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
I certainly don’t enjoy drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments