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England player ratings vs USA

Ruaridh McConnochie scores England's fifth try against USA in Kobe (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

After a solid but unspectacular start to their World Cup campaign against Tonga, England moved through the gears and established their credentials with a 45-7 win over the USA in Kobe.

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The result puts Eddie Jones and England firmly in control of Pool C, although they will know their biggest challenges still loom, with Argentina in Tokyo next week before finishing up against France in Yokohama in the last weekend of the group stage.

Jones opted to rotate in 10 new players into the starting XV against the USA and RugbyPass have rated the performances of all 23 England players below.

  1. Elliot Daly6

Daly had a couple of moments where he brought his playmaking skill to bear in the midfield, although it was a quiet performance by his standards. There was very little for him to defensively or aerially, either.

  1. Ruaridh McConnochie6.5

The former sevens international was kept quiet in the first half but scored a deserved try in the second half for the work he had done in defence and in the aerial contests.

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  1. Jonathan Joseph7

England’s set-piece focus in the first half limited Joseph’s involvement, although he was much more influential in the second half. His pirouetting break saw him scythe through the US defence and tee up Joe Cokanasiga for England’s bonus point try score.

  1. Piers Francis6.5

The inside centre was an incisive carrying option for England initially, although he didn’t quite move the ball wide with the same regularity that Owen Farrell does in the role. He was potentially unlucky to avoid punishment for an early high tackle and made the most of that reprieve by adding significantly to England’s tight game in the first half.

  1. Joe Cokanasiga7

Cokanasiga, like McConnochie, probably didn’t have the overall attacking impact he would have liked, despite grabbing two tries. He did offer a consistent physical carrying presence, though England kept the ball tight for vast periods of the game.

https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177192100892499974?s=20

  1. George Ford8

An effective game management role from Ford, who kicked the corners excellently for England’s set-piece then to go to work. His play on the gain-line was also impressive and he spotted the space in the US defensive line well for his first half try. He was successful with five of his seven kicks from the tee.

  1. Willi Heinz6.5

Heinz had a positive impact with his box-kicking and tempo, all of which had England playing in the right areas of the pitch. He did cough up a couple of early penalties in the first half, as well as a knock on, which did deny his side some flow, but it was a strong showing overall.

  1. Joe Marler7

Marler held up his side of the scrum very effectively, whilst Dan Cole aggressively went to work on the tighthead side. The loosehead contributed significantly to what was a dominant set-piece performance from England.

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1177202507526942722?s=20

  1. Luke Cowan-Dickie8

One overthrow at the lineout aside, it was an efficient outing for Cowan-Dickie, who nailed 13 of his 14 throws. He was heavily involved as a carrier and was the driving force behind England’s dominant maul.

  1. Dan Cole8

A performance that rolled back the years for Cole, with the tighthead consistently turning the screw at scrum time on the USA pack. His fringe defence was also physical and he played his part slowing down ball at the contact area and disrupting the opposition maul.

  1. Joe Launchbury7

After a slightly bumpy start where he was counter-rucked easily at one ruck and knocked on in the tackle, Launchbury really grew into the game. He was an effective foil to George Kruis at the lineout, managed to steal a US throw and contributed a lot to England’s strong maul.

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1176805906887118850

  1. George Kruis8.5

Kruis dominated the aerial game for England, snagging nine lineouts and one steal on US ball. He was also the foundation of England’s mauling game and wrecked a couple of US mauls with his destructive work through the middle. He got through his fair share of carrying, too.

  1. Tom Curry7.5

Curry is really taking to the role on England’s blindside and the physicality of his tackling, which forced a knock on, was particularly noticeable on Thursday. He also provided a carrying outlet close to the ruck and a lineout option. Seemed to be given a licence to roam in the second half and profited.

  1. Lewis Ludlam8

The flanker played his role in the physical arm wrestle at the gain-line and contact area in the first half, before being freed up to affect the game more as a ball-carrier after the break. He also contributed at the lineout, offering himself as a target, as well as snaffling up loose US ball. Pocketed himself a try in the second half.

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https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177197683305566208?s=20

  1. Billy Vunipola6.5

The No8 was a threat when running it from deep, although it was a contained performance, with Mark Wilson replacing him at half time. Grabbed a try from England’s driving maul before departing at the interval.

Replacements

  1. Jack Singleton6

The hooker connected with both of his throws after replacing Cowan-Dickie and was a willing carrier.

  1. Ellis Genge7.5

A couple of bullocking runs from the loosehead after his arrival at half time and had plenty of success attacking the tiring US defence. He made himself known at the breakdown, too.

https://twitter.com/ITVRugby/status/1177201064241709058?s=20

  1. Kyle Sinckler7

Sinckler brought his expected impact as a ball-carrier and a playmaker and was only outshone by the even more dynamic arrival of Genge. He maintained England’s scrum dominance, too.

  1. Courtney Lawes6.5

The lock offered a willing carrying option after replacing Launchbury and had some success with ball in hand.

  1. Mark Wilson6.5

Wilson really picked up the slack as a carrier close to the ruck after Vunipola departed the pitch and it seemed to allow Curry to roam more and have success in the wider channels.

  1. Ben Youngs7

One errant pass aside, Youngs brought positivity from the bench, with his breaks and awareness of space helping England tick along.

  1. Owen Farrell6.5

The playmaker’s arrival suited perfectly what England tried to do in the second half, as his passing game was as influential then as Francis’ carrying had been before the interval.

  1. Anthony Watson7

Watson offered electric breaks after coming off the bench and his ability to turn small holes into big gains was a spark plug for England in attack.

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O
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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