Player Ratings: England vs Samoa
England wrapped up their autumn series today with a 48-14 victory over an outclassed Samoa side at Twickenham, securing their third win from as many games in the month of November.
Mike Brown, Alex Lozowski, Charlie Ewels, Henry Slade and Semesa Rokoduguni all went over for tries, whilst wing Elliot Daly bagged a brace, in a performance that offered moments of brilliance, but also moments of missed chances and frustration.
We take a look at the performances of the 23 players involved below.
- Mike Brown – 7
Very impressive in his return from the head injury which ruled him out of the Australia game. Dealt with every high ball that came his way and ran well at space. Offloaded cleverly when possible and popped up as a support runner on several occasions.
- Jonny May – 6
Sparkled on one run in the first half but didn’t have too many other opportunities to influence the game in attack. Fielded kicks in the back three well and chased hard on any kicks that Brown or George Ford put up.
- Henry Slade – 7
Looked more comfortable at 13 than he did at 12 against Argentina. Ran nice lines off of Lozowski and was unlucky not to turn a couple of first half breaks into tries. Had a quiet second half before kicking on strongly towards the end, cruising in for a try and setting up Rokoduguni for a score with the last move of the game.
- Alex Lozowski – 7
Started very brightly, showcasing his ability as a decision-maker and the softness and quickness of his hands. Deserved his first international try and was a constantly on the heels of ball-carriers making breaks. Drifted out of the game a little as time went on and ran into trouble on one occasion in the second half, but a strong game overall.
- Elliot Daly – 8
Continues to impress in his development as an international wing. Helped control the territorial battle with strong work at the back and with his boot. Plenty of industry and fittingly scored his first try with a moment of excellent footwork. Repeated that inside stepping for a second try and displayed his scintillating pace, running it in from around 40m out.
- George Ford – 7
Kicked accurately and played well in a facilitator, rather than playmaker, role. It was a simple, error-free performance and arguably the most polished he has put in over the last month.
- Danny Care – 6
It didn’t quite click for Care after his excellent cameo against Australia. His kicks couldn’t find the space they did a week previous and he overran Brown’s break in the second half, which should have been a try for England. He did inject tempo and passed well off the floor.
- Ellis Genge – 7
There will be sterner tests to come for Genge but he gave Donald Brighouse a torrid time at the scrum. The Leicester loosehead also made himself known with his powerful carrying, which inevitably brought England gain-line success and sucked in Samoan defenders to the contact area.
- Jamie George – 8
Thrived in his first start for England, popping up as a link man in wider channels and running hard, incisive lines. Busted a gut as a support runner, charged down a Samoan kick and was 100% with his seven throws at the lineout. A late knock-on the only blemish for the Saracen.
- Dan Cole – 6
Anchored the set-piece well in England’s best scrummaging performance of the autumn. Not quite as noticeable as usual in the loose but fulfilled his role with efficiency, including holding up a Samoan carrier and ripping the ball in the same motion.
- Joe Launchbury – 5
It was a tough outing for Launchbury, who left the pitch in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury. He came around the corner slightly wide as a fringe defender and was unable to get low enough to stop the pick and go from Piula Fa’asalele for Samoa’s first half try.
- Charlie Ewels – 6
Bounced back well from an early knock-on when he seemed to take his eyes off the ball at a Samoan restart. Did better at the second time of asking on the restart and ran good lines as a one-out runner to tie in Samoan defenders.
- Maro Itoje – 7
Superbly athletic performance from Itoje who was rampant in the air at the lineout. He also tackled and carried with force, often leading the defensive line. Chemistry with George at the lineout was evident throughout, as was his versatility, shifting back into the second row when Launchbury went off with injury and Courtney Lawes arrived at blindside.
- Chris Robshaw – 6
It was a game that wasn’t particularly suited to Robshaw’s strengths, with England clearly the superior side and looking to open up the game and play with tempo and width. Carried earnestly and showcased his work rate, but England lacked ball security at the attacking breakdown and support runners from the back row.
- Sam Simmonds – 8
Like Slade, Simmonds looked good in the position he plays regularly at club level. Dealt with Samoan kicks cleanly and efficiently and ran them back with threat and purpose. Carried strongly throughout and seemed to grow into the game, as Samoa tired and there was more space for him to exploit.
Replacements
- Dylan Hartley – 6
Came on and helped see out the game. In fairness to Hartley, who is often criticised as not being a “finisher”, he didn’t provide any less off the bench than George did against Argentina and Australia.
- Joe Marler – 6
Powerful off the bench, Marler’s tackling held Samoan carriers to little or no gain on the gain-line.
- Harry Williams – 6
Offered more today than in his previous two cameos this autumn, carrying strongly and picking good lines off of scrum-halves and first receivers.
- Nick Isiekwe – 6
Didn’t have too long to impact the game but the 19-year-old will have learnt a lot from his first capped appearance at Twickenham.
- Courtney Lawes – 7
Came on in the first half after Launchbury’s injury and continued to impress in his new role as a blindside flanker. Carried hard and effectively, won a turnover and, as always, tackled ball-carriers powerfully behind the gain-line.
- Ben Youngs – 6
Didn’t quite have the electric impact off the bench that Care did a week previous, but got the ball out quickly to the back line, as England again finished with a flourish.
- Piers Francis – 6
Another late sub who didn’t have too long to affect the game. Made a couple of breaks that led to late England tries in subsequent phases.
- Semesa Rokoduguni – 6
Showed the footwork that sets him apart as a player and capped his cameo with a try to finish the game.
Comments on RugbyPass
The RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to comments