Ireland player ratings vs England | Six Nations 2022
Ireland player ratings: Andy Farrell’s Ireland arrived at sunny Twickenham on Saturday labelled as red-hot favourites by Eddie Jones, the mischievous England coach who heavily brought the bookies into the pre-game narrative to help gee up his side for this Guinness Six Nations round four title eliminator.
The Irish coach breezily brushed off the words of his opposite number, instead putting the onus on his own team “to go over there and prove to ourselves there is a performance in there for us that is a step above what we have shown already”.
In the end, the starting team that he named showing six changes from the facile round three win over Italy did precisely that, eventually making bonus-point hay from the numerical advantage that favoured them from the 82nd-second of the fixture when Charlie Ewels was red-carded for head-on-head contact on James Ryan.
Fourteen-man England did fight. They had Ireland’s number in the scrum where they won multiple penalties and managed to draw level at 15-all with 19 minutes remaining. However, their attack was limited to repeated Marcus Smith garryowens and after Tadhg Beirne stole a 68th-minute lineout on their own 22 having just gone back three points ahead, Ireland swaggered down the finishing straight.
Their “explosive” bench made a huge impact, Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham scoring the tries that added to the first half scores from James Lowe and Hugo Keenan to leave them deserving four tries nil winners on a 32-15 scoreline. Here are the RugbyPass Ireland player ratings live from Twickenham on a victory that keeps Farrell’s team in the title hunt into the final day of the 2022 championship:
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15. Hugo Keenan – 8
Predictably recalled in place of Michael Lowry, despite the wee guy’s two-try debut against the Italians, he was safe as houses here for the most part. Showed alertness in defence when tiding up an England penalty advantage, then took an important aerial catch late in the half on halfway and was soon after diving over the line after Ireland quickly tapped a penalty. Ably took a monster Smith kick early in the second half but was caught holding on at the next fetch, allowing England to close to 15-12. Knocked on at a third catch but finished the match strongly.
14. Andrew Conway – 7.5
Another back in the side after a rest, you knew his appetite was voracious when he joined an early maul on halfway and gave it visible heft. Lovely footwork when creating the assist for the ruled out Celan Doris try. Beaten at a restart kick by Jack Nowell in the play that allowed England close to 15-9 down at the break. Excellent touch finder seven minutes into the second period and another 50:22 followed on 63. There was one kicking error, putting it out after ball was taken back into the 22 but it was his shot at the line that heightened the pressure for Conan’s vital score.
13. Garry Ringrose – 6.5
The harder he tried the more error-ridden he, unfortunately, became in the opening period. He was the Ireland player burgled by the nuisance Maro Itoje, his knock-on scrubbing out the Caelan Doris try on twelve minutes. It was also his kick that was called back for a first-half offside against Sexton. Was involved again later in the opening half with Itoje, taking a high shot to earn a penalty. Hung tough, though, amid a claustrophobic second half to go the distance with an eventual smile.
12. Bundee Aki – 7
Nicely played, to begin with, when Ireland were in the early ascendency but his influence faded the more the opening half went on. Another who had to hang very tough amid the second-half English onslaught and he left it for sub Robbie Henshaw to bring the win home after 66 minutes.
11. James Lowe – 8
With his boot exceptional against Italy, Farrell figured it was more valuable to have that than use Mack Hansen. However, it was his clean pair of heels that was initially evident, the winger racing away solo to score with seconds over five minutes gone. He was soon penalised for a holding on penalty for Joe Marchant but Lowe was the player who kicked clear after England made a hatchet job of a maul five metres out. LIfted early pressure in the second half with a canter and make further timely impressions to help puncture the increasing pressure.
10. Johnny Sexton – 7.5
Back in the starting line-up for the first time since the round one win over Wales, he helped lead the charge when Ireland generated their early gallop. However, like some others in his side, that influence lessened and it was curious how the likes of Peter O’Mahony and Tadgh Furlong were having first-half conversations with the referee and not the official skipper. Gave up a sloppy offside penalty for being in front of the kicker. Kept his nerve, though, dusting himself down after one might Ityoe hit to nudge Ireland back in front on 66 minutes and then had the composure to put his team deep in the 22 to chase the bonus-point try.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 8.5
Started brightly but then faded for a spell before he snapped back into synch, brilliantly having the alertness to quickly tap and put Keenan in for his try just before the break. Tried to repeat the quick tap trick early in the second half but an Iain Henderson fumble wrecked that opportunity. Kept the tempo high, however, which was so important in helping to drain English energy levels and setting the scene for Conor Murray to flourish in his twelve-minute appearance.
