England looked like they were in danger of losing their impressive winning streak on Saturday after twenty minutes due to an Australian onslaught, but some resolute defending kept them in the game and in the second half they came out and showed everyone why they are as elevated in the World rankings as they are.
15. Mike Brown – 7
Defensively extremely safe, one big turnover early on and a try-saving one on one tackle on Israel Folau was proof of this but still makes questionable decisions in attack when a pass would be better suited than taking contact.
14. Marland Yarde – 8.5
Silenced a few doubters. Scored a magnificent sniper’s try and defensively made some big hits. His chase and tap back to Robshaw from a high ball typified this determined performance.
13. Jonathan Joseph – 8.5
Two tries and boy does he love an intercept and grubber chase. Defensively he is sublime and his organisation is so valuable to England. Missed a one on one tackle that eventually lead to Australia try but no complaints otherwise.
12. Owen Farrell – 8.5
Sublime kicking as usual and sharp as ever when the ball ran loose and he grubbered through for Joseph’s opportunist try.
11. Jonny May – 7
May’s work rate is admirable and he never shy’s away from a challenge but made little impact going forward in this one.
10. George Ford – 7.5
Some uncharacteristic mistakes with ball in hand but his territorial kicking is such a potent weapon. His goal kicking when Farrell makes way is a concern should his inside centre get injured early.
9. Ben Youngs – 9
Nick Phipps still doesn’t know where that dummy is for Youngs’s try but that aside Youngs has found an edge to his game that enables him to raise the tempo when England need him to. The option used to be to bring on Danny Care but Youngs has matured immensely.
1. Mako Vunipola – 7.5
England probably edged the scrum battle on the whole and Mako played a big part. Barrelling as always in the loose.
2. Dylan Hartley – 7.5
One early blot on the copy book as his knee presented Australia with one against the head but his throwing was rock solid and as a captain he is leading this side with aplomb.
3. Dan Cole – 7.5
Another that will have silenced doubters. Solid as a rock up front and put in some huge hits.
4. Courtney Lawes – 8
He seemed to be everywhere as he hit every ruck with fervour. Menace on the Australia lineout trying to disrupt good ball.
5. George Kruis – 8
Kruis goes about his work with the greatest of efficiency and his work rate is simply second to none.
6. Chris Robshaw – 7.5
Quietest of the back row trio but in no way ineffective. Tackled everything and competed at the breakdown over the ball more than we have seen from him before.
7. Tom Wood – 8.5
His best showing in an England shirt so far. One clever break was the icing on a destructive performance. On the ref link after every turnover all you could hear people shouting was ‘Nice one Woody’. Invariably it was he that was at the bottom of it all.
8. Nathan Hughes – 8.5
Billy Vunipola has a true rival and Hughes just epitomises the strength in depth of this squad. Carried like a bull, controlled the ball at the base of a volatile scrum with ease and gave Youngs some sterling front foot ball.
Substitutes – 7.5
No real impact made as such because England were flying by then and they slotted straight in but the timing of bringing Jamie George and Joe Marler on to freshen up the front row must be commended.
Andy Daniel
Follow Andy on Twitter (@scrum5ive)
Tom Wood has been immense since he came back in, the amount of work he gets through it’s amazing he can still stand, let alone run, by the end. I thought Courtney Lawes just edged the man of the match for me, did a lot of carrying in the absence of B. Vunipola and also made a big haul of tackles. Youngs was good, and he sold Phipps (and the cameraman) straight down the river, but the difference between the halves was that the England pack got on the front foot and into the Aussie’s faces, tying up their backrow and forcing mistakes.
I agree lawes was phenomenal. One moment which summed up the maturity of that performance was when after competing at the line out he finds himself last to join the ruck. He sees that the roll is on so pulls out and waits and waits for it to slowly peel off and then dives in and grabs man and ball just as they peel round for and England turnover. Intelligent play
I think it is a big testament to the whole England pack that we hardly saw Pocok or Hooper get involved in the game.
I think the Ford/Farrell axis is really helping JJ with his game and the style of play that it brings. Would still like to see the combination of Farrell with T’eo and Slade given a shot.
I saw plenty of pocock. It seemed everytime we were turned he was at the heart of it. Hooper made some strong carries but wasnt very effective at the rucks
Hooper is really a centre masquerading as a flanker. He is a great carrier of the ball, great defender, runs superb lines and good at forcing turnovers when opposition forwards aren’t there to clear him out.
He’s too light in the tight stuff though and is not as effective as Pocock, as he is forced off the ball too easily.
I can see him playing 12 rather well indeed
Probably faster than a few 12s as well!!
