England player ratings vs France | 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations

England player ratings: In what was once dubbed the ‘Grand Slam Decider’ seemingly in another life, England delivered a performance worthy of that billing despite eventually falling 48-46 to France in round five of the Guinness Six Nations in a match for the ages.

England arrived at the Stade de France under huge pressure, but delivered a performance that has been missing all Championship and one they were winning until the final minute. Here’s how the players rated:

15. Elliot Daly – 6
Sized up a kick with his first touch of the match but opted to pass instead, and that perhaps was a sign of things to come. Perfect pass fizzed to Tom Roebuck for England’s opener, but left far too much space in behind as France kicked through for Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s second try. Caught in no man’s land for France’s first try as well, flying up too late.

14. Tom Roebuck – 7
Far too often he was left covering far too much space on the right flank which is usually not a good idea. However, against the most lethal winger in the game, Bielle-Biarrey, it is madness and it was no surprise that France scored their opening tries down that side. That was the team’s shortcoming, but it was one that did not leave Roebuck showered in glory. Steady otherwise with few faults.

13. Tommy Freeman – 8.5
Had the ball ripped from his clutches in the opening minutes, which was an inauspicious start, but certainly benefited from England’s desire to spread the ball more. Challenged France’s 13 channel with some good success with his carries. Was always looking to offload in contact, and that helped unlock the French defence at times. Darted over for what looked to be the winner and, like many, deserved to be on the winning side.

12. Seb Atkinson – 7.5
Showed the green shoots of a partnership developing with Freeman with the pair linking well in high-pressure situations in attack. Early days. Showed his worth stepping in at first receiver as well. Operated like another back-row in defence at times, with one notable kick chase sending panic across the French backfield. He did leave a gaping hole in the midfield which the hosts duly took advantage of as they scored their second try after the break.

11. Cadan Murley – 6
Opened his account with a poacher’s try, pouncing on a loose ball, but you have to be there to finish them. Was he at full tilt to prevent Bielle-Biarrey chasing a kick for France’s first try? Possibly not. Came close to an absolute clanger when Matthieu Jalibert looked to have robbed the ball off him over the line to score. Seemed a bit nervy, which is understandable for a Test fledgling, with a daft penalty for taking out in the air given away in the first half. Settled into the match, and chased kicks well in the second half.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but he may have been better served diving on a loose ball at the death rather than trying to hack it.

10. Fin Smith – 8
Struggled to control the match in the closing quarters against Italy, but did a far better job this week. Less was more in his display, shouldering the playmaking with Atkinson and Ben Spencer. Was creative himself though, and found success with some short grubber kicks. A special mention must go to his drop-goal conversion from an awkward angle, but lost the kicking duties once Marcus Smith came on after going 50 per cent from the tee – which ultimately proved costly in such a narrow game. Fronted up defensively and made sure France had no success down his channel.

9. Ben Spencer – 8
Had England playing with infinitely more purpose and clarity in France’s 22 than they have all Championship, shown by his smart grubber through for England’s second try. Switched the direction of play for England’s fourth try in another example of precise execution that has been lacking all year. Left the field after 50 minutes with the match very much in the balance.

1. Ellis Genge – 8.5
Direct and uncompromising in his carrying, but it gained a lot of ground for England. His first half was tarnished when he was yellow carded for collapsing a maul, with a penalty try being awarded. It proved to be a very costly yellow as well, with England conceding 21 points (including the penalty try). Returned to the field to give England that real go-forward again. Scrum got stronger as the match progressed, winning a big penalty in the final 10 minutes to give England a chance. Would have been a 9 had he not been yellow-carded.

2. Jamie George – 7
Lineout functioned very smoothly with three locks to pick out. Tidy in everything he did in his 50 minutes on the field, albeit not a match where he was at his industrious best.

