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England player ratings: Eddie Jones’ side wrapped up their Autumn Nations Cup campaign with a lacklustre but ultimately victorious performance in their 22-19 win over France in extra time at Twickenham, taking home the Cup in the process.
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Here’s our England player ratings:
15. ELLIOT DALY – 5/10
The full-back had some struggles with the boots, kicking out on the full and putting too much on a couple of up and unders. He looked for work in the midfield but couldn’t quite unlock the French defence in the way he is capable of.
14. ANTHONY WATSON – 7
Watson was very effective in England’s kick chase and was one of the few players on the pitch wearing a white jersey who looked to offer real attacking threat when he got his hands on the ball, even if those opportunities were limited.
13. HENRY SLADE – 5.5
There were a couple of moments where Slade managed to show his value as a ball-carrier, though like Daly, he wasn’t able to bring the incision in the midfield or unleash the threats of Watson or Jonny May outside of him.
12. OWEN FARRELL – 6
Unlike recent games where Farrell has shaken off an early miss from the tee, the centre struggled at Twickenham on Sunday. He missed four of his nine kicks and was unable to get the England back line clicking or defensively contain the French midfield. He did nail the clutch conversion to tie the game in the 80th minute, though, as well as the winning kick in extra time.
11. JONNY MAY – 6
Like Watson, May did his duties in the kicking game tirelessly and, for the most part, effectively. Didn’t have too many chances to run at space or get the ball in his hands.
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10. GEORGE FORD – 6
A couple of clever kicks asked questions of the French defence, as did a few of his skipped passes, but there were also kicks which outdid the English chase and the backline struggled to impact the game. Not great but not bad, either.
9. BEN YOUNGS – 6
Probably needed to take more command of the game in the first half, when opportunities to move the ball and find space were wasted. He looked much sharper in the second half and was an important part of England’s increase in tempo and attacking threat.
1. ELLIS GENGE – 6.5
It was not the overall team performance Genge would have liked in order to show his worth in the battle for the one jersey, but he scrummaged well and was a very willing ball-carrier.
2. JAMIE GEORGE – 5.5
Not quite the usual flawless display at the set-piece from the hooker, as Cameron Woki put significant pressure on the England lineout.
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3. KYLE SINCKLER – 6.5
England weren’t as dominant at the scrum as they would have liked against an inexperienced French tight five early on, though they turned the screw in the second half. Sinckler brought plenty of involvement and energy in the loose, too.
4. MARO ITOJE 6.5
A solid outing for most players, although by the standards we have come to expect from Itoje, it was not as influential a performance as many of the ones he so regularly turns in.
5. JOE LAUNCHBURY – 6
The lock had a couple of positive involvements at the breakdown, slowing down French ball, although he was unable to make the impact that he did the previous week against Wales.
6. TOM CURRY – 7
Arguably the pick of the English forwards on Sunday, as he repeatedly dented the French defensive line as a ball-carrier, as well as bringing physicality and line-speed in defence.
7. SAM UNDERHILL – 6
A mixed bag from Underhill, who was typically impactful in defence and at the breakdown, taking momentum away from the French, but it was bundled up with some indiscipline at the contact area and in his maul defence.
8. BILLY VUNIPOLA – 6.5
A quieter game by Vunipola’s standards and he wasn’t able to exert his usual physical dominance at the gain-line on either side of the ball. His defence in the second half was noteworthy, though.
FINISHERS
16. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE – 7
Added a physical carrying edge, nailed the lineout late in the game and got over the try line to tie the game.
17. JOE MARLER – 7
The loosehead popped up with a couple of really impactful carries and tackles after replacing Genge. Scrummaged strongly, too.
18. WILL STUART – 6
He wasn’t able to get his hands on the ball too much after coming on but held his own at the set-piece.
19. JONNY HILL – 6
Tackled and rucked manfully after replacing Launchbury, though perhaps didn’t make enough of a statement that he should be replacing the Wasps man on a permanent basis in the XV.
20. BEN EARL – 7
The flanker brought some much-needed variety in the carry, utilising his footwork to make the defence’s job that bit harder to stop him. Chased well, too.
21. DAN ROBSON – 6
Continued the upped tempo in the second half and a couple of passes that caught their receiver high aside, he contributed well in England’s comeback.
22. MAX MALINS – 7
Added visible impetus and energy. He ran at the gaps in defence with speed and intent and was rewarded with line breaks.
23. JOE MARCHANT – N/A
An unused replacement.