I thought all in all it was a very mature performance. This England squad has more depth than any I have seen. Including the 2003 vintage. That does not mean it is a better team though ;)
Our strength in depth at lock is almost embarrassing. Nobody could moan if 4 of them went on the Lions tour next year (Kruis, Itoje, Lawes & Launchberry).
Not completely surprising when you see how our junior teams have been doing over the past few years though. Roll on the next world cup when we will be serious contenders :)
Ben Hux-smith
Agree with you unsurprisingly.
Whether England could get away with such a poor start against the ABs is another matter. Showing true balance and Marquis of Queensbury rules here for Don P.
I would suggest on Saturday’s showing we would have lost v the ABs!
In other words in a year’s time they won’t be able to afford a slow start, going into their shells or having an off day. Every day is an ON DAY with the ABs.
That having been said, EJ and England have time on their side to continue the player development and improveon the match management.
Their attack must become more of a potent threat (i understand there is no world class attack coach in the England set up – correct me if i’m wrong!)
Their pace of progression and advance seems also in my humble opinion to be lightning quick coupled with the fact The ABs have gone backwards somewhat since the WC but that is only natural in the post McCaw and Nonu era. EJ far from being a ‘clown’ is a mercurial and magician-like exponent of the coaching art perhaps more akin to a drill sergeant (suitably for England)!
A broken hand or was it a leg in high intensity training…..the guy means serious business.!
No longer the PR spin of Lancaster and ‘walking though the matchday crowd at Twickenham to get bloody touchy feely!
The defeat against Ireland and a mere 5 point margin over France has shown EVERYONE that the ABs can be taken.
The referees are also being told to crack down across the board so i fear gone are the days when the ABs had, so it was said in the good ‘ol days, a 10 point margin before the kick off whether from referee reluctance to ping the ABs/McCaw or collective fear amongst the opposition team. A level playing field is good for everyone and the game of rugby.
They still do the walk through the match day crowd…
Oh dear! I heard EJ had put it to the players and they had voted unanimously to stop it.
A case of mot believing what you read in the papers
Didn’t think Yarde had the best of games. Finished (sort of) the try well but doesn’t seem to have the pace that other top class wingers possess. Once Watson and Nowell are both back I think it will be a fight between them and May for the two wing spots.
Jake
Agreed. Watson, May and Nowell for me (probably in that order)
For me Lawes steps down too for a recovered Itoje in a restoration of the Krutoje partnership!
Haskell too for me rather than Woods or Harrison (again in that order). EJ is a man manager par excellence having rehabilitated Robshaw, Haskell, Lawes and now Woods and having raised the game (often by weightloss and/or increased fitness) for BV and Mako
That is some depth! 4 players at lock (kruis, Itoje, Ewells and Lawes), 4 at flanker (Robshaw, Haskell, Woods and Harrison in that order) and two at number eight (BV and Hughes)
4 at centre and the varying permutations thereof: Farrell, JJ , Slade and Teo.
With all other positions covered by at least 2 options!
That is what the ABs had and still have in terms of player depth! So next year the gloves will definitely be off.
Referees are tightening up on all types of professional infringement that will help level the playing field for 2017. The second controversial Ireland-AB game was a case in point with the Irish feeling hard done by. The ABs won’t be able to repeat that and get away with it. The knives are out and ‘impeccably clean’ rugby will be required at future international test level.
Lets see how it pans out next year!
I’m quite surprised you’ve left Launchbury and Clifford off your lists from above, not to mentioned Daly in the centres list too!
Jacob
Apologies! I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of class players in the squad that i forgot two very important ones. Sheer player overload. No excuses though!
Thought Yarde was decent without being outstanding.
EJ has said that he likes one speedster and one wing who works hard. Clearly that’s normally Watson and Nowell but in their absence May and Yarde.
Yarde certainly went looking for work but I’d rather have Nowell in when he returns. There’s probably not much between them in speed but Nowell has a Brown-like ability to break tackles and make yards when he has no right to .
No way was Yarde an 8.5 and 1.5 more than Brown who had a good game BTW (try-saving tackle on Faletau, a solid defence and good yardage)
Yarde’s defence and positioning in the first twenty was questionable to downright rubbish (his opposite number scoring easily and also turning him all too easily on another occasion)
The try was a bread and butter touch down rather than anything spectacular! The spectacular came from Joseph in spotting the room for and executing the best banana grubber kick i’ve ever seen. Yarde failed to make another touch down because of his lack of pace. May on the other hand would have had it; Watson too probably.
Didnt realise faletau was playing… isnt he welsh :-)
Meant the Aussie 15. Felau is it! Anyway all pretty close for people to get it (i suspect including you)
Nope i’ve got the correct spelling…..it’s Falau…..what a bloody releif…..i’ ll sleep better for all of that…a load off.
*Folau
Thanks.