Ireland Player Ratings vs England
Ireland won a third Grand Slam in their history with a 24-15 win over England on St. Patrick’s Day. It was their first victory at Twickenham since 2010. Not since 1972 that Ireland have won away against both England and France in a Championship.
Ireland player ratings:
15. Rob Kearney 8
Man-of-the-match against Scotland. Excellent chase to put pressure on Anthony Watson for the game’s opening try. A composed presence at the back, his positioning was excellent as ever, fielding whatever came his way from Owen Farrell. He was also a threat with the ball in hand.
14. Keith Earls 7
He was penalised for diving-in in the 9th minute, but England surprisingly went for the corner from a very kickable penalty and it didn’t prove costly. Farrell chipped in behind Earls for Elliot Daly to score, but with Ireland a man down they were stretched. The Munster winger pulled off an excellent tap tackle on Daly in the 44th minute and stopped what surely would have been a try. Went off late on with an injury.
13. Garry Ringrose 7
His third match back after injury and a sixth minute try scorer, pouncing on a loose ball after Anthony Watson failed to gather an up-and-under. Defensively sound alongside Aki and his battle scars post-match showed as such.
12. Bundee Aki 7
The Connacht centre fumbled in the 17th minute when Ireland had a good attacking opportunity down the left wing. He made a fine break and showed good awareness to put pick out CJ Stander for Ireland’s second try. Perhaps lucky not to be sinbinned after leading with the shoulder when tackling Elliot Daly in the 26th minute. Picked up an injury in the 54th minute to end his game.
11. Jacob Stockdale 8
The first man ever to score seven tries in a Six Nations. He gathered his chip ahead to score on the stroke of half-time. His international record now stands at 11 tries in nine appearances. Rory Best highlighted pre-match that he’s not the finished article and his fielding of kicks, along with tackling, are areas to work on – a missed tackle on Jonny May in the 76th minute was just one illustration of this.
10. Jonathan Sexton 7
A sixth minute up-and-under that gave Rob Kearney a chance to compete with Anthony Watson, which forced the error and the games opening try. Missed a 23rd minute penalty when it struck the post. Left the field for a HIA in the 34th minute. The outhalf had taken his fair share of contact and he went off in the 66th minute due to “fatigue” according to Joe Schmidt.
9. Conor Murray 8
Snaffled an England overthrow at the lineout on the half hour when Ireland were under huge pressure. Kicked a 59th minute penalty. Marshalled his backline brilliantly, his box kicking was accurate. He is arguably just as important as Sexton to Ireland and Joe Schmidt described him as “immense”.
1. Cian Healy 7
Part of a resilient pack performance. Didn’t get a chance to get his hands on the ball as much as he did against Wales and Scotland. He was replaced by his clubmate Jack McGrath in the 51st minute after a good day’s work.
2. Rory Best 7
One of only two remaining players from the 2009 Grand Slam winning side. The Irish captain was solid at the set piece, notably at the lineout, hitting his jumpers each time.
3. Tadhg Furlong 10
The British and Irish Lions tighthead got though an unbelievable amount of wok, often first to hit rucks and mauls. His numbers were hugely impressive, 14 tackles and 12 carries. Deservedly the man-of-the-match and it was hard to find fault with his performance.
4. James Ryan 9
He was Ireland’s top ball carrier against Scotland and the Leinster man was once again to the fore here too with 13 tackles and 10 carries. Has been quite outstanding in this Six Nations. Comparisons with Paul O’Connell have emerged, he’s not quite there yet, but at just 21-years-old he’s a frightening prospect.
5. Iain Henderson 9
The Ulsterman showed his strength in the 38th minute strangling an England rolling maul on the edge of Ireland’s 22 to earn an Ireland scrum. England had been exerting an extended period of pressure and it was a key moment, not long afterwards Stockdale scored Ireland’s third try. Joe Schmidt is a lover of stats and his 15 tackles are an impressive total. Completely vindicated his selection ahead of Toner.
6. Peter O’Mahoney 7
The Munster captain was sin binned in the 29th minute for bringing a rolling maul down as England looked set to score after incessant pressure on the Irish line. Part of a huge physical effort against a robust English pack.
7. Dan Leavy 9
Has become a thorn in opposition sides at the breakdown. Ireland’s top tackler with 16 and hugely impressive around the park with 11 carries.
8. CJ Stander 9
On Aki’s shoulder to score in the 24th minute for his eighth international try, touching down at the post. Ireland’s leading ball carrier with a monstrous 23 carries, gaining 41 metres.
16. Sean Cronin 6
The Leinster hooker came on with 15 minutes to go, the lineout and scrum all remained solid platforms for Ireland.
17. Jack McGrath 7
A 51st minute substitute for Cian Healy. He fared well at scrum time and fronted up in a big defensive effort.
18. Andrew Porter 7
Came on in the 65th for Tadhg Furlong. Porter has really made an impression in this championship and has shown Ireland have a strong alternative at tighthead.
19. Devin Toner 7
Lost his place to Iain Henderson, but certainly a good and experienced option from the bench.
20. Jordi Murphy 6
Came on with six minutes to go, the Leinster man didn’t really have long enough to make a notable impact.
21. Kieran Marmion 6
A 74th minute sub for Keith Earls. It’s not the first time that the scrum half has played for Ireland on the wing and held his own once again when out of position.
22. Joey Carbery 7
Replaced Sexton in the 34th minute for a HIA. Kicked the conversion just before half-time after Stockdale’s try. Came on in the 66th minute for Sexton and has shown he’s very much capable of closing a game out. Missed a 71st minute penalty, which would have put a 17-point gap between the sides.
23. Jordan Larmour 7
A third international appearance and in the centre this time, in place of the injured Bundee Aki who came off in the 55th minute. Showed his dancing feet in the 58th minute to make a break, but he should have passed to Keith Earls when a try looked to be on.
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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.
30 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 comments