England player ratings vs France | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
England player ratings live from Groupama Stadium in Lyon: This was yet another Guinness Six Nations classic, a seven-try, 64-point thriller in which England commendably played their part, but that will be of cruel consolation as they agonisingly lost out 31-33 to a last-minute Thomas Ramos penalty stroked over from the halfway line.
On a day that started with them positioned in second place and still in the title race, their bus pulled into the ground in France with Ireland seeing out their 17-13 win in Dublin over Scotland to be crowned back-to-back champions.
That left England to focus on finishing as runners-up but that target was frustratingly wrested from their grip at the death after a penalty was called against Ben Earl.
Tommy Freeman’s 75th-minute bonus point try, which was expertly converted from the touchline by George Ford, had England 31-30 ahead, but they were forced to settle for a defeat and a third-place finish behind the French.
Down 3-16 approaching the interval, they had exploded into life with three tries in seven minutes on either side of the break with Ollie Lawrence scoring twice and Marcus Smith also getting in on the act.
This brilliant burst pushed them 24-16 in front on 46 minutes, but four quick changes to the pack would defensively hurt England.
By the hour mark, they were 24-30 behind but their defiance admirably kicked in again and they seemed to have landed the sucker punch via Freeman/Ford.
It wasn’t to be, though, the defeat meaning that the English now have just one win in their last eight round five Six Nations matches. That’s a painful stat to swallow. Here are the England player ratings:
15. George Furbank – No rating
Seven measly minutes was all his ninth cap lasted for, the full-back limping to the sideline with his calf injured. He was replaced by Smith and his absence hurt England in defence.
14. Tommy Freeman – 8
He closed out an excellent campaign consisting of five successive starts with another fine contribution illuminated by his break which ignited the move for Lawrence’s second try and then his superb finish for the bonus point try.
13. Henry Slade – 5.5
With Furbank gone so early, he needed to defensively step up but he struggled. Eventually called ashore on the hour. A real pity as much more was expected.
12. Ollie Lawrence – 8
England’s most potent back on the night, he was handsomely rewarded with two tries. He swatted Gael Fickou aside for the first with the first-half clock in the red and was again robust with his 42nd-minute carry before he reached out and executed a stylish finish. This will steel his confidence no end.
11. Elliot Daly – 5.5
Back in the starting team after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled himself with a self-diagnosed concussion, the fear was he wouldn’t bring the oomph that the rookie managed and sadly this was the case.
England take the lead with less than five minutes left ?#GuinnessM6N #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/J39vI3cyKm
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
10. George Ford – 8
Deserved to start despite the clamour after Smith’s drop-goal heroics last weekend and he shone very brightly. Stayed composed when England were under the first-half pump and then came to the fore late in the second, having an exquisite touch in the Freeman try that he then expertly converted from out wide.
9. Alex Mitchell – 7
Played 70 and helped Ford to impress with his pass tempo. His box-kicking also slowed the game down whenever England needed to take sting from the French. What was lacking was the threat of a carry just to break the routine.
1. Ellis Genge – 8
Showed up very positively. Early scrum penalty win versus Uini Atonio got England their 3-0 lead, and his fine carrying was decorated by the popped pass he gave to Earl in the creation of the Smith try. A shame he only played 50 as there was surely much more in him.
2. Jamie George – 7
A less prominent display compared to his defiance versus the Irish. Can’t be happy that a stolen lineout was the catalyst for France’s first-half try, but he stuck at it until he too exited 10 minutes into the second half.
3. Dan Cole – 7
The veteran is the sort of fella you need in the trenches when your team is massively under the pump. Similar to the level-headed Ford, his composure helped England not to panic in the opening half but he won’t like watching back the replay of getting mugged twice by Damian Penaud on the penalty advantage that ended with France kicking 16-3 ahead.
? MARCUS SMITH ???@EnglandRugby Storming ahead ?#GuinnessM6N #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/KJkBLU7niP
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
4. Maro Itoje – 7
Like last week, this was a contest where the longer it went on the more he eventually grew into it.
5. George Martin – 7.5
The glue that bound together England’s great breakdown parts against the Irish, he had it tougher here. For example, he was beaten by Francois Cros at the stolen lineout that ended in France’s first try. Still, a very decent effort.
6. Ollie Chessum – 8
Clattering start that included one jolting tackle with England under the early cosh, he continued to be a defensive leader along with Earl. Capably grasped the lineout for the first Lawrence try but another hooked way too early, departing on 54 minutes.
7. Sam Underhill – 7
You can’t fault his work rate but too many missed tackles blotted his report. Gone on 67.
8. Ben Earl – 8
The round four rock star was a heavily marked man seven days later. Took 38 minutes before he had a carry of any significance but he exploded into life on the ball in the second half. Posted a colossal tackle count as well and it was unfortunate that his debatable no-arms tackle gave Ramos his kick to win.
??? We have a game on our hands in Lyon ?
Lawrence with his second of the night!#GuinnessM6N #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/XPw9KYsbYN
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan – 6.5
Given a half-hour, he was busy with his tackling but won’t want to be reminded about the horrible lineout overthrow that gave France the ball for a try when they were trailing 24-16 and struggling.
17. Joe Marler – 5.5
Another 50th-minute introduction, he initially didn’t give England a lift but finished better.
18. Will Stuart – 5.5
See Marler.
19. Ethan Roots – 6
The fourth pack change at a time when momentum was England’s, he too took a while to settle before coming through later.
20. Alex Dombrandt – 5.5
Played the last 13 minutes for Underhill. Made little headway.
21. Danny Care – 6
Given the last 10 in place of Mitchell, he helped to quicken the pace and get England back in front.
22. Marcus Smith – 6.5
The toughest player to rate. A defensive liability who was shown up for two of the French tries, buying a dummy for one and not tackling Penaud hard enough for the other. Also gave France their first penalty points for a no-release. Still, his 72 minutes had very bright moments in attack, scoring on 46 minutes and then giving Freeman the assist 29 minutes later. The bottom line, though, was he isn’t an all-round full-back.
23. Manu Tuilagi – 5.5
Sent on for the last 20 minutes in place of Slade, he had little impact and the question now is whether his Test career is over as a move outside the Premiership is likely this summer.
??? Sneaking one over the line just before the half time whistle ?
Ollie Lawrence scores for England ?#GuinnessM6N #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/J6bc64Aoda
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments