Wales player ratings vs England | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Wales player ratings: A young Welsh side was asked to go to Twickenham and show some fight. That they did. Daring on attack and ferocious around the breakdown, they made England look ordinary at times.
But a distinct lack of quality, as well as enough heft, meant they couldn’t get the better of England’s rush defence. Red runners were smothered by white shirts and when the match coalesced into a struggle of will, the team with more nous won out.
Wales will be proud, but also annoyed that they let this slip. They’re not necessarily a better team than England. But they were mostly better here which is why some high scores are found below.
15 – Cameron Winnett – 8
Didn’t merely catch high balls and hoof them back. He showed maturity and composure, looking up with the intent to impact the game. And when fielding under pressure he demonstrated the strength to keep the ball alive. gets extra points for a one-on-one tackle on the much larger Tommy Freeman that saved a try early in the second half.
14 – Josh Adams – 5
Solid, but mostly on the periphery. Still, strength and quick feet in the close exchanges meant he beat several defenders. When he finally had space on 56 minutes, he neither had the pace to burn round the last defender or enough might to hold him up. That felt like a big moment with the score reading 8-14. Hooked on the hour for Mason Grady.
13 – George North – 5.5
Was mostly quiet but had the most penetrating run of any Welsh back looking to punch through England’s line. Needed to have more of those impacts with ball in hand, but his larger frame was a weapon on the counter ruck. One shove in particular on 67 minutes procured a turnover against a possible overlap.
12 – Nick Tompkins – 4
Struggled to provide any strike force through midfield. Also guilty for giving the ball away after a 24 phase move when he recklessly chucked an off-load from the ground. Worse perhaps was the custard-soft penalty he gave away when Adams kicked from his own in-goal area to gift England three points.
11 – Rio Dyer – 6.5
This felt like a more senior, accomplished performance from Dyer. His darting runs – like the one where he reached the safe ty of his 22 after collecting a pass under his own poles – weren’t just brave, they were calculated. Also frenetic on defence, shutting down width.
10 – Ioan Lloyd – 7.5
Dallied on the ball and, like a sacked quarterback, was monstered by Maro Itoje under his own sticks. That ended with Ben Earl running over Lloyd to score. But that was one blight. The young fly-half was brave and skilful, showing great ambition in his play when kicking or running. Could have benefited from more punch through the rush, but didn’t need a midfield thanks to his sniper-accurate cross-kicks. Showed that last week’s tricks weren’t just a consequence the hopeless situation. Made way after the 80th minute for Cai Evans.
9 – Tomos Williams – 6.5
It was his frenetic spark that turned the game against Scotland last week. Here he showed a more controlled side to his game. Nothing too flashy, he continued to find his close-in runners and – mostly – his areas when box kicking. Replaced by Kieran Hardy with seven minutes to play.
1 – Gareth Thomas – 6
Won a big scrum penalty after a stodgy sequence when the game was scoreless, allowing Wales to scratch out a foothold. Sinned when he went early on another scrum when Wales had the feed on England’s line. Mostly good though. Lasted 58 minutes before Corey Domachowski replaced him.
2 – Elliot Dee – 6
On a long list, it was the line-out that was most abject in Wales’ game last week. Dee’s accuracy here meant England wouldn’t get handed free balls at the set-piece. It was a brave call to go to the back of the line within striking distance, but it worked and Wales won a penalty try from the subsequent maul. Good in the loose as well. Subbed on 55 minutes for Ryan Elias.
3 – Keiron Assiratti – 6
Showed aggression at the breakdown and contributed in the loose. Held his own in the scrum. Replaced by Archie Griffin on 55 minutes.
4 – Dafydd Jenkins – 4.5
A totem at the line-out, he lacked enough grunt to punch holes through the rush defence. Wanted the ball. Battled to get go-forward when he had it.
5 – Adam Beard – 5
A hefty presence at set piece, he couldn’t replicate that anywhere else on the park. Wales had the upper hand on a few metrics, but their engine doesn’t have the requisite torque to boss around the fringe. Replaced by Will Rowlands on 69 minutes.
6 – Alex Mann – 6.5
Scored his Test second try after as many matches thanks to lovely supporting run for Williams after Tommy Reffell bust through a gap. Was too easily brushed off by Earl and perhaps needed a bit more grunt at times. But was busy, getting himself about, acting as a presence. Sometimes that’s enough. Switched for Taine Basham on 69 minutes.
7 – Tommy Reffell – 9
Outstanding. A typical all-energy show that also included world class touches. Having just carried up-field a minuter before half-time, he got up, carried again, stepped, off-loaded and found Williams on his inside. That ended with Mann’s score but it was Reffell’s try. Was also a menace at the breakdown, coming up momentum swinging steals in both halves, and made more tackles than any other Welshman. Elite.
8 – Aaron Wanwright – 7
Wales’ best player last week continued his form here. Rangy runs, athletic grabs under high balls, he also offered a target at the line-out.
16 – Ryan Elias – 5
Hit first jumper but missed his most important throw when Wales had to chase the game.
17 – Corey Domachowski – 4
Asked to join the scene by scrumming against Dan Cole. Didn’t struggle as much as fellow substitute Archie Griffin, but didn’t win his personal duel.
18 – Archie Griffin – 3.5
Struggled against the vastly more experienced Ellis Genge and gave away a penalty which was kicked into the corner. Made a handful of tackles to earn half a mark.
19 – Will Rowlands – n/a
Came on too late to impact the game.
20 – Taine Basham – n/a
Came on too late to impact the game.
21 – Kieran Hardy – n/a
Came on too late to impact the game.
22 – Cai Evans – n/a
Brought on after the 80th minute.
23 – Mason Grady – 0
It might seem harsh to put too much emphasis on his 70th minute yellow card – for a deliberate knock-on in his own 22 as English backs formed on his outside – but that was his most significant contribution. The result was England taking the lead for the first time. If that’s not a score of 0 then one doesn’t exist.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments