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England player ratings vs Australia | Autumn Nations Series

Freddie Steward /Getty

England player ratings:  Despite Australia’s excellent run of form in 2021 and an outbreak in camp, England came into this contest as heavy favourites.

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Eddie Jones’ men didn’t so much as win it, as the Wallabies threw it away through ill-discipline. The game never really took off and neither did England, but a wins a win and the men in white will take it.

ENGLAND PLAYER RATINGS
15. FREDDIE STEWARD – 8.5
With Anthony Watson injured, this was another opportunity for Steward to use his time to cement himself into the No.15 and he’s doing just that. A brilliant in and out saw him cross the whitewash after just 7 minutes. Looks to the manor born and one expects – as commentator Nick Mullins pointed out – that this is but the start of a lengthy England career.

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14. MANU TUILAGI – 6.5
Starting on the wing, this Tuilagi iteration was billed as a leaner, faster athlete. Popped in the centre so often that one questioned how meaningful the number on his back was. Was questionable under the high ball but made up for it with some truly violent carries up the pitch. Not quite vintage Tuilagi but a pleasing performance.

13. HENRY SLADE – 6.5
Is Slade finally seems to be converting his Exeter Chiefs form to Test level? Kicked well from hand and defended astutely. Crabbed across, before shovelling an unsympathetic pass that maybe cost Jonny May a five-pointer in the first half, and did the same crab trick before knocking on just before the final whistle. Other than those blemishes a very decent outing.

12. OWEN FARRELL – 6
Bringing up the tonne, Farrell linked up well alongside his understudy at stand-off, although the 20-year-old didn’t need much minding. Limped off with a ‘bang’ to the foot. Why does it feel like something still isn’t quite firing at the moment for Farrell?

11. JONNY MAY – 6
Never got the chance to open up and spent most of the game chasing and tackling Aussies into touch.

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10. MARCUS SMITH – 8
Playing with Farrell outside him, there was a lot of pressure on Smith in what was effectively his first major Test in an England jersey, but you wouldn’t have known. Kicked well out of hand early on and showed slick hands to put Steward away. England look a different beast with Smith at the wheel.

9. BEN YOUNGS – 8
The veteran scrumhalf minded Smith well, taking the pressure off the young Harlequin with accurate box kicking and near immaculate decision-making.

1. BEVAN RODD – 6
A late call-up to starting XV for the isolated Ellis Genge, Rodd gave away a coach killer penalty to open his England account. Made life difficult for James Slipper, who was playing out of position on the tighthead. Plenty to improve on but Eddie has something to work with.

2. JAMIE GEORGE – 7.5
A large mammal-like charge up the pitch set the tone for a performance that was all guts and glory.  Desperately unlucky not to score, having been foiled by the pesky Nic White. Hurt himself in the process. Replaced by Jamie Blamire after halftime.

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3. KYLE SINCKLER – 6.5
Shipped a knock to the knee early but was part of a frontrow that just about held the upper hand over the Wallabies at scrumtime. Several nice touches on the ball but a pretty quiet game by his standards.

4. MARO ITOJE – 7
50 caps have come around fast for the Itoje.  Plenty of excellent contributions off the ball even if it this wasn’t box-office Itoje.

5. JONNY HILL – 7.5
Made himself useful around the pitch in the first half, but burst into life in the second, very nearly scoring a try from 20 metres out with five or six Wallabies hanging off him.

6. COURTNEY LAWES – 7
A surefire option for England at the lineout with George throwing, although his chemistry with replacement hooker Blamire need works. Tireless.

7. SAM UNDERHILL – 7
Carried hard and often in the trenches for modest returns. Went off for a HIA but returned for a second bite of the cherry.

8. TOM CURRY – 7
Industrious as ever and continues to carry competently, but you can’t help but feel this England back-row unit are missing a true backrow ball in hand bulldozer.

REPLACEMENTS – 5.5
Blamire had a bit of a nightmare at lineout time although he gobbled up a meat pie – his fourth in four games – when it was offered to him. Alex Dombrandt was a mixed bag during his two short cameos.

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Comments

1 Comment
R
Roy 1087 days ago

"Dombradt was a mixed bag" classic. He puts someone in a gap, follows up on the shoulder. Marauds up the centre of the pitch. Showed good hands and game awareness. Where was the mixed part?

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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