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Wales player ratings vs England

By Ian Cameron
AWJ with the offload.

Wales and England played out a weird game of rugby that never really took off as a spectacle, despite moments of brilliance on both sides.

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It was a game both teams clearly wanted to win, but it was ultimately Wales who steadied the ship and are now – technically at least – the best side on the planet.

Here are our Wales player ratings:

15. Leigh Halfpenny

A late change for Liam Williams who pulled up with a tight hamstring. Having not played since last November, it was an understandably rusty turn for a normally safe pair of hands. The Scarlet coughed up a highball from Willie Heinz in the 16th minute, giving England a leg up in the Welsh 22. He spilled the ball again in contact in the 44th minute. A 74th-minute chip and collect and subsequent 50-metre penalty kick saved his blushes.

5.5

14. George North

The giant wing is starting to find the form that made him a superstar of the game in his teens. Took his try brilliantly from Dan Biggar’s pin-point kick.

7.5

13. Jonathan Davies

An early turnover for Davies was his first-half highlight in what was overall a pretty quiet game for the Lions centre.

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12. Hadleigh Parkes

Carried solidly and defensively sound, as ever. Helped earn Anthony Watson a card for a deliberate knock-on. Still yet to hit the heights reached at the Six Nations, and question marks remain over the offensive threat he poses at the very highest level.

5.5

11. Josh Adams

Caught out of position in the 9th minute from a kick behind that could have led to a Cokanasiga try. Possibly needs to look for more work in attack. Nine metres from three carries is a pretty poor return for an international winger.

5

10. Dan Biggar

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A vintage performance from Biggar. His quick thinking for the tap penalty in the 32nd minute caught England unaware and moments later followed it with a sensational crossfield kick for George North. Brilliant in the air, as we’ve come to expect. Smashed Itoje not once but twice.

8.5

9. Gareth Davies

Box kicked well. Looked sore after shipping a knock to his leg in the first half, which he did his best to run off.

7.5

1. Nicky Smith

Getting demolished at the scrum by Dan Cole in the 7th minute won’t have helped his confidence. Went some way to making up for it with a brilliant turnover a few minutes later. Won a scrum penalty off Cole in the 20th minute and got better as the game went on. Carried well.

5.5

2. Ken Owens

After a relatively flat performance in Twickenham last week he’ll be pleased with a more aggressive and productive display in Cardiff.

6.5

3. Tomas Francis

Wales’ scrum got better as the game went on and Francis played his part – but it still feels like a real work-on for Gatland and co. The Exeter Chiefs tighthead definitely looks leaner and fitter and got through a great deal more work in the loose than six days earlier.

5

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4. Jake Ball

The bearded piano shifter got his turn with a starting spot. Gave away a coach killer penalty in the 55th minute for not rolling away, and made sure everyone could see he was a bit ginger getting up.

6

5. Alun Wyn Jones

Wales’ record cap holder led from the front. Was key to a 48th-minute turnover that effectively evicted England from their try-line. Was in English faces all day long.

7

6. Aaron Wainwright

An industrious afternoon for the backrow – pinching a lineout and maintaining a high nuisance factor before being replaced.  Did miss two out of seven tackles. With the injury to James Davies (and Faletau previously) his RWC stock will surely have risen all the same.

7

7. James Davies

Was taken off permanently in the 24th minute with what looked like a head injury. A disappointing end to what looked like a promising afternoon for Cubby Boi.

7.5

8. Ross Moriarty

Fronted up well. Smashed Billy Vunipola with the aid of Dan Biggar in the 61st minute – a hit he owed his opposite number after Twickenham. Gave away a silly penalty a minute later to give England an easy out in their 22. Carried consistently if not remarkably. Feisty.

7

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee

Came on for Jake Ball and played in the backrow. Hard to rate.

NA

17. Wyn Jones

Scrums got marginally better in the second half but realistically it was a case of survive at all costs at scrum time. It’s a real worry area for Gatland.

18. Dillon Lewis

As above, was part of a Welsh scrum in survival mode. Got around the pitch well and arguably was Wales’ best scrummager.

19. Aaron Shingler

A key part of a crucial 79th-minute turnover. Offers height and size in what isn’t the biggest Welsh backrow stable ever assembled.

20. Josh Navidi 

Came on early for James Davies and was everywhere thereafter.

8

21. Aled Davies

Hard to rate with just 20 minutes on the pitch.

22. Jarrod Evans

Not on long enough to rate.

23. Owen Watkin

NA

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A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

8 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 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.

29 Go to comments
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