Red Rose Ratings: Scotland 9-15 England.
My full list of ratings for England's players following their opening '6 Nations' win against Scotland at Murrayfield.
England got Eddie Jones off to the perfect start with a win north of the border but there remains much for the new head coach to still work on.
Starting 15:
15: Mike Brown - 7 - Dealt with everything thrown at him with ease and confidence but failed to make any significant breaks with ball in hand. Was always looking to ask questions of his opposition, and this will encourage the new boss.
14: Anthony Watson - 6 - Bath's troubles recently have been well documented and this may be the reason for Watson's lacklustre performance which lacked confidence. Looked tired and had little imagination going forward in a quiet game that was overshadowed by his opposite winger. The opportunity to run freely, like we know he can, is much needed for Watson against the Azzurri next week.
13: Jonathon Joseph - 6 - Not a game that suited the Bath centre, saw the ball on few occasions and was given little room to work with when he did get hold of it. Will surely be frustrated and raring to go come Italy, will be hoping for a far more open game in Rome.
12: Owen Farrell - 7 - One of his weaker days in an England shirt when it came to goal kicking but did a solid job distributing out of hand. Was disciplined and dedicated when on defensive duty but will perhaps need to show more ingenuity if he's going to impress when England go on the offensive.
11: Jack Nowell - 8 - Finished well to score his try and never hung back from action. Decision making was sound, opted to kick ahead of himself rather than attempt heroics when he realised he was isolated and outnumbered. Few mistakes made and talk of his weak defensive capabilities are slowly being forgotten.
10: George Ford - 6 - Did little wrong, but failed to set the field alight, will be disappointed with his missed drop-goal early on. If he is in the team for his ability to create more with ball in hand than Farrell; then he needs to start showing it. Will also need to be prepared for more games like this where he was one of the opposition's main targets.
9: Danny Care - 6 - Made no clear indication that he was superior to Ben Youngs but did a solid job when it came to distributing and box kicking. Perhaps not the type of game that suits his style of play, will be interesting to see his performances in future games if persisted with.
1: Joe Marler - 6 - Not a great outing for the Quins' prop. The weakest link in England's scrum and appears to be missing the ferocity that use to accompany his ball carrying.
2: Dylan Hartley - 8 - Considering the pressure he had on his shoulders coming into this game the 29 year-old handled things well. Greeted a hostile Murrayfield and its Scottish inhabitants with a consistent and reliable set-piece performance. Captained, carried, and defended well with very few blips; much to the annoyance of the hosts and their supporters.
3: Dan Cole - 7 - Gave away one penalty in particular which Jones will no doubt give him a ticking off for but other than that was on good form. Caused problems at the breakdown and lasted the full eighty minutes, hugely impressive at domestic level, never mind International.
4: Joe Launchbury - 6 - Worked hard in tough conditions and did everything asked of him.
5: George Kruis - 8 - A well taken try to go with a solid line-out display and dedicated defensive outing. Really starting to cement his position on the England team sheet.
6: Chris Robshaw - 6 - Showed no signs at all of having been relieved of his captaincy duties. A reliable and consistent performance in a resolute English defense.
7: James Haskell - 7 - Most tackles of any English man and carried the ball well when he did get hold of it. Not an out-and-out openside flanker but that wasn't at all obvious in a well disciplined showing from the Wasps' man.
8: Billy Vunipola - 9 - A super performance and definitely up there with his best in an England shirt. Made more metres than many of his back-line teammates. Brought a no-nonsense approach and a level of physicality that Jones' men often lacked.
Subs:
Mako Vunipola - 7
Courtney Lawes - 6
Ben Youngs - 6
Jack Clifford - 6
Jamie George - 6
Henry Justice
England got Eddie Jones off to the perfect start with a win north of the border but there remains much for the new head coach to still work on.
Starting 15:
15: Mike Brown - 7 - Dealt with everything thrown at him with ease and confidence but failed to make any significant breaks with ball in hand. Was always looking to ask questions of his opposition, and this will encourage the new boss.
14: Anthony Watson - 6 - Bath's troubles recently have been well documented and this may be the reason for Watson's lacklustre performance which lacked confidence. Looked tired and had little imagination going forward in a quiet game that was overshadowed by his opposite winger. The opportunity to run freely, like we know he can, is much needed for Watson against the Azzurri next week.
13: Jonathon Joseph - 6 - Not a game that suited the Bath centre, saw the ball on few occasions and was given little room to work with when he did get hold of it. Will surely be frustrated and raring to go come Italy, will be hoping for a far more open game in Rome.
12: Owen Farrell - 7 - One of his weaker days in an England shirt when it came to goal kicking but did a solid job distributing out of hand. Was disciplined and dedicated when on defensive duty but will perhaps need to show more ingenuity if he's going to impress when England go on the offensive.
11: Jack Nowell - 8 - Finished well to score his try and never hung back from action. Decision making was sound, opted to kick ahead of himself rather than attempt heroics when he realised he was isolated and outnumbered. Few mistakes made and talk of his weak defensive capabilities are slowly being forgotten.
10: George Ford - 6 - Did little wrong, but failed to set the field alight, will be disappointed with his missed drop-goal early on. If he is in the team for his ability to create more with ball in hand than Farrell; then he needs to start showing it. Will also need to be prepared for more games like this where he was one of the opposition's main targets.
9: Danny Care - 6 - Made no clear indication that he was superior to Ben Youngs but did a solid job when it came to distributing and box kicking. Perhaps not the type of game that suits his style of play, will be interesting to see his performances in future games if persisted with.
1: Joe Marler - 6 - Not a great outing for the Quins' prop. The weakest link in England's scrum and appears to be missing the ferocity that use to accompany his ball carrying.
2: Dylan Hartley - 8 - Considering the pressure he had on his shoulders coming into this game the 29 year-old handled things well. Greeted a hostile Murrayfield and its Scottish inhabitants with a consistent and reliable set-piece performance. Captained, carried, and defended well with very few blips; much to the annoyance of the hosts and their supporters.
3: Dan Cole - 7 - Gave away one penalty in particular which Jones will no doubt give him a ticking off for but other than that was on good form. Caused problems at the breakdown and lasted the full eighty minutes, hugely impressive at domestic level, never mind International.
4: Joe Launchbury - 6 - Worked hard in tough conditions and did everything asked of him.
5: George Kruis - 8 - A well taken try to go with a solid line-out display and dedicated defensive outing. Really starting to cement his position on the England team sheet.
6: Chris Robshaw - 6 - Showed no signs at all of having been relieved of his captaincy duties. A reliable and consistent performance in a resolute English defense.
7: James Haskell - 7 - Most tackles of any English man and carried the ball well when he did get hold of it. Not an out-and-out openside flanker but that wasn't at all obvious in a well disciplined showing from the Wasps' man.
8: Billy Vunipola - 9 - A super performance and definitely up there with his best in an England shirt. Made more metres than many of his back-line teammates. Brought a no-nonsense approach and a level of physicality that Jones' men often lacked.
Subs:
Mako Vunipola - 7
Courtney Lawes - 6
Ben Youngs - 6
Jack Clifford - 6
Jamie George - 6
Henry Justice
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