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Scotland player ratings vs England: Dreadful conditions killed this game as a spectacle and it was a hard day to be judged, but yet that is what we must do.
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STUART HOGG CAPTAIN 6
Uncharisterically error-ridden early doors. His massive boot kept England pinned back in what was a busy shift for the Exeter Chief fullback. For a few horrid moments it looked he fluffed his lines again, but the TMO saved his blushes. We all know how talented he is, but consistency seems to be evading him of late.
SEAN MAITLAND 1
Okay, so it wasn’t a day for wingers with Storm Ciara battering Murrayfield, but with that said, one could be forgiven for double-checking the line-ups to make sure he was actually on the pitch. That all changed with a knock-on in the 59th minute and a second fumble two minutes later. He wasn’t done though. He managed one final knock-on in the 79th minute. The most charitable thing you could say was that he was present.
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WATCH: Jim Hamilton is joined by good friend and England International Freddie Burns to discuss the selection issues England face and Andy Farrell’s slip up in a recent press conference.
HUW JONES 5
Was turned over in possession in the 23rd minute. Had a few telling contributions in the second half but was replaced by Harris in the 55th minute, after looking sore.
SAM JOHNSON 6
Carried hard and fast and coming off second best in contact on more than one occasion didn’t dampen his ambition.
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BLAIR KINGHORN 7.5
Was massively fired up for this contest and it showed. Eagerly looked for work and was a reliable source of go-forward every time he got it. A massive improvement on last week.
ADAM HASTINGS 7.5
The miserable conditions meant he was destined for a ping pong tournament with England three-quarters and spent the first 25 minutes covering back. Was mugged by Underhill in the 25th minute which led to an England break-out. The cliched line is that he doesn’t have Finn Russell’s flair but he does have a great knack of making s*** happen.
ALI PRICE 7
A wonderful chip and collect rattled England. He did his best in nightmare weather but ultimately England’s halfbacks dealt better in the conditions.
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RORY SUTHERLAND 7.5
Had a right royal rumble with Sinckler at scrum time. His step and 20 metre break brought a sodden Murrayfield crowd to their feet.
FRASER BROWN 4.5
Was the main line of communication between Scotland’s pack and Pascal Gaüzère. A lineout overthrow let England off the hook in the 13th minute and another in the 19th minute set the tone for a torrid afternoon at the set-piece. In his defence conditions were truly dreadful. Took a knock early in the second-half, which he never quite recovered from.
ZANDER FAGERSON 7
A monster at eating up the hard yards, and has actually become a go-to for the Scots in this regard.
SCOTT CUMMINGS 5
Gave away a penalty that gave Farrell his first kick at posts, which he duly missed. Tackled strongly thereafter. Must take some of the responsibility for Scotland’s shambolic lineout.
JONNY GRAY 5.5
Ball security and breakdown issues bedeviled Scotland once again and Gray wasn’t immune. Tackled everything as usual and grabbed a few metres with ball in hand and was the only player capable of catching a ball at lineout too apparently. He and Bradbury were tellingly unable to stop Genge for England’s winning try.
JAMIE RITCHIE 6
The athletic all-rounder prowled the field and got through a tonne of work. It wasn’t a day for fancy stuff and England’s heavies probably came out just on top in the battle of the packs.
HAMISH WATSON 5
It was England that won the breakdown battle, and Watson was largely left to the odd cameo.
MAGNUS BRADBURY 6
His carrying was missed last week and opportunities to cut loose here were few and fair between. One of the few Scottish forwards to get any real change out of the English pack, although he and Gray were unable to contain Genge, which proved fatal.
SUBSTITUTES:
STUART MCINALLY 6
After Brown’s performance you wonder will McInally have seen this match as a chance to reclaim the jersey. Looked busy and seemed to deal relatively well with the torrential rain.
ALLAN DELL 6
Scrum looked solid with Dell on the pitch and the loosehead was alert to spilled balls.
SIMON BERGHAN 5
Played his part at the scrum. Gave away the penalty that all but ended the contest.
BEN TOOLIS 5
Did he do much? We couldn’t tell.
NICK HAINING NA
Not on long enough to rate.
CHRIS HARRIS 6
A brave performance for the substitute who might be being pushing for a starting spot next week. Townend must stop rewarding mediocrity in his backline.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments