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Ireland player ratings vs England - Autumn Nations Cup

(Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

This was another sobering fixture for Ireland against England, the fourth in a row – and the second under Andy Farrell – where they just repeatedly ran into a white wall and suffered the frustratingly bruising consequences.

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This one has similarities which what played out at Twickenham nine months previously, Ireland dead and buried at the interval and then responding in the second half to limit the damage. England were 17 clear at the break in February and won by just twelve. 

Here, the interval margin was twelve and finished at eleven after the rare touch of class that was Billy Burns combining with Jacob Stockdale six minutes from time made sure Ireland didn’t draw a duck on the scoreboard for the first time since the record 60-0 hammering by the All Blacks in Hamilton. 

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Dylan Hartley and Simon Zebo talk Autumn Nations Cup

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Dylan Hartley and Simon Zebo talk Autumn Nations Cup

Having endured a “United Nations” quip at Ireland’s use of overseas players, five in the starting XV qualifying under the 36-month residency rule, and also the suggestions to the referee that he needed to be vigilant when officiating the scrum and breakdown, the main takeaway from the 7-18 defeat was how Farrell’s side were blunt in attack. 

They had the major share of possession and territory, yet had nothing in their locker to really ask strenuous questions of the England defence who happily tackled all afternoon to win all too comfortably. A huge focus must now come on attack coach Mike Catt, whom Farrell brought in from Italy. What exactly is he adding to the mix?

Admittedly, Ireland had a readymade excuse in that they were fielding inexperienced half-backs who had just two previous starts and eleven caps in total between them, but with the lineout faltering badly and the failure of anyone to regularly get across the gain line where it mattered, Farrell’s side never fired a shot in terms of genuinely looking capable of winning. 

The twelve-point margin at the break was a relief given the pressure they were under. A scrum penalty concession on halfway gave England their first in, that award allowing them to build the pressure in the 22 that resulted in Owen Farrell launching the cross-field bomb fetched by Jonny May in the air against Hugo Keenan to score.  

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That was on 17 minutes and Ireland conceded four minutes later, Ronan Kelleher’s unease at the lineout encapsulated by his overthrow in the England 22 that led to May giving Chris Farrell the slip, kicking ahead, regathering and scoring. 

With Ireland’s attack – blunted by English robustness and a suffocating line speed – restricted to a single first-half chance that was Keith Earls threatening with a breakaway, a third try would have been leaked had a maul not been sacked on one side of the field and the referee finding an infringement to deny Sam Underhill his try-steal off Gibson-Park near the other touchline.

Soft penalties from Quinn Roux and James Ryan then allowed England push the gap to 18 twelve minutes after the break and there the contest just simply fell into boredom, Ireland having ample opportunity to try and do something only to repeatedly be left frustrated until Stockdale’s sole moment of precision.   

The performance was in keeping with Farrell’s Ireland in 2020, decent when throwing some shapes at home but woundingly lacking creativity to threaten to win away. Here’s how their players rated: 

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15. HUGO KEENAN – 6: Targeted by England’s tactical kicking throughout. When catches were made he was too often isolated on the floor and when beaten in the air, it led to May opening the scoring. It was his no release under pressure that also ended the assault sparked by Earls’ break. Lasted 58 minutes before being replaced by Stockdale. 

14. KEITH EARLS – 6: A ray of hope. A first start in 13 months for the veteran, it didn’t reflect well on paper that his opposite man scored twice but that stat was misleading. To the fore in leading the resistance after his team fell twelve points behind, his first-half break was a sole highlight, and he continued to be defiant in the second period.

13. CHRIS FARRELL – 5: Took too much ball standing static and paid the price in terms of statistics, making a paltry five metres off from 14 carries. Was left clutching air when May embarked on his theatrical run to score his second try. Getting held up on 69 minutes over the line by Henry Slade further typified his ineffectiveness.   

