RED ROSE RATINGS – FRANCE 22 – 16 ENGLAND
RED ROSE RATINGS - FRANCE 22 - 16 ENGLAND
Date: 10th March 2018
Location: Stade de France, Paris,
France
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Attendance: 78,060
15 – Anthony Watson (Bath) – 5
Conceded a penalty try and a
yellow card for what was an unintentional but equally illegal challenge on
Benjamin Fall. Lacklustre in attack and showed no creativity, failed to be the
attacking force that could have threatened France.
14 – Johnny May (Leicester Tigers) – 6
Grabbed another try courtesy of a
wonderful Daly assist. Seemed to be the most eager and willing of England’s
backline speedsters but opportunities and spaces were all too few.
13 – Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) – 6
Clearly asked to carry hard and
run direct by Eddie Jones, which he did do, but to little effect. Couldn’t
exercise his ability to break the line or find the perfect offloads making it a
very quiet day’s work.
12 – Owen Farrell (Saracens) – 7
One of England’s best player yet
again. Kicked to touch and at goal impressively as he tried his best to keep
his side in touching distance. Lovely pass that led to May’s late try as he
kept his head in increasingly hostile conditions.
11 – Elliot Daly (Wasps) – 7
His monster penalty announced his
return to England colours in a performance that was encouraging considering his
time out. Looked dangerous with ball in hand and showed his ingenuity with a
delightful assist for his side’s only try.
10 – George Ford (Leicester Tigers) – 5
Uninspiring again from the
fly-half who offered very little game management and seemed lost for ideas in
attack. His place is now under serious threat and the magic of the Farrell-Ford
axis is now a distance memory.
9 – Danny Care (Harlequins) – 5
The loss of Ben Youngs has
arguably been one of the main reasons for England’s demise. Care’s kicking was
wayward, his passing was tiresome and there was no success with his normally
devilish sniping runs. Didn’t keep the big French pack moving enough.
1 – Mako Vunipola (Saracens) – 7
Major points for the sheer
dominance he showed in the scrum against Slimani his opposite number. Was also
impressive in getting through a serious amount of work in both attack and
defence.
2 – Jamie George (Saracens) – 6
Controlled a very well regimented
lineout and filled Hartley’s boots perfectly in this regard. Never managed to
execute his wonderful ball carrying ability though and was relatively quiet in
open play.
3 – Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) – 4
Nothing like the dominance in the
scrum that his propping partner showed. Returned to his infringing ways and his
substitution for Sinckler was when England looked most promising. Woefully average
with ball in hand.
4 – Joe Launchbury (Wasps) – 5
Not his best game in an England
shirt, gave away penalties and was rarely able to carry England over the gain
line. Was withdrawn just before the hour as England looked to add impetus.
5 – Maro Itoje (Saracens) – 6
Good game at the set-piece,
particularly the lineout where he was a constant menace to French ball. Not at
his best at the ruck or in the loose and will be mightily disappointed by how
this year’s competition has played out on a personal level.
6 – Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) – 5
Very average day for the Saints
man, his performance did little to suggest the three locks tactic was the way
forward. One decent carry but overpowered by the French forwards throughout.
7 – Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) – 5
Yet again his intensity and
effort cannot be faulted but the reality was he remains a step behind other
leading flankers at the breakdown. Was penalised too many times and became a
regular target for Peyper’s whistle.
8 – Nathan Hughes (Wasps) – 5
Injury
cut his match short and he left very little mark in the 20 minutes he did play.
SUBS:
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) – 6
Joe Marler (Harlequins) – 6
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) – 7
James Haskell (Wasps) - 6
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs) - 6
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens) - 6
Jonathan Joseph (Bath) - 6
Mike Brown (Harlequins) - 6
Henry Justice
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