England Player Ratings vs Ireland
England’s disastrous 2018 Six Nations came to a lacklustre conclusion at Twickenham today, with Ireland winning just their third-ever Grand Slam, as the home side were downed 24-15 by the visitors, on a memorable St Patrick’s Day.
We’ve rated each England player, as they fell to a disheartening third-straight loss and closed the book on a Six Nations campaign that, for all the wrong reasons, will live long in their memories.
- Anthony Watson – 5
A game to forget for Watson, really, with the full-back leaving the pitch after 33 minutes with an injury. He would have wanted to do better competing in the air for the ball with Rob Kearney – even if it was a knock-on by the Irishman – with the spilled ball leading to Garry Ringrose’s try.
- Jonny May – 5
England didn’t really get themselves into any positions to use their wings in an offensive situation, apart from the two moments that led to tries for Elliot Daly. Unfortunately for May, England seemed to be at their most effective moving right to left. Grabbed a late consolation try.
- Jonathan Joseph – 5
Not too many opportunities for Joseph at Twickenham, with the outside centre making a couple of half-breaks but otherwise being well-marshalled and denied of front-foot ball. He does, however, continue to impress with his reading of the game and his linking of the inside and outside defence.
- Ben Te’o – 5
Te’o carried strongly on a couple of occasions but looked a way away from the marauding inside centre that the British and Irish Lions saw in New Zealand last year. The Irish defensive line did a very good job of keeping Te’o quiet.
- Elliot Daly – 7
Looked the most dangerous of the England outside backs and grabbed deserved reward for his efforts with a brace of tries. Between his footwork and his deft kicking game, he was the only England back to genuinely keep the Irish defence honest. A fumbled ball and a late rip by Ringrose frustrated England and tarnished an otherwise impressive performance.
- Owen Farrell – 8
Even in a badly disintegrating England team, Farrell continues to show his class. His weighted kick for Daly’s try was pinpoint, whilst his breaks and passing were one of the few sources of creative and incisive attack for England.
- Richard Wigglesworth – 6
Gave England an improved level of control, but his trademark box-kicks were made to look less effective than they are with Saracens due to a poor kick chase from the rest of the side. Covered well in defence, too.
- Mako Vunipola – 7
Looked a bit more dynamic around the fringes than he had done in the previous three matches. He was powerful repelling Irish pick and goes, as well as offering a reliable source of front-foot ball.
- Dylan Hartley – 6
Lost his first lineout of the tournament but was still successful with eight of his nine throws. He did his defensive work efficiently in the tight, too, without offering too much threat as a carrier.
- Kyle Sinckler – 5
Coughed up penalties in the first half for early engagement and being off his feet at the breakdown – partly due to Chris Robshaw trapping him in over the ball – and couldn’t bring his usual dynamic carrying to the park.
- Maro Itoje – 5
A tough day at the office for Itoje, who leaked penalties in the first half. His one for offside was almost understandable, with offsides rarely called, but his two for grabbing the inside arm of his opposing jumper at the lineout caused England to lose significant position on the pitch. Grew into the game, making a couple of strong carries in the second half.
- George Kruis – 5
A rough return to the England starting XV, with the Saracen coughing up possession a couple of times in the first half, spilling a pass and being ripped by Ireland. He did empty the tank in defence, though.
- Chris Robshaw – 6
Cost England a penalty when he trapped Sinckler in at the breakdown but redeemed himself with a stronger second half, carrying with purpose and helping to keep England moving forward.
- James Haskell – 5
Like Kruis, it wasn’t the return to the England XV that Haskell would have wanted. He was brought in to bring power and momentum but was largely reduced to a role bringing pressure in the defensive line.
- Sam Simmonds – 5
A very quiet performance for Simmonds. With the selection England went for, this was never going to be the scenario for him to excel and his four carries were not enough to get England moving forward. Put himself about in defence, though, as England struggled to control possession in the first half.
Replacements
- Jamie George – 5
Conceded a penalty immediately after coming on and, not for the first time, failed to bring the dynamic performance off the bench that he had previously done with abandon in the last two seasons.
- Joe Marler – 7
The Harlequin brought impact, including strong shoves at his first two scrums, as well as an important try-saving tackle on Ringrose and low, powerful carries.
- Dan Cole – 6
He came on and scrummaged strongly but the “finisher” role is not one Cole was built for. He did what was asked of him, but with England chasing the game, there was a limit to what he could do.
- Joe Launchbury – 6
Carried strongly off the bench and at least brought a dynamic to the 23 that seems more effective than the one provided by Kruis as the bench second-row.
- Don Armand – 6
Opportunities few and far between for Armand to impact the game, following his late arrival in the second half.
- Danny Care – 6
Like Armand, England were scrambling and chasing the game by the time Care came on. He didn’t play badly but didn’t have too many opportunities, either.
- George Ford – 5
Didn’t really change the way England played after he replaced Joseph and Farrell moved out to inside centre. Without a pack that he can rely on to put him on the front-foot, he has struggled this campaign.
- Mike Brown – 7
Solid impact off the bench after replacing Watson in the first half. Read the game well defensively, as well as popping up with a smart one-handed offload to unleash Daly for his second try.
Comments on RugbyPass
Safas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
69 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
69 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
69 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
69 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
69 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
69 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
69 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
69 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
69 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
69 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
69 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to comments