3. Joe Heyes – 7.5
Conceded the penalty at the maul which ended England’s early pressure, and France took no time to score their first try after making it into England’s half. The sight of him chasing down Antoine Dupont and then haring after the player the scrum-half had passed to summed up his tenacity in defence. Rock solid in the scrum, and got a lot of success there, helping win the scrum penalty to give England the platform for what they thought was the match-winner.

4. Maro Itoje – 8
Had produced three times more passes at half time at the Stade de France than he had all match against Italy. That may be a strange stat to pick out, but the England captain embodied their shift in mindset. He carried hard into the guts of the French defence, but moved the ball on, which is not his forte, as his side played with more imagination from 1-15. Huge penalty won metres from his line when France were purring and looking to score their second try after the break. Led the match for turnovers, 2, and made the most tackles for England, 14. Cruelly penalised at the death for a high tackle, but this was a titanic display from the England skipper.

5. Alex Coles – 7.5
At the heart of a driving maul that marched deep into France’s half, which drew a penalty and subsequently England’s third try. Ran a nice line to score England’s fourth try, which was a just reward to a player who had endeavoured to cover every blade of grass. Helped from the field after 55 minutes, but was the match’s leading tackler at that stage with 12 tackles.

6. Ollie Chessum – 9.5
The only change to the starting XV from last week and brought in to completely change the complexion of the English back-row. Added considerable bulk to the pack, and that helped considerably with England’s maul. Alert and swift to pounce over for England’s third to level the scores after 30 minutes. Was the creator a few minutes later, shifting the ball back in field to put Coles in for England’s fourth try. Legendary interception to get England right back into the game when France looked like they were about to run away with the match. 11 carries and the most metres by any player – the best player on the pitch and this was a match where Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries.

7. Guy Pepper – 7
Scragged and chased down French backs tirelessly. Left the field after 63 minutes with 11 tackles to his name and England leading. A largely defensive stand from the flanker, but one that was needed.

8. Ben Earl – 8
Exploited a weakness at the back of France’s lineout that Scotland exploited last week to make a strong carry in the first half, and frequently tested the French defence. Carried relentlessly with the most in the match, 16. This may have been a poor Championship from England, but Earl has never let his standards drop.

Points Flow Chart

France win +2

Time in lead

51

Mins in lead

19

61%

% Of Game In Lead

23%

61%

Possession Last 10 min

39%

3

Points Last 10 min

7

Replacements
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 7
Got to work chopping down French carriers as soon as he came on and kept the lineout functioning well.

17. Bevan Rodd – 6
Came on while Genge was in the sin bin and was immediately penalised at the scrum. Then only given a few minutes at the end.

18. Trevor Davison – N/A
Borthwick has been reluctant to give him many minutes throughout the Championship, and he only got five at the end.

19. Chandler Cunningham-South – N/A
Only given a handful of minutes at the death.

20. Sam Underhill – 6
Still unconvincing as a ‘finisher’ (but that doesn’t diminish what a superb player he is), but this match was actually made for Underhill as France were trailing by one point when he came on, and England needed a player to keep knocking back their carriers. Just couldn’t do enough.

21. Henry Pollock – 7
Riled up the French, which he seems to have the uncanny ability to do, and had some big interventions late on, particularly a last-ditch tackle on Dupont. Had the ball in his clutches at the death, but maybe lacked the composure to keep it safe. Pure brilliance quickly descended into despair.

22. Jack van Poortvliet – 7.5
Immediately looked lively when he came on and played with the same purpose Spencer had. Valiantly tried to chase down Bielle-Biarrey in his fourth try, but that was always a losing battle. Delivered what looked to be the killer pass to put Freeman in for England to win. Had a pass swatted away by Francois Cros from the back of a scrum that will leave every person north of the Channel baffled it wasn’t a penalty.

23. Marcus Smith – 7
Given 25 minutes to turn things around this week and made an instant impact, darting over the line to give England the lead, showing plenty of strength in the carry.