1. Cian Healy – 6.5
With the impressive converted loosehead Andrew Porter out with injury, this was a chance for the veteran to remind everyone he has what it takes as a Test level starter and it was a roller coaster experience. He can’t have been happy with how the Irish scrum got on the wrong side of the referee and yet it was his smartness that foiled the 24th-minute maul that should have given England a score-levelling try at 8-all. Lasted 53 minutes before Dave Kilcoyne came on.
James Lowe sprints in to score for Ireland ? #GuinnessSixNations #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/QO9ZeSjhPu
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 12, 2022
2. Dan Sheehan – 6.5
The biggest game of the youngster’s career, he started it with plenty of polish. He was vibrant in the carry as Ireland looked to quickly exploit their numerical advantage. Then came the pressure where an error was withdrawing his brake foot to give England a scrum free. He also exited on 53, Rob Herring entering the fray.
3. Tadhg Furlong – 7
The “big lump” much admired by Joe Marler and co, he started by being a sweetly executing, in-game passing foil in the middle of the pitch. Started with a scrum penalty win for Ireland but the set-piece then encountered persistent difficulties and he was also pulled for an offside. Also bore the bunt of some heavy-duty England tackling as witnessed by one smacker from Sam Simmonds when the tighthead looked to find Aki near the line in the second half. However, he kept on driving amid the adversity and admirably played 74 minutes.
4. Tadhg Beirne – 8
Knock on in the carry on 20 minutes as Ireland looked to counter after England’s first points, but it was his breakdown grittiness that eventually shone through and there was no more fitting player than him to go up and steal the English lineout on 68 minutes to turn the tide irrevocably in Ireland’s favour.
5. James Ryan – No rating
His game was over less than a minute in after taking a head-on-head shot in a collision with Charlie Ewels. He wobbled when getting to his feet and with play stopped with the clock at 1:22, he was escorted off the medics before Ewels was shown the red card.
6. Peter O’Mahony – 7.5
Farrell enthused on Thursday about how there is so much more to O’Mahony’s game these days than trademark bite and bollock and there was even though Ireland had their work cut out in the back row with Alex Dombrandt a way more muscular presence in the carry than Tom Curry, who he replaced early. O’Mahony went 61 minutes before Conan arrived in to finish the job.
7. Josh van der Flier – 8
Having gone from an originally in-and-out player under early Farrell to now being part of the furniture, he gave Lowe the assist around halfway for the opening try. Was sacked at the maul by Itoje on 26 at an Irish throw gut he was another whose determination to keep at it was crucial in ensuring it was Ireland who eventually cantered clear to their 17-point win.
8. Caelan Doris – 8
Blasted past Harry Randall for his disallowed twelfth minute try in the corner that would have made for a very different game as it would have put Ireland 13 points clear with a conversion to come. Helped puncture English momentum with a 55th-minute breakdown penalty with just three points between the teams and then enjoyed a monster break eleven minutes from time that nearly sent in Murray. An all-round wonderful effort.
Replacements
16. Rob Herring – 7.5
Arrived after 53 minutes, he was inches short of the try line with the carry that eventually gave Ireland the penalty against Itoje that allowed his team to go 18-15 ahead. Loads of energy and good composure.
17. Dave Kilcoyne – 7
Another 53rd-minute sub. He was penalised at his first scrum to allow England to draw level at 15-all but, as with Herring, he rose to the occasion when it most mattered.
18. Finlay Bealham – No Rating
Only played six minutes but that was enough for him to be the bonus point try scorer.
19. Iain Henderson – 6.5
The first of the four 2021 Lions named on the Ireland bench, he was the second-minute sub who replaced the groggy Ryan. Encountered penalty trouble with England rising to the challenge but momentum eventually swung his way.
20. Jack Conan – 7.5
Thrown into battle with 19 minutes left, he put his recent iffy form behind him with a hefty involvement that included the scoring of the crucial third try on 72 minutes.
21. Conor Murray – 7.5
Played just twelve minutes and will rue not being able to take a likely try-scoring pass from Doris. However, he was lively in upping the tempo in generating the late tries while he was also composed in calling a mark under dropping ball not long after his introduction.
22. Joey Carbery – No Rating
Back in his more regular role as Sexton’s backup and a token introduction for the final moment.
23. Robbie Henshaw – 7.5
His robustness in the collision and eagerness for involvement was exactly what Ireland needed when he was sent on for Aki with 14 minutes left.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful 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 comments