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England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
By Liam Heagney at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
England player ratings live from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham: What a belter of a spectacle under the south-west London lights. There was plenty of razzle dazzle in a five-try opening 26 minutes followed by the drama of early second-half tries chalked off at both ends before South Africa got the jump on England to move 29-20 ahead with 17 minutes remaining.
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We weren’t done, though. Gerhard Steenekamp’s yellow card offered a tantalising lifeline but as much as they tried, the hosts lacked the cohesion and accuracy necessary to reel in the gap and put the result in jeopardy again coming down the finishing straight.
The nine-point margin left England beaten for the seventh time in nine matches, the last five losses coming on the bounce, and while that dubious statistic will attract much criticism, they at least have the solace that they are producing exciting, attacking rugby.
They were within a whisker of winning on both occasions this month against New Zealand and Australia, and were well placed again on 52 minutes here when Marcus Smith kicked them 20-19 ahead to leave the capacity crowd buzzing.
However, as has become a depressing habit under Borthwick, they ‘lost’ the closing 28-minute stage of the match 0-10 and serious questions now must be asked of their defence.
Their rearguard is woundingly missing the blitz promptings of the quitting defence coach Felix Jones and the rate of concession under his successor Joe El-Abd has become painful, the four tries scored by South Africa making it a total of 12 given up to the opposition in three November matches. Here are the England player ratings:
15. Freddie Steward – 5 (out of 10)
In for the axed George Furbank in the hope he could reprise his excellent Rugby World Cup semi-final display against the Springboks, his aerial skills couldn’t be faulted; he had the crowd swoon with a full-stretch, 36th-minute fetch. But he was exposed defensively for two of the first half tries, getting left for dead by the footwork of Grant Williams and Cheslin Kolbe. That is what his display will be most remembered for, unfortunately.
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14. Tommy Freeman – 5.5
It hadn’t been the winger’s greatest few weeks in the England shirt occupying the left wing but he had more involvement stationed on the right. He fleetingly posed a threat in the early part of the second half, impact that included a smart catch that set up the cancelled Henry Slade try.
13. Ollie Lawrence – 7.5
A repeated gain line breaker last weekend, he was visible on the ball again here. However, it was his defence that stood out most. Look at his big hit on Manie Libbok, which was vital in swinging momentum at a time when England were 10-19 down in the first half and under heaps of pressre.
12. Henry Slade – 6.5
Defensively exposed against the Wallabies, he was tighter here for the most part and he also upped his on-the-ball game, giving Ollie Sleightholme the try assist and then finishing his own try from a Steward pass only to have it erased for breakdown foul play by Maro Itoje. His effort ended with a thud, though, as he and Ben Earl failed to prevent the Damian de Allende canter that set Kolbe up for his crucial second try.
11. Ollie Sleightholme – 6
A two-try cameo a week go as a sub meant he replaced the unavailable Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and while he was again lively in attack, revelling in the finish of his fourth-minute score, his iffy defending again materialised as he was ghosted by Kolbe for the converted try that made it 20-29.
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10. Marcus Smith – 8
The attacking magician versus Australia, he opened his box of tricks again and performed with great vision. The way he delayed his pass to create the opening score was typical of his influence and while it was his charged down kick that gave Pieter-Steph du Toit his try, Smith had his team in a winning position before they collectively lost their way when it came to protecting that advantage. What a pity.
9. Jack van Poortvliet – 6.5
In for his first cap since his horror pre-World Cup injury 15 months ago, he began with a couple of awkward box kicks and was then charged by Eben Etzebeth in the lead-up to the du Toit try. However, his pass service to Smith was snappy and he also gave the assist to Sam Underhill for the flanker’s try. Played 61 minutes.
?? Cheslin Kolbe picked the perfect time to pick up the pace to score in the corner for South Africa to send the Springboks well on their way to the victory against England ?#Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/IfJhWjivbc
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 16, 2024
1. Ellis Genge – 6.5
His willingness to get involved on the carry was important in England making this a super first-half contest, but he will be disappointed with two penalised scrum collapses that sapped momentum heading towards the break. Was energetic again after the break, but exited on 61 with his team having just gone behind.
