
Reacted quickest to release George after a Smith chip was deflected into his path. Underhill’s big asset is his powerful and consistent tackling which was again very much to the fore prior to his departure in the 57th minute.
8. Billy Vunipola – 8
Had already carried strongly several times by the time he was the beneficiary of a clever lineout move which created England’s opening try in the fifth minute. Extremely prominent with ball in hand, the Saracens no.8 looks almost back to his best although five missed tackles will trouble him.
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 7
Arrived in the 55th minute and proceeded to put in an eye-catching shift.
17. Mako Vunipola – 7
Replaced Genge in the 55th minute and did plenty to impress in the fourth quarter.
18. Joe Heyes – 6
Arrived on the visitors’ tight head after an hour.
19. Ollie Chessum – 7
Arrived in the 39th minute and proceeded to make ten tackles.
20. Lewis Ludlam – 7
Replaced Underhill when England were under the cosh with 23 minutes remaining and put in a good stint in the back row.
21. Danny Care – n/a
Arrived in the 70th minute and immediately conceded a penalty.
22. Will Joseph – n/a
Jonathan’s brother won his first cap in the dying seconds.
23. Henry Arundell – n/a
Played the last ten minutes on England’s left wing.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
19 Go to comments