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Wales Player Ratings vs England

By Ian Cameron
Alyn Wyn Jones

With the official World Number One spot up for grabs, this was always going to be more than a warm-up match for both Wales and England.

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Wales fielded a full strength side to face an experimental Eddie Jones’ England team – but this was in Twickenham, where Wales have won just three times in 24 years.

Sadly for Wales, it was they who looked like the experimental side as Eddie’s England outplayed them across the park.

Here’s our Wales player ratings.

15. Liam Williams

Combined nicely with Josh Adams at times. As a unit the English back three dominated their Welsh counterparts, but the Saracen was menacing with ball in hand as ever.

7

14. George North

The best of Wales’ back three in attack, with 60 metres and 5 defenders beaten in the stats department. Deserved his try.

7.5

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13. Jonathan Davies

Carried for an average of 4.4 metres per carry off nine runs, with four offloads. Had his hands full with Jonathan Joseph and his two missed tackles in defence will irk him.

6.5

12. Hadleigh Parkes

Refused to give up and did what he could with the scraps on offer, although Piers Francis stood up well to him on defence. A decisive carry near the English line in the second half led to Wyn Jones’ try.

6

11. Josh Adams

Looked bright at times, absent at others – but was ultimately outshone by England’s back three of Watson, Daly and Cokanasiga. Cleaned up the odd mess in defence.

5.5

10. Gareth Anscombe

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Hobbled off in the 33rd minute after an innocuous-looking bump that will leave the Welsh worried. Was seen later on crutches in the stand.

6

9. Gareth Davies

Did well to take his try, stepping Elliot Daly on his way under the post. Looks in outstanding physical condition after the Swiss trip.

Wales Player Ratings
Gareth Davies

8

1. Nicky Smith

Being blown out of the road by Joe Cokanasiga at close range will have hurt the prop’s pride. Struggled for parity at scrum time.

5.5

2. Ken Owens

Bullish as ever but was part of a Welsh frontrow that was a distant second to their aggressive English counterparts. Made a few trademark carries. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s try off the lineout will hurt.

5.5

3. Tomas Francis

The Exeter tighthead looked to dominate Genge early in the scrums but didn’t get much change out of Englishman. Does his best in the loose.

4.5

4. Adam Beard

The 6’9 lock did his job at lineout time – looking secure on his own ball and managing to poach a lineout off England. It remains to be seen if the accomplished set-piece operator can add more to his game, especially given Jake Ball’s superior loose game.

6

5. Alun Wyn Jones (C)

The Welsh cap record-breaker didn’t play his best game in a red jersey. Hard to fault and never took a backward step.

6

6. Aaron Wainwright

The former Cardiff City midfielder will not have furthered the argument for his inclusion in the Rugby World Cup. English debutant Lewis Ludlam hogged the limelight and the deck. Carried manfully but rarely won the collision. Smartly tied in Ludlam on the scrum preceding Davies’ excellent solo try.

6

7. Justin Tipuric

A quiet game by his standards. Wasn’t the menace on the deck that he needed to be and struggled to turn over ball in the face of the work of Ludlam and Vunipola at the breakdown.

5.5

8. Ross Moriarty

Outshone by a rampant Billy Vunipola, literally getting flattened by his opposite number on occasion. The Dragons’ No.8 needs to find the form that forced him into the side four years ago if he is to fill Taulupe Faletau’s boots.

5.5

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee

Another Welshman that looked uncharacteristically flat. Not a huge improvement on Owens whom he replaced.

6

17. Wyn Jones

Scored a well-deserved try from close range in the 55th minute. Scrum improved as the game went on.

6.5

18. Dillon Lewis

Gave away two penalties after coming on midway through the second half. Not a good look when you’re coming off the bench.

4

19. Jake Ball

Carried well at times, reminding the Welsh rugby public and Gatland why he was at one stage a first choice for Wales.

6

20. Aaron Shingler

Came on early and having coming back from a massive injury lay-off needed a big game. This wasn’t the game to make that case.

6

21. Aled Davies

Gave away a penalty for a high shot on George Ford in the 60th minute. Slow at times when he needed to be fast.

6

22. Dan Biggar

He missed a few too many tackles after coming on for Anscombe and couldn’t quite control the game in his customary fashion.

5.5

23. Owen Watkin

Run through by Manu Tuilagi in the 75th minute. Must do better.

4

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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