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Ireland player ratings: As pointed out this week by Russ Petty on Twitter, the team that leads at half-time nearly always wins this fixture, and this game was all but over by the 40-minute mark.
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It will be a wake up call for Andy Farrell and his charges. The men in green were utterly dominated.
Here’s our Ireland player ratings.
15. JORDAN LARMOUR 4.5
A clear target of England’s kicking game, and the Eddie’s men shook plenty of the change out of Larmour. He’s a marvelous attacking talent but he doesn’t yet have the game-craft for Test rugby at fullback. Part of a back three that struggled aerially and positionally.
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WATCH: Wales post-match press conference with head coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones after 27-23 Guinness Six Nations defeat to France in Cardiff.
14. ANDREW CONWAY 6
He kept an in form but out of position Jonathan Joseph in check. Busy and positive, despite being on the backfoot. A collision with Daly’s hip left the Munsterman needing a HIA.
13. ROBBIE HENSHAW 5
Henshaw recorded his first Test try in the 2015 Six Nations triumph against England, and tends to play well against the men in white. He grabbed the 50th minute try that Ireland so desperately needed to stay in the game, but it was to be his lone highlight.
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Making his mark…
Robbie Henshaw powers over for @IrishRugby to give him team hope after a torrid first half at Twickenham#ENGvIRE #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/wqN6WOFteD
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 23, 2020
12. BUNDEE AKI 4.5
A favourite at 12 under Joe Schmidt and now Farrell, Aki’s stopping power in defence is a clearly a big draw for defence orientated coach. Yet he continues to cough up handling errors with some frequency. Tackles his heart out, but his lack of creativity and a meaningful passing game continues to stifle Ireland’s attacking ambition.
11. JACOB STOCKDALE 3.5
The Ulsterman needed only eight test appearances to run in 10 test tries, the fewest by any northern hemisphere Tier 1 player in the professional era. He shone in this fixture in 2018, his breakout year, but this was a very different Twickenham outing. Incredibly let the ball bounce in Ireland’s dead ball area, before being shouldered aside by a grateful Elliot Daly. Marked out of the game by an eager Jonny May.
Déjà vu for @EnglandRugby…#ENGvIRE #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/z4ZES1WvTC
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 23, 2020
10. JOHNNY SEXTON (CAPTAIN) 2
From the whistle England began repeatedly sending Manu Tuilagi down his channel. Things got worse when he fumbled an awkward bouncing ball to gift England’s their opening try. His hooked kick in front of the posts in the 14th minute seemed to suggest an unfolding nightmare and his missed conversion in the 51st minute confirmed it. One of Sexton’s worst-ever games in green.
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9. CONOR MURRAY 4
His lengthy clearances proved a valuable release valve for Ireland in the opening exchanges, but his slow delivery and the odd box kick clanger sapped any chance Ireland had of igniting the contest.
1. CIAN HEALY 5
A huge early hit on Sam Underhill set the tone for the veteran loosehead, but sadly he left the field injured with 25 minutes on the clock.
2. ROB HERRING 5
Going to into this match Herring’s lineouts were impeccable, with a clean sweep of 19 from 19. He’s been quietly excellent in the setpiece for Ireland, but you fancy Farrell Snr wants to see more from him in the loose.
3. TADHG FURLONG 4
Gave away an early penalty against Joe Marler. It’s the rarest of rare things to see the tighthead lose collisions, but lose collisions he did. His workrate was up there but his wince as he left the field said it all. The game had passed him by.
4. DEVIN TONER 5
Drafted in late for Iain Henderson and was a beacon of security at the lineout. Presented for duty in defence. Hard to fault the big man.
5. JAMES RYAN 5.5
Super aggressive and his personal contest with Itoje, which spilled over at times, continues to be box office. However the Englishman took the spoils this time.
6. PETER O’MAHONY 6
A vital steal got Ireland out of jail when defending the line in the 21st minute. He fought all day long despite the game being beyond reach after the first 40 minutes.
7. JOSH VAN DER FLIER 4
VDF made his his debut in a 21-10 defeat by England in the Six Nations at Twickenham in 2016. Thoroughly outshone by Underhill here. A real threat over the ball and an effective tackler but collision winning isn’t a strength. Outgunned today.
8. CJ STANDER 6
Going into this round of the Six Nations the number eight had won more turnovers (5) than anyone else in the competition. It is England on this occasion that, quite literally, wanted to take the shirt off his back.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. RONAN KELLEHER NA
Not on long enough to rate.
17. DAVE KILCOYNE 6
Came on for the injured Healy and carried really well. Gave as good as he got with Sinckler.
18. ANDREW PORTER 6
Mullered by Ellis Genge in a particularly gory scrum in the 59th minute. The Englishman got under his skin. Took his 82nd minute try well.
19. ULTAN DILLANE 5
It’s been a minute since he last played for Ireland, having featured just three times in 2019. Part of a second-half fightback.
20. CAELAN DORIS 6
Back from his 4-minute debut in round 1. A few tidy contributions.
21. JOHN COONEY 6
Had 25 minutes to try and turn around a burgeoning Irish shipwreck. Caught napping by Jonny May, with a strange refereeing decision ultimately saving his blushes. That said, Ireland were certainly more direct under Cooney and Byrne.
22. ROSS BYRNE 5.5
Threw a few questionable passes but Ireland were chasing the game and they were probably justifiable in that context.
23. KEITH EARLS 6
He came into the game needing just one try to go clear of Tommy Bowe as Ireland’s second top try scorer in Test rugby, behind Brian O’Driscoll (46). Largely left to spectating and a bit of house-keeping duties in the few minutes he had to impress.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 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.
27 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.
27 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?
11 Go to comments