England player ratings vs Ireland
Having named their strongest line-up yet in the 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up games, England were rewarded with a 57-15 victory over a strong Ireland side.
Eddie Jones will be extremely pleased by what he saw from his side at Twickenham, as they comprehensively beat Ireland in all facets on Saturday afternoon.
We have run the rule over all 23 of England’s players and rated their performances in an extremely encouraging outing.
- Elliot Daly – 7
Provided a sharp pass for Joe Cokanasiga’s early try and was generally more of a counter-attacking threat than he had been able to be against Wales. Ireland weren’t able to test him in the air as much as Wales did and his tactical kicking from deep was a valuable territorial weapon for England. Beaten on the outside late by Bundee Aki, a moment which he’ll want back.
- Joe Cokanasiga – 8
Similar to Daly, Ireland weren’t able to move Cokanasiga around and try to exploit him with their kicking game. He kept his depth and width well for his first half try and his defensive reads were good, as he kept Jacob Stockdale relatively quiet. Continued to come off his wing looking for work and grabbed his second try of the game by bursting through the midfield.
https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1165287575524913154?s=20
- Manu Tuilagi – 8.5
A very encouraging display from Tuilagi back in his previous position of outside centre. His decoy line helped create Cokanasiga’s try, a powerful carry set up Daly’s score and then he displayed a good step for his own try. His strength and leg drives in the carry were difficult for Ireland to contain and he even pitched in with a turnover.
- Owen Farrell – 7
A lot of England’s early success came from George Ford’s play on the gain-line, although Farrell stepped up as a first receiver in the second half. He connected with six of his seven kicks and his kicking from hand was incisive and effective.
- Jonny May – 8
The Leicester wing performed well on his return to the starting back three, chasing industriously and effectively throughout. His work off the wing laid the groundwork for Cokanasiga’s first try and his elusive footwork hurt Ireland. Impressed defensively and with his one-on-one tackling, too.
- George Ford – 8
Ford excelled with his play on the gain-line in the first half, with his bravery and late play paving the way for the two opening tries. He looked comfortable with Farrell outside of him, as well as playing off of the significant impact that Tuilagi offered.
- Ben Youngs – 5.5
The scrum-half started well with contestable box-kicks and kicks into space, although he lost his radar somewhat as the game went on. A few errant passes mixed in with effective play on the gain-line made it far from one of Youngs’ better games in an England jersey.
- Joe Marler – 8
There are few tougher challenges than Tadhg Furlong, although Marler stood up well to him at the set-piece on his first start since coming out of international retirement, even managing to get an edge on the Irishman in a couple of contests. He helped provide quick ball for England with good clearing work at the ruck.
- Jamie George – 7.5
George connected with all nine of his lineouts, although the first couple were pressured by Irish jumpers. He was industrious in the loose and contributed significantly to England’s continuity, with strong carries close to the ruck and clearing work at the breakdown.
- Kyle Sinckler – 8
After coming under pressure in the first scrum of the game from Cian Healy, Sinckler delivered at least parity for the rest of the contest. He carried well, supported line-breaks and his soft hands and playmaking skills unleashed Sam Underhill for a break and the subsequent assist to Tom Curry.
https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1165285306008002560?s=20
- Maro Itoje – 9
A monstrous showing from the lock, who was on hand to take five of England’s lineouts and managed to steal or disrupt three of the Irish throws. He won a turnover, sacked a rumbling Irish maul and was effective hunting down Ireland’s first receivers. Carried well, too, and capped his display with a deserved try in the second half.
- George Kruis – 7
Kruis came under pressure at the first couple of lineouts, losing the first as he was ripped in the maul. He grew into the game, though, with his defensive communication key and he grabbed a lineout steal as England preyed on the Irish set-piece.
- Tom Curry – 8
Couldn’t quite dislodge Irish jackals on a couple of occasions, but it was a solid overall performance. Curry stepped up as a carrier, as well as making a precise pass for Daly’s first half try. Offered a third lineout option in the second half, as England expanded their set-piece repertoire, and secured a try, trailing Underhill’s break.
- Sam Underhill – 7.5
Although he wore seven on his back, Underhill took on more of the traditional roles of the blindside, effectively executing the chop tackle throughout the game. He snaffled a turnover in the second half, though, and began to impose himself in attack.
- Billy Vunipola – 7.5
Not the cleanest attacking performance, with the number eight isolating himself on a couple of occasions and coughing up turnovers, despite still providing front-foot ball. He forced a penalty out of Ireland at the breakdown, though, and made several dominant tackles, as he showed his value on defence.
Replacements
- Luke Cowan-Dickie – 6.5
No drop-off from England’s set-piece and loose work when Cowan-Dickie arrived, as the Exeter man connected with all four his lineouts and stole a late try from an errant Irish throw.
https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1165291193548365825?s=20
- Mako Vunipola – n/a
Unfortunately had to leave the field after coming on as a replacement, walking gingerly to the sideline.
- Dan Cole – 6
Kept up England’s impressive set-piece showing and was powerful at the contact area.
- Courtney Lawes – 6.5
Lawes was successfully targeted twice at the lineout following his introduction, as well as carrying and tackling with his typical strength.
- Mark Wilson – 6
Solid off the bench and helped England cruise over the finish line.
- Willi Heinz – 7
Heinz delivered some contestable box-kicks and sharp passing from the breakdown after replacing Youngs.
- Piers Francis – n/a
Came on too late to have an impact on the game.
- Joe Marchant – n/a
Came on too late to have an impact on the game.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Havili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to comments