England vs Wales: Player-vs-Player Preview Ratings
After both recording comfortable victories in the opening round, England and Wales meet at Twickenham on Saturday, in a game that will undoubtedly have a significant bearing on the race for the Six Nations title.
Wales have opted for an unchanged XV from the one that beat Scotland 34-7 in Cardiff, whilst Eddie Jones and England have made two changes, with Danny Care replacing the injured Ben Youngs and Jonathan Joseph regaining his starting spot at 13.
We’ve rated each player, totted up the totals and it looks, at least on paper, as if it is going to be a very close contest this weekend.
- Mike Brown 7 vs Leigh Halfpenny 8
Brown didn’t have his best game out in Rome and though his influence as a strike runner was key in attack, he wasn’t his usual faultless self in dealing with the opposition kicking game. Halfpenny, on the other hand, ended his try-scoring drought in emphatic fashion, crossing the whitewash twice and enjoying a very impressive performance.
- Anthony Watson 8 vs Josh Adams 7.5
Adams had a good international debut last week and looks comfortable at this level, but he lacks the experience of Watson, who had a similarly impressive outing, running in two tries and looking safe and responsible in defence, at both wing and full-back.
- Jonathan Joseph 8 vs Scott Williams 8
Ben Te’o looked at home with George Ford and Owen Farrell floating around him but the narrowness of England’s defence could well be the reason Jones has opted for Joseph, who looked sharp off the bench. Williams, though, excelled in his wider role for Wales, contributing significantly in both attack and defence and making the decision-making defensive duties of an outside centre look easy.
- Owen Farrell 8.5 vs Hadleigh Parkes 7.5
Both players come into the game in good form, but the edge goes to Farrell for the multitude of ways he can potentially impact the game, from attack and goal-kicking, to defence and game-management.
- Jonny May 7 vs Steff Evans 7.5
It was a good attacking performance from May in Rome, setting up both of Watson’s tries and involving himself in the midfield, but it did leave him out of position defensively from time to time. Evans had a fine game in Cardiff and if England defend as narrowly as they did against Italy, he could be in the frame to have a big game.
- George Ford 8 vs Rhys Patchell 7.5
Both players started the Six Nations in fine fashion, playing with the composure and fluency that would make you think they already had two or three games under their belts in this year’s championship. The edge goes to Ford, because of his added experience at this level, but it’s a close one and both are capable of proving to be game-winners for their sides.
- Danny Care 7.5 vs Gareth Davies 7.5
This is Care’s opportunity to take hold of the England nine jersey. Both he and Davies started the tournament well and it’s hard to separate them. Davies has an edge with support-running, whilst Care is more capable of influencing the game with his attacking kicking game.
- Mako Vunipola 8.5 vs Rob Evans 8
These two looseheads played key roles in securing scrum advantages for their sides in the opening round, but it was in the loose where both played an even more significant role in their teams’ performances. In that latter area, the edge goes to Vunipola, but only just, with Evans clearly eyeing that best all-court prop accolade that Vunipola has held in the northern hemisphere for some time now.
- Dylan Hartley 7.5 vs Ken Owens 8
Two excellent set-piece hookers, both of whom went well in the tournament openers. The advantage here goes to Owens, with the Welshman offering a little bit extra in the loose.
- Dan Cole 8 vs Samson Lee 8
Cole looked rejuvenated in Rome and had great success against his opposite number, whilst Lee had a similarly successful outing in Cardiff. Both players will be given tougher challenges by Vunipola and Evans, but as the fulcrums of their respective scrums, they’re hard to separate.
- Joe Launchbury 8 vs Cory Hill 8
Hill’s rapid ascent in the international arena is one of the storylines that has not been talked about enough in the last two years. Hill perhaps had a slightly stronger 80-minute performance than Launchbury last week, but it would be tough on the Englishman, who has been ultra-consistent, to give Hill an advantage here.
- Maro Itoje 8.5 vs Alun Wyn Jones 8.5
The two talismans of their respective packs. What Itoje brings in dynamism, Jones matches in savvy. Both will be vital on Saturday and there’s very little between them, despite them being at different ends of their respective careers.
- Courtney Lawes 8 vs Aaron Shingler 7.5
Shingler had a fine game against Scotland, but he’ll be put under more pressure by an England side on home soil. Lawes is excelling in his new role for England and given the unique skills he brings at the lineout and in the defensive line, he just edges this one.
- Chris Robshaw 7.5 vs Josh Navidi 7.5
Hard work and endurance versus a more predatory and fleet presence at the breakdown. Both players will influence the game in their own way, but there’s not much between them. Navidi has form on his side, Robshaw has experience.
- Sam Simmonds 8 vs Ross Moriarty 8
Simmonds certainly made a splash in his first start for England last weekend, but can he replicate that energy in defence and dynamism in attack against a tougher opponent? Moriarty’s powerplays around the fringes, both with and without the ball, could be key for Wales.
Totals
England – 118
Wales – 117
Jones turns up heat on Wales ahead of 6 Nations clash
Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
22 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
22 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
22 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
22 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt 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.
28 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 🤐
22 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….
28 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….
22 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….
90 Go to comments