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England player ratings vs USA
After a solid but unspectacular start to their World Cup campaign against Tonga, England moved through the gears and established their credentials with a 45-7 win over the USA in Kobe.
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The result puts Eddie Jones and England firmly in control of Pool C, although they will know their biggest challenges still loom, with Argentina in Tokyo next week before finishing up against France in Yokohama in the last weekend of the group stage.
Jones opted to rotate in 10 new players into the starting XV against the USA and RugbyPass have rated the performances of all 23 England players below.
- Elliot Daly – 6
Daly had a couple of moments where he brought his playmaking skill to bear in the midfield, although it was a quiet performance by his standards. There was very little for him to defensively or aerially, either.
- Ruaridh McConnochie – 6.5
The former sevens international was kept quiet in the first half but scored a deserved try in the second half for the work he had done in defence and in the aerial contests.
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- Jonathan Joseph – 7
England’s set-piece focus in the first half limited Joseph’s involvement, although he was much more influential in the second half. His pirouetting break saw him scythe through the US defence and tee up Joe Cokanasiga for England’s bonus point try score.
- Piers Francis – 6.5
The inside centre was an incisive carrying option for England initially, although he didn’t quite move the ball wide with the same regularity that Owen Farrell does in the role. He was potentially unlucky to avoid punishment for an early high tackle and made the most of that reprieve by adding significantly to England’s tight game in the first half.
- Joe Cokanasiga – 7
Cokanasiga, like McConnochie, probably didn’t have the overall attacking impact he would have liked, despite grabbing two tries. He did offer a consistent physical carrying presence, though England kept the ball tight for vast periods of the game.
https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177192100892499974?s=20
- George Ford – 8
An effective game management role from Ford, who kicked the corners excellently for England’s set-piece then to go to work. His play on the gain-line was also impressive and he spotted the space in the US defensive line well for his first half try. He was successful with five of his seven kicks from the tee.
- Willi Heinz – 6.5
Heinz had a positive impact with his box-kicking and tempo, all of which had England playing in the right areas of the pitch. He did cough up a couple of early penalties in the first half, as well as a knock on, which did deny his side some flow, but it was a strong showing overall.
- Joe Marler – 7
Marler held up his side of the scrum very effectively, whilst Dan Cole aggressively went to work on the tighthead side. The loosehead contributed significantly to what was a dominant set-piece performance from England.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1177202507526942722?s=20
- Luke Cowan-Dickie – 8
One overthrow at the lineout aside, it was an efficient outing for Cowan-Dickie, who nailed 13 of his 14 throws. He was heavily involved as a carrier and was the driving force behind England’s dominant maul.
- Dan Cole – 8
A performance that rolled back the years for Cole, with the tighthead consistently turning the screw at scrum time on the USA pack. His fringe defence was also physical and he played his part slowing down ball at the contact area and disrupting the opposition maul.
- Joe Launchbury – 7
After a slightly bumpy start where he was counter-rucked easily at one ruck and knocked on in the tackle, Launchbury really grew into the game. He was an effective foil to George Kruis at the lineout, managed to steal a US throw and contributed a lot to England’s strong maul.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1176805906887118850
- George Kruis – 8.5
Kruis dominated the aerial game for England, snagging nine lineouts and one steal on US ball. He was also the foundation of England’s mauling game and wrecked a couple of US mauls with his destructive work through the middle. He got through his fair share of carrying, too.
- Tom Curry – 7.5
Curry is really taking to the role on England’s blindside and the physicality of his tackling, which forced a knock on, was particularly noticeable on Thursday. He also provided a carrying outlet close to the ruck and a lineout option. Seemed to be given a licence to roam in the second half and profited.
- Lewis Ludlam – 8
The flanker played his role in the physical arm wrestle at the gain-line and contact area in the first half, before being freed up to affect the game more as a ball-carrier after the break. He also contributed at the lineout, offering himself as a target, as well as snaffling up loose US ball. Pocketed himself a try in the second half.
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https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177197683305566208?s=20
- Billy Vunipola – 6.5
The No8 was a threat when running it from deep, although it was a contained performance, with Mark Wilson replacing him at half time. Grabbed a try from England’s driving maul before departing at the interval.
Replacements
- Jack Singleton – 6
The hooker connected with both of his throws after replacing Cowan-Dickie and was a willing carrier.
- Ellis Genge – 7.5
A couple of bullocking runs from the loosehead after his arrival at half time and had plenty of success attacking the tiring US defence. He made himself known at the breakdown, too.
https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177201064241709058?s=20
- Kyle Sinckler – 7
Sinckler brought his expected impact as a ball-carrier and a playmaker and was only outshone by the even more dynamic arrival of Genge. He maintained England’s scrum dominance, too.
- Courtney Lawes – 6.5
The lock offered a willing carrying option after replacing Launchbury and had some success with ball in hand.
- Mark Wilson – 6.5
Wilson really picked up the slack as a carrier close to the ruck after Vunipola departed the pitch and it seemed to allow Curry to roam more and have success in the wider channels.
- Ben Youngs – 7
One errant pass aside, Youngs brought positivity from the bench, with his breaks and awareness of space helping England tick along.
- Owen Farrell – 6.5
The playmaker’s arrival suited perfectly what England tried to do in the second half, as his passing game was as influential then as Francis’ carrying had been before the interval.
- Anthony Watson – 7
Watson offered electric breaks after coming off the bench and his ability to turn small holes into big gains was a spark plug for England in attack.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
1 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
12 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)
1 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?
1 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.
16 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
16 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 commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to comments