12. BUNDEE AKI – 5: Was there to supply heft but didn’t figure and was largely anonymous as Ireland needed to create with the copious amount of possession they have. He just didn’t have what we necessary in his locker and it’s not the first time this has happened. 

11. JAMES LOWE – 5: His athleticism was visible in how he adjusted to catch a blocked kick of his early on, but was otherwise of restricted impact and the sight of him kicking ball away in the second half when it was there to be run was emblematic of the lack of confidence which existed in the Irish attack overall.

10. ROSS BYRNE – 5: Stuck resolutely to kicking game in opening minutes and kept on going that way, kicking on 18 occasions by the time he was hooked on 72 minutes. Played way too deep to make a telling impact and the difference between his ineffectual kicking and Burns only took a few minutes to be highlighted as the replacement No10 created Stockdale’s try with a chip in behind. Twickenham cost Byrne his RWC place last year in his sole previous Test start and there were just little good here worth talking about.   

9. JAMISON GIBSON-PARK – 4: Needed to be given a chance to see can he hack it at this level but he suffered behind a pack that struggled to generate quick ball. Showed his inexperience when gobbled up by Underhill in a first-half play that nearly cost a try. His general unease then culminated in the second-half hoof that went dead to ruin a sound Keenan take in the air that set up good field position. Was left to replacement Conor Murray to help Ireland limit the fallout.  

1. CIAN HEALY – 6: Lasted 65 minutes and his presence helped to ensure that England didn’t enjoy a runaway on the scoreboard. His issue, though, was this was a game where the onus was on forwards to carry, but just three metres off eight runs highlighted how difficult it was to make headway in the traffic. 

2. RONAN KELLEHER – 5: Horrible day at the lineout but he will learn heaps in what was just his second start. The costliest error was on 21 minutes, Ireland having gone to the corner with a penalty only for the set-piece mess to result in May scoring down the other end. The straw to clutch was his ability to gain metres on the carry. He was a rare exception.  

3. ANDREW PORTER – 6: The concession of a scrum penalty gave England their first in but he went on deliver a credible shift, his boundless energy typified by how he was seen diving on loose ball on 78 minutes. Will have enjoyed getting a scrum penalty back on the English. His ball carrying was also in double figures but few metres were gained.   

4. QUINN ROUX – 5: Looked to have smashed up his knee on 23 minutes but carried on. Was his team’s top tackler by the interval but can’t really take solace in that given how the physical exchanges panned out. Damaged his team when he needlessly rag-dolled Tom Curry early in the second half, allowing England jump out to 15-0. He was soon hooked for Iain Henderson who, in line with Murray, helped keep the damage from getting worse.  

5. JAMES RYAN – 6: First outing from the start as captain wasn’t a winning one but he was gritty and carried well despite the black mark was the concession of four penalties. Will not be pleased with the damage Maro Itoje and co did at the lineout and was at fault for the ruck penalty that made it 18-0, but if you are looking for someone who can put this lesson to very good use, this loss will serve a purpose. 

6. CJ STANDER – 4: There are days when his display falls off a cliff and this was one of them. Ireland needed to break the gain line but two metres off five carries illustrated how restricted his influence was. Did stop Jamie George from scoring on nine minutes when England tapped quickly, but the only surprise was that he wasn’t pulled long before Will Connors eventually appeared on 65 minutes.  

7. PETER O’MAHONY – 5: Grafted hard when it came to damage limitation but in terms of helping to speed up Irish ball, it just didn’t happen. His game has changed under Farrell in that he sought to carry ball more than he would have done under Joe Schmidt but it was immaterial against the brick wall English defence. He also missed the Kelleher throw that became May’s second try.    

8. CAELAN DORIS – 5: Will do plenty of growing up after this experience. Was living off crumbs, his counter ruck to win a 57th-minute penalty typical of an arduous outing where the influence of head-on opponent Billy Vunipola and his fellow England back-rowers was much too dominant. 

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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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