15. Mike Brown: 7.5
Superb under the high ball in the first half, so much so that Ireland abandoned their kicking game in the second forty. Looked dangerous in attack without ever quite breaking free.
14. Anthony Watson: 7
Rose gloriously to claim the ball from Ford’s crossfield kick and score England’s second try. One burst in the first half was about as much as we saw from him with ball in hand, but he’s one of those players that people just get excited about when he touches the ball.
13. Jonathan Joseph: 6.5
Largely solid in defence and largely well shackled by Ireland in attack. Even if he’s not making the eye-catching breaks, he’ll always be worth his place in the team because of how defences are forced to worry about him.
12. Brad Barritt: 6
There was enough evidence in this 80 minutes that Barritt could be a successful midfield partner for Joseph. He defended as well as ever and threw a couple of nice passes – although there wasn’t that much gainline success in his carrying.
11. Jonny May: 8.5
Is England’s marmite man no more? Showed immense strength for his try, and was good under the high ball when Ireland tested him early on. There was some trademark footwork and pace thrown in for good measure, too, in what was comfortably his most complete performance in an England shirt.
10. George Ford: 7.5
A much, much improved performance from Paris two weeks ago. His kick for Watson’s try was a joy to behold, and his game management in general was much improved. Close to immaculate from the tee.
9. Ben Youngs: 7.5
Gave a glorious looped pass that cut out several Irish defenders to send Jonny May in for his try, and his box kicking was much improved from his last outing. Seems to rediscovering his old zip.
1. Joe Marler: 7
A rampaging break in the first half was reminiscent of Marler’s early days in an England shirt, when he used to get his hands on the ball more often and to greater success. Scrum issues didn’t seem to be on his side.
2. Tom Youngs: 7.5
Throwing was vastly improved to the point that England won all of their line-outs (even if a few were scratchy). His work-rate both in carrying and tackling never ceases to amaze – he was England’s second highest tackler despite only playing 59 minutes.
3. Dan Cole: 5.5
Two scrums against the head will not make for pleasant reading for Cole, and while he cannot be held solely responsible for those issues, it did seem to be his side of the scrum that was struggling.
4. Geoff Parling: 8
Reminded everyone of his worth with a controlling hand at the line-out. Tom Youngs just looks much more at ease when Parling is in the pack.
5. Courtney Lawes: 6.5
There were some of his typically abrasive hits that kept the Irish attack honest, but otherwise this was a fairly quiet outing for the Northampton lock.
6. Tom Wood: 8.5
His best outing in an England shirt? It must be close. A towering presence at the lineout and an immense workrate in defence was matched by some astonishingly effective carrying – not praise that has been levelled at him for some time.
7. Chris Robshaw: 7.5
Overshadowed by Wood but Robshaw was again quietly excellent. Finished as England’s top tackler (when was the last time that wasn’t the case?) and was like a hoover on the ground whenever the ball was spilled.
8. Ben Morgan: 7
Another step in the right direction for big Ben who looks to have shaken off the rust that was so obvious a few weeks ago against France. Carried reasonably well and kept the error count down.
Replacements: 6
A thoroughly mixed bag for England off the bench. Joe Launchbury added grunt and Jamie George impressed again in his cameo. But Owen Farrell’s butchering of a five man overlap by throwing a miss pass that hit the deck proved just why George Ford must continue to start in the number 10 jersey.
The Vunipola brothers and Kieron Brookes were dynamic in the carry but perhaps a bit overzealous at times. Sam Burgess brought a lot of physicality and one hit on Ian Madigan will make its way into the highlight reels, but he showed his naivety with ball in hand when trying to force the pass on a couple of occasions when it wasn’t on.
By Jamie Hosie
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By all accounts a decent performance by England; but now the rehearsals are over, where do you go if you are Lancaster?
Do you go full strength against Fiji and look to build towards Wales and Australia? Do you try to protect players for later games? Or do you have a little experiment?
The devil in me would start Jamie George, Joe Launchbury and Sam Burgess against Fiji. If it were Wales first up, I’d possibly go with the same team, but I don’t think Youngs, Parling or Barritt are that far ahead and I’d like to give these players a chance to press their claims. I would have added Haskell to that list, but Wood appears to have shut the door on him this week, and his line-out work would be very useful with Parling on the bench.
George has the stronger set-piece game than Youngs, which could be offset by bring Launchbury in for Parling and getting more bite around the park. Youngs and Parling could then come on after 55 minutes or so when Launchbury has tackled himself and several Fijians into the ground, allowing Youngs to run at tired players, while Parling brings some balance to the set-piece (as you remark, Youngs does prefer playing with Parling).
Meanwhile, seeing Burgess in the opening game put in some big carried and bigger shots could be a real shot in the arm for England at this World Cup and get the fans off their seats, in a way that Barritt would not be able to. Barritt could offer cover from the bench and be brought on with his Sarries team-mates at 9 and 10 to shut the game out if required; and then could be restored against Wales if Burgess didn’t deliver, but I think it will just create a bit more buzz at Twickenham if Burgess is running out against Fiji.
If Burgess does have a good game, then he can retain his place for Wales and his size and power should create more space for Joseph and those outside him to exploit.
Absolutely. Full strength against Fiji. Although that may include Launchbury.
Barritt’s defensive organisation will be crucial against Fiji. If England find themselves comfortably ahead with time to spare (although I do not think this will happen), perhaps make changes earlier than usual.
