England player ratings vs Italy - Six Nations Super Saturday
England went to Rome on Saturday looking for as big a win as possible over Italy to heap Six Nations title pressure on rivals Ireland and France who were kicking off later in the evening in Paris – but Eddie Jones’ side took an eternity to produce, requiring 67 minutes to secure the bonus-point try and finally managing just a 29-point winning margin on a 34-5 scoreline.
Second in the table coming into Super Saturday, England had fallen to third by kick-off time following Scotland’s early afternoon win over Wales. But having enjoyed an average winning margin of 33 points across their last six championship wins over Italy, the expectation was that they would make light work of the opposition.
They did quickly get stuck into their task against the Azzurri, an opposition without a single Six Nations win since 2015 and who were beaten 50-17 from Ireland last weekend in Dublin. However, Ben Youngs’ fifth-minute try wasn’t following by the expected scoring avalanche.
The resilient Italians had made seven-try Ireland wait until the 61st minute to bag the four-try bonus point that put them one-point clear ahead of England and France on the table coming into this weekend, and it took England six minutes longer than the Irish to confirm their bonus-point try in this five-try win.
While an Ireland bonus-point win in Paris was always going to guarantee them the title regardless of what England did in Italy, the reduced margin of victory at Stadio Olimpico left the Irish heading into that Stade de France game knowing a win by six points would give them the title (provided they score one try – a tryless six-point win would see the title shared).
That's the one they *really* wanted!
Tom Curry darts over – and it's a bonus point for @EnglandRugby#ITAvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/newda4gnQH
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) October 31, 2020
If that materialises, England will be left to rue their cancelled hit-out last Sunday against the Barbarians as they were rusty in Rome and the first-half tactic of repeatedly booting away the ball rather than running with it didn’t help their cause. Here’s how their players rated nearly a year to the day after their World Cup final loss to South Africa:
15. GEORGE FURBANK – 4
Started twice in February but didn’t convince and it was a similar verdict here. There was one good touch-finder on 27 minutes, but offered little else and was involved in the comedic moment that nearly cost a try just before the break.
14. ANTHONY WATSON – 4
Fell off a number of first-half tackles and had little involvement on the ball. Was yanked early in the second half after England’s third try.
13. JONATHAN JOSEPH – 4
Limited first-half offering due to England’s belligerent over-use of the box kick but the one time he was really called into action on 28 minutes he flapped at a cross-kick from Owen Farrell. Continued to struggle after the interval to make an impact and made way for debut-making Ollie Lawrence near the finish.
12. HENRY SLADE – 6
Came into this off the back of an incredible few weeks with Exeter and initially continued his form, starting with a neat grubber kick off his left peg in Jonny May’s direction. However, England’s first-half tactics didn’t suit but he eventually went on to score their fifth try on 72 minutes.
.@J_George2's day just got even better…#ITAvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/8YvLE486DY
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) October 31, 2020
11. JONNY MAY – 6
Couldn’t gather two early grubbers sent his way, the ball refusing to sit up for him, but stayed on message and crucially touched down behind his line to clear up the 40th-minute defensive mess that nearly cost a second try. Penalised for holding on which pierced growing England momentum near the hour before they eventually got the job done.
10. OWEN FARRELL – 6
Appearing in his first match since his club red card eight weeks ago, he was quickly into the groove in setting up Youngs for the opening score but was very stodgy thereafter, his limited confidence in his team illustrated by how he went for the posts for a 13th-minute penalty instead of going to the corner. Needed to provide more composed leadership and greater variety to his game.
9. BEN YOUNGS – 6
Became only the second-ever England player to win 100 caps and he celebrated his centurion status in excellent fashion with a try after just five minutes. Quickly became over dependant on the box kick tactic, though, and his defending, which was generally flaky, was critically exposed in the tackle slip trying to catch the try-scoring Jake Polledri. Had a second-half point to prove and took just 55 seconds to do so, dummying his way to score with a run from the 22. Left the scene late on for Dan Robson.
1. MAKO VUNIPOLA – 6
Missed England’s last outing in March due to isolation protocols but set the set-piece tone at the first scrum here, forcing a penalty win. Then popped the neat pass that sent Farrell through the gap to set up the first try. Later won another scrum penalty on 35 minutes at a time when England were under siege. Gave way three tries in for Ellis Genge.
2. JAMIE GEORGE – 7
This was his 50th England appearance but didn’t bring initially enjoy the level of involvement he would have hoped. A yellow-carded in-at-the-side by Italy denied him a maul try on 38 minutes but he nailed that type of score on 51 minutes and his mauling then set up the ruck for the bonus-point score. Threw very well out of touch.
.@benyoungs09 writes his own scripts…#ITAvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/m7FcGotDzg
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) October 31, 2020
3. KYLE SINCKLER – 5
Hasn’t been the top-performing Sinckler we all know and love since his recent switch to Bristol, something we were reminded of on 18 minutes when he snatched at the Watson pass that led to Italy’s try from Polledri. Lasted 63 minutes before Will Stuart was introduced.
4. MARO ITOJE – 7
The style and polish to Jonny Hill’s rough and ready approach, he showed his athleticism with one turnover on halfway just prior to Italy’s opening try. Struggled for a time in the tough patch that followed and was rounded on by the Italian pack on 32 minutes, three minutes before he excellently held an opposition ball carrier up over the try line. Caught the Hill deflection that resulted in Youngs’ early second-half try and his general urgency was central to rousing England from their slumber.
5. JONNY HILL – 6
With George Kruis decommissioned, Jones needed a menacing enforcer and Hill was straight into the thick of it with clear catch at the first lineout. Unluckily yellow-carded on 22 minutes for TMO-reviewed high tackle on Edoardo Padovani. His instinctive play wasn’t matched by some colleagues as it was his lineout steal on halfway that became the Italian counter attack nearly produced a try. Made the important deflection that stopped Italy clearing at the start of the second half, igniting Youngs try. Then fetched the lineout that brought the bonus-point try on 67 minutes before being replaced by Charlie Ewels.
6. TOM CURRY – 6
Nearly had a fourth-minute try after a charged down kick, involvement that augured well but he was soon put off his game by the robust, in-your-face Italians. Lucky to escape an early second-half yellow for late tackle on Mattia Bellini. Continued to find the battle at the breakdown difficult but demonstrated his intelligence and his stickability by scampering down the blindside at the ruck to grab the crucial 67th minute bonus-point try.
7. SAM UNDERHILL – 5
Wouldn’t have expected to have been so busy on the defence but the first-half momentum shift at 10-0 had England under the pump and the energetic-tackling Underhill pumping blood. His head was a bloodied mess by the 30th minute, he needed a jersey change some minutes later and was then replaced by Ben Earl on 36 minutes. Patched up for the second half but gone on 54 minutes for Earl again who went on to impress, setting Slade up his late try.
8. BILLY VUNIPOLA – 6
Very busy in the collisions early on, he was England’s main ball-carrying focus but with his team losing their direction, his own broken concentration was visible in a needless show of temper on 39 minutes. Went on to clock up a ball carry of nearly 70 metres, but could have done with a hit-out last week to dust off the cobwebs and cause the Italians greater headaches.
It's a 100th @EnglandRugby cap to remember for @benyoungs09#ITAvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/0NOoSZHZ2h
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) October 31, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
80 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments