England player ratings vs Ireland | Six Nations 2022
Despite a heroic performance, 14-man England slipped to a 15-32 home defeat at the hands of title-chasing Ireland following the second-minute dismissal of lock forward Charlie Ewels for a dangerous tackle.
However, the men in white deserve plenty of plaudits for their never-say-die approach to a contest in which they pushed Ireland all the way before finally being sunk by late scores from replacements Finlay Bealham and Jack Conan.
England’s title hopes are now over, while Ireland retain genuine hopes of lifting the Six Nations crown if they can repeat this bonus point win when Scotland visit the Aviva Stadium in seven days’ time.
Marcus Smith kicked three first-half penalties as Ireland struggled to get to grips with French referee Mathieu Raynal’s scrum interpretations.
However, despite shipping nine penalties before the break it was the visitors who held a 9-15 interval advantage thanks to tries from James Lowe and Hugo Keenan plus Johnny Sexton’s penalty and conversion.
Following the restart, Smith added two further penalties to one from Sexton before replacements Conan and Bealham barged over for a late match-clinching converted scores.
England made three changes to the side that beat Wales with Jamie George replacing the injured Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker. Elsewhere no.8 Sam Simmonds and centre Joe Marchant swapped starting and bench roles with COVID victim Alex Dombrandt and Elliot Daly.
Ireland captain Sexton started for the first time in this tournament. Five further changes saw prop Cian Healy replace injured Andrew Porter, while full-back Hugo Keenan, wing Andrew Conway, centre Bundee Aki and prop James Ryan, who sat out the big win over Italy, all returned to the starting line-up.
15. Freddie Steward – 6
Less prominent with ball in hand than of late, Steward was solid as ever at the back. Thought he’d pulled off a 95-metre interception try only to be recalled by the referee’s whistle.
14. Max Malins – 6
Found James Ryan a real handful but played a key role in disrupting Ireland’s rhythm with his energy and kick chase.
13. Joe Marchant – 8
Made an important early interception to halt the visitors’ flowing start and later won two penalties on the ground with good power over the ball. Despite having few opportunities to attack Marchant put in a brilliant defensive shift.
12. Henry Slade – 6
Used a lot at first receiver in attack where he made a useful contribution. Struggled to stop Bundee Aki on the gainline.
Finlay Bealham with the big bonus point try. Relief doesn't cover it.#ENGvIRE #SixNations pic.twitter.com/W8Rodxi1zb
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) March 12, 2022
11. Jack Nowell – 7
Probably wasn’t expecting to be packing down on the flank inside the opening ten minutes but still found time to make some useful breaks in his more natural habitat. Nowell’s amazing appetite for work saw him steal a Smith restart from Andrew Conway’s grasp.
10. Marcus Smith – 6.5
After missing with an early long-range penalty he found his range from 40 metres and went on to kick 15 points as Ireland conceded 15 penalties. Given little space in which to launch England’s attacking game.
9. Harry Randall – 6.5
Showed intent by tapping their first penalty and making 30 metres from inside his own half. Always a danger round the fringes, Randall also kicked more consistently than in recent weeks.
1. Ellis Genge – 9.5
Got the better of Tadgh Furlong in the scrum where England dominated and as a result found plenty of favour with the referee. The Leicester skipper’s 13 tackles featured a huge hit on Furlong which forced a turnover deep inside England’s 22. His best England display.
2. Jamie George – 8.5
Underthrew an early lineout but otherwise was part of an England pack whose lineout functioned smoothly despite being a jumper down. In addition to joining his front row mates in bossing the scrum contest, the Sarries hooker also made 14 tackles, one of which forced a vital turnover under his own posts early in the second half.
https://twitter.com/RTErugby/status/1502713576712286209
3. Kyle Sinckler – 6
Less prominent than usual with ball in hand as part of a seven-man pack but distinguished himself with a thumping defensive hit on his own line which caused the concussion that forced him from the field.
4. Maro Itoje – 9
Made a critical intervention when his slap of Jamison Gibson-Park’s wrist caused a knock-on which ruled out a Lowe try. Once Ewels departed he became England’s main lineout option in addition to being typically disruptive in the maul. Another outstanding effort from England’s Mr Consistent.
5. Charlie Ewels – n/a
Received the earliest red card in international rugby history after only 82 seconds for his dangerous tackle on James Ryan who was left concussed. Ewels failed to bend into the tackle and as a result made forceful and direct contact with his opposite number’s head.
This is straightforward: bend your knees as you tackle, and you don't make the referee make the decision. https://t.co/xjsEZEXXkI
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) March 12, 2022
6. Courtney Lawes – 9
In addition to doing well at the front of the lineout and making a best-of-the-day 16 tackles, England’s skipper who played much of the game in the second row marshalled his troops and referee Raynal superbly.
7. Tom Curry – n/a
Limped off injured in the 14th minute.
8. Sam Simmonds – 7
Bounced off Ireland’s tacklers in the wide channels to create England’s best attacking position but was mostly restricted to defensive work where he made an impressive 15 tackles.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Jamie Blamire – n/a
Saw a few minutes of action when George finally gave way.
17. Joe Marler – n/a
Replaced the outstanding Genge with 15 minutes remaining.
18. Will Stuart – 6
Replaced Sinckler just ahead of half-time and put in an impressive nine tackles.
19. Joe Launchbury – n/a
Made a long-awaited return from injury when he replaced Dombrandt in the 65th minute.
20. Alex Dombrandt – 6
Arrived as a 14th minute replacement for Curry and put in a hard-working shift before 50 minutes later becoming a replacement who was himself replaced.
21. Ben Youngs – 6
Pitched into the fray with 30 minutes remaining and other than one over-cooked box kick put in a typically solid performance.
This is absolutely an textbook kick from Ben Youngs. A metre from the touchline, gives Keenan nowhere to go, great chase from Nowell.#ENGvIRE #SixNations pic.twitter.com/NnjWnK5WnX
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) March 12, 2022
22. George Ford – n/a
Replaced Steward in the dying seconds.
23. Elliot Daly – n/a
Replaced Marchant with ten minutes remaining.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 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 …
30 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
3 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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 commentsGood 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.
30 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.
9 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.
30 Go to comments