Canada do not seem to be the force they were a few years ago but even so, Fiji will come to Twickenham full of confidence, and full of brilliant runners, so England cannot take them lightly.
England should play their full strength team every game. Nobody who has won a WC has rotated about from the NZ’s, as they get notoriously easy groups and typically falter at the knock out stages as a result.
England’s real strength is it’s depth and not a single team bar the All blacks can bring as much quality off the bench. The only change I would make is to start George at Hooker and bring the excellent Youngs on at about 55 to increase the tempo. George is a better technician and a better scrummager and will wear out incumbents in the opposition.
“I would make is to start George at Hooker and bring the excellent Youngs on at about 55 to increase the tempo. George is a better technician and a better scrummager and will wear out incumbents in the opposition”
Spot on.
Though I fear your comment on the strength of England’s bench compared with NZ will incur much ire and indignation from some.
Cue Don in 4 3 2 1….
Can’t argue with those ratings. Much better than I expected. When I saw the Irish lineup I feared one of those suffocating Irish performances.
I’ve still got a nagging doubt over having a light but athletic tight five, but if it’s the same selection for Fiji I wouldn’t complain.
I hate to admit it but that’s accurate. Although as I told my brother in law (a scot who is not a particular rugby fan who fancy’s England or nz to win the wc) starting out against Fiji whilst it may be a win you will likely (and should get). They are a tough bunch of lads, I am glad Wales got Uruguay as the opener even more so after injuries against Italy. It’s gonna be a bruising game and in a game the bench should be able to win I would hope for England’s sake they utilize it well otherwise you’ll be carrying a lot of bumps & bruises against Wales. Both England & Wales are looking to play an open fast paced game, coming of the back of Fiji may hamper that for you.
Whilst yes I want Wales to win, I want to make sure they beat an England at there best so there’s no arguments come the final whistle.
I kind of feel it’s best to get Fiji out of the way before they’ve had time to gel, hopefully take advantage of some rustiness. Wales will play a well rested Fiji 5 days after the England match. A big ask, but who knows.
I admire your optimism but there will ALWAYS be arguments after and Eng/Wal match!!!
I always figured Fiji are a team of limited scope, they are big hitters but limited in there athleticism (in comparison to other rugby nations – they could all outdo me :p), so from game 1 their big hits will get slightly smaller. I’d rather it was England taking those than Wales. Granted by the time Wales get to them they’ll have got down the teamwork better but I think their best game will be there first.
I suspect they will beat Uruguay but with a worse performance than the opening game against England. Which I expect England to win comfortably by around 15-20pt but it’s a case of how much it takes out the England squad to achieve it against a very physical side.
Ok, could definitely see that happening, whilst England’s “strength in depth” protects us somewhat, I would be very worried about losing Brown and going into the Wales and Aus games with Goode (yikes).
However if we come though unscathed I think we might benefit from having a tough game. I’ve seen England limp through a few opening matches they were expected to win well, which really sapped confidence and momentum.
Wood’s return(ish) to form is pleasing to see but I am of the opinion that Robshaw and Morgan were both better. Apart from that, and what seem to me to be massive overestimations of Cole and Tom Youngs’ contributions, I more or less agree with all of these ratings
In the the back of my mind is the potential to pick up injuries against what will be a very physical Fijian side. Difficult one, we need to get off the mark but we need to keep our top players fit. If we were playing Australia, I would want Barett at 12 for his defensive qualities,so let’s play Burgess against Fiji. Would you really expect Burgess to organise defence against a top side. We don’t have 2 Mays,Watsons, J.Js and with Wale’s recent woes we have to be tempered in selection. Our best side with everyone fit, is the only one that has a chance in this competition.
Am I the only one who sees Burgess as a massive unwarranted gamble particularily as a 12?Potential can’t replace know how and experience in any walk of life.He knocked on and passed forward in 20 mins in the last game-basic skills not union specific.And 2 of his 3 big hits were on 10’s 5 stone lighter.The only match he could start is Uraguay.Got help us if Barritt is badly injured
Yes and no
Its a risky gamble definately, but not for the reasons stated above:
He’s hardly a raw recruit as he has been playing top flight league for years and is familiar with England league style of defence
Knock on was a poor pass trying to force Burgess down sextons channel while he was limping
Forward pass was a pressure pass that he nearly pulled off and if he had it would have been lauded as brilliant play
Happy to watch him smash the small crafty players all day. He stops the big guys too but it just looks less spectacular.
My concerns are around his positional play and instincts. kicking and kick passes dont really happen much in League and he has been caught out of position a few times so far. Better teams like Aus and NZ would exploit this weakness
Gosh. I’ve never seen an England player knock on or pass the ball forward before!
Of all the reasons I’ve seen for knocking Burgess, this has to be the worst. In the same game, Youngs threw an awful forward pass and Farrell butchered an overlap – are they a massive unwarranted gamble as well?
And heaven forbid that he terrorises oppostion fly-halves!
Leon has the right of it. He is a gamble but its not totally unwarranted given the only other option was Burrell who has been OK without truly shining or 12Trees of whom the less said, the better.
His positioning and instincts are a concern, but I remember the same concerns being raised about Jason Robinson when he was first named for England in Feb 2001 having only played his first game for Sale in Nov 2000. We know how that one turned out.
I for one will be keeping my fingers crossed that he turns out to be another Robinson and not another Barrie-Jon Mather. I suspect that he has the athletic ability, intelligence and drive to be a success