2. Jamie George – 7.5
Owed his team a massive shift after limited impact in recent weeks, his defensive contribution was lung-bursting as he topped the tackle chart when exiting on 49 minutes with England having just been denied the lead with the cancelled Slade try. It was a very welcome return to prominence but the question remains: Should be on the pitch for longer than he was? Definitely, especially with how poorly Luke Cowan-Dickie played.
3. Will Stuart – 7
Can’t be satisfied with his general play penalty concessions; we counted three and his last involvement invited Handre Pollard to kick South Africa in front on 59 minutes. However, energetically playing on the line teased the best from him and the rumbustious cheer his scrum penalty win received on 54 minutes validated his set-piece quality.
4. Maro Itoje – 7.5
His grit was critical in firing up England during a compelling end-to-end opening half. His defiance was clear in the way he managed to hold onto possession in the lead-up to the Underhill try despite getting hoofed backwards. It was a grave disappointment his fine performance on both sides of the ball was blemished by his illegal clearout on Malcolm Marx, which cost England the Slade try.
5. George Martin – 7.5
Was left grasping air along with Genge for the opening South African try from Williams but he then rose to the occasion, just as he did in Paris 13 months ago. Featured in the Underhill try and gave everything he had until replaced by Nick Isiekwe with a couple of minute remaining.
6. Chandler Cunningham-South – 6.5
Mega in the opening salvo last Saturday with two tries, he was much quieter here in terms of producing big, big moments. That didn’t mean he wasn’t effective. He was and the experience of going toe-to-toe with the star-studded Springboks pack was quite the development for the youngster.
7. Sam Underhill – 7
Back in place of the concussed Tom Curry, he produced a great line and stretch to finish his 26th-minute score. His carries and tackles were important in England doing so well but he was spent by the time of his 67th-minute exit.
8. Ben Earl – 7.5
England needed him to be a dominant carrier and he brought the thunder as his team’s busiest ball player. Also finished joint top of the tackle count but he was left to rue his miss on de Allende in the set up of the game-deciding Kolbe try.
Congratulations, @Springboks ? #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/a5SAg0yuHx
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 16, 2024
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 4.5
Played 31 minutes but lacked the precision to make any real difference. It was his error at the lineout that ruined England’s best chance to take advantage of the South African numerical disadvantage.
17. Fin Baxter – 5
Sixteen minutes this week but this was his least impactful cameo of the series.
18. Dan Cole – 5
Played 21 minutes, arriving just after Pollard had put the Springboks in front, but couldn’t make a momentum swinging difference.
19. Nick Isiekwe – No rating
A 76th-minute sub for Martin. Too late to have a meaningful role.
20. Alex Dombrandt – 5
Given 13 minutes for Underhill, he was unable to turn the screw when the South African yellow came.
21. Harry Randall – 5.5
Had 19 minutes and was energetic, but he was another sub who wasn’t a game changer.
22. George Ford – No rating
Left unused on the bench following two previous error-ridden sub appearances. What a terrible waste of a option by Borthwick, who should have had Fin Smith on the bench.
23. Tom Roebuck – 6
Introduced on 49 minutes with Slade off for his 10-minute HIA, he chased hard and won the crossing penalty that gave England the lead.
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JVP was better than Spencer, service was quicker, but I don't rate Spencer (or JVP). Steward same old, best aerial 15 in the world but has the agility of a prop.
Underhill was of course phenomenal, as he always is, no f*****g idea why he keeps getting left out of England teams.
Forwards fronted up and we gave a good account in the physical battle, which they always do but against the Boks they were surprisingly competitive. Scrum was better than expected but Boks did a number on us at the lineout.
Same old problems really.. defense still looks disorganised and our attack is nonexistent. One out runners off 9 getting smashed and turned over like boys against men. Our attack relies entirely on Smith pulling a rabbit out the hat, when he's not doing that, we've got nothing. Credit to Slade for his lovely draw and give to put Sleightholme in, most England players would have butchered it. We've got some quality backs, most of whom have been completely anonymous.
Can't fathom why Dombrandt or Isiekwe are in the team, neither of them have done a single thing of note throughout their entire England careers. Surely Willis, Pearson or Hill need a look in.