Wales Player Ratings vs England
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.
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
Cannonball-Ken Owens with the initial carry, but the 'giant on the wing', George North takes the honours…
"Preying like a giant mantis" ? 24-12
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— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
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
James Bond aka Daniel Craig is in the crowd at Twickenham…
Where do you think 007 would be best suited in a rugby team? Is openside too obvious? ?#ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/NIVvR0Ul2S
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
10. Gareth Anscombe
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.
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
"Wales are right back in the match and enjoying every aspect of it!"
Wyn Jones off the bench and over the whitewash. 24-19
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— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 11, 2019
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
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf 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.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments