15. Scott Spedding: 7.5
Some very dangerous counter-attacking from the busy-looking runner, although he won’t want to watch Dan Cole’s try back. He combined nicely with his wingers in a way that some fullbacks would do well to copy.
14. Wesley Fofana: 6
Some nice touches but again, there was nothing to vindicate the decision to maroon him out on the wing rather than in the centres.
13. Gael Fickou: 6
A pretty quiet game for Fickou, who was well shackled by Jonathan Joseph. In fact, the outside centres – who can be geniuses when it clicks – seemed to cancel each other out on the night.
12. Maxime Mermoz: 6
Like Fickou, Mermoz failed to have any significant impact on France’s attacking game. Finished with a 100% tackle rate, but didn’t show anything to suggest he is France’s man here long-term.
11. Virimi Vakatawa: 9
There are some rougher edges that need to be smoothed out, for sure, but his combination of pace, power and footwork make him such an exciting talent to watch. Finished with 19 carries, 132 metres made and 11 defenders beaten – a tour de force in an attacking sense.
10. François Trinh-Duc: 6
Unlucky to be forced off early with a leg injury.
9. Maxime Machenaud: 8
A 100% record from the tee kept France in the hunt throughout the game, and begged the question as to quite why he wasn’t starting – and goal-kicking – from the beginning of the tournament.
1. Jefferson Poirot: 5.5
Recovered from last week’s horror show in Edinburgh, and dealt with Dan Cole’s scrummaging well enough. Loses a mark, though, for being slow to set the guard at the ruck that saw Care scoot away for his try.
2. Guilhem Guirado: 5
Not up to the high standards he had set for himself earlier in the tournament – three missed tackles, and the lineout was a mess, for which he must take some blame.
3. Rabah Slimani: 7
Scrummaged well enough to force Mako Vunipola off at half-time, although his influence waned thereafter as Joe Marler shored things up.
4. Alexandre Flanquart: 5
No great influence in the loose and part of the lineout shambles.
5. Yoann Maestri: 4.5
Pretty anonymous and never seems to dominate in either the tackle or the carry, which is a not acceptable for a man of his size and stature.
6. Damien Chouly: 6.5
Fulfilled the workman-like role of the blindside flanker well enough, getting around the park busily to finish as his side’s top tackler.
7. Bernard le Roux: 7
Did largely what he was brought in to do, namely bring a bit of energy to France’s defensive lime.
8. Loann Goujon: 4.5
Almost completely anonymous, making very little impact as a ball-carrying number eight when compared with the man opposite him.
Replacements: 6
Jules Plisson entered the fray early but his tactical kicking was pretty poor, gifting England field position and possession. Paul Jedrasiak gave away a needless penalty late on that took France out of striking range with an eight point deficit. None of the others did a great deal of good or bad.
ENGLAND
15. Mike Brown: 6
There were a couple of nice breaks from the back but his horror-show of a pass when trying to execute a simple two-on-one showed exactly where his game is lacking. He won’t rank amongst the very best fullbacks until he can sort that out.
14. Anthony Watson: 7
Still had a lot of work to do to finish his try, and left the final defender flat-footed with a clever hitch-kick that bought him the time to drive to the line and avoid touch. Well marshalled otherwise.
13. Jonathan Joseph: 6
It’s been a pretty quiet tournament for Joseph and again, he did his best work in defence – keeping Fickou noticeably quiet – rather than with ball in hand.
12. Owen Farrell: 8
His overzealousness in defence does lead to a few missed tackles, but in this system his aggression and line-speed are a generally good thing. Despite two missed kicks earlier in the game, showed his mettle to nail two late penalties that took England out of sight, and his leadership qualities were plain for all to see once Hartley had gone off.
11. Jack Nowell: 5
Struggled to contain the French back three when they countered down his channel at times, and was more often than not feeding off scraps when the ball made its way to him.
10. George Ford: 6.5
Some of his tactical kicking was excellent, and forced France back into their own territory, but he only ran with the ball once in the entire game, a stat that belies his lack of confidence at the moment.
9. Danny Care: 8
It was a surprise to see him substituted so early after a wondrous, and characteristic, solo try in the first half that saw him identify the lack of a guard and speed away for a 45 metre score.
1. Mako Vunipola: 5
Struggled in the scrum and was unable to make up for it with any noticeable impact in the loose. Slung from the match at half-time which says it all.
2. Dylan Hartley: 7
His lineout throwing was imperious, and while he wasn’t quite as industrious in the loose as in previous games, his leadership was again excellent.
3. Dan Cole: 7
A bit of a mixed bag as there were a few scrum issues and again he gave away a couple of penalties, but deserves great credit for a powerful and original finish from five metres out.
4. Maro Itoje: 8
Has taken to test rugby like the proverbial duck to water. His athleticism at the line-out is reminiscent of a young Tom Croft, except he is a much more powerful ball-carrier as well. Under Kruis’ astute guidance, his set piece excellence has been obvious.
5. George Kruis: 9
Another match, another sublime showing from the man who has been transformed under the guidance of Steve Borthwick. He now couples his undoubted power and aggression in the loose with a real intelligence at the set piece. It has been a towering tournament for the hulking lock.
6. Chris Robshaw: 6.5
Busy with ball in hand and industrious in the loose to make it into double figures with 10 tackles made – although he did miss four.
7. James Haskell: 7.5
Physically, there seems to be no limit to Haskell’s work-rate has he tore about the pitch to hit rucks and French carriers alike. Not a rugby Nostradamus, but fulfils his role in this team with aplomb.
8. Billy Vunipola: 9
After a quiet first half by his standards, Vunipola burst out of the blocks after the break with several typically barnstorming runs – one in the build-up to Watson’s try scattered defenders and created the ensuing hole for Ben Youngs to dart through.
Replacements: 8
Only four of them made it onto the pitch and were it not for injuries, that figure may have been even lower. Joe Marler shored up the scrum, and Ben Youngs’ grubber at full speed after a lovely break is an immensely difficult skill that he absolutely mastered in the moment. Jones deserves great credit for resisting the urge to needlessly throw on others.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Jack Nowell in no way deserves 5! Yes France made headway down his side, but more often than not the gap was giant and no defenders responded for his call to shift across. The article itself calls Owen farrell out for rushing out the line but doesn’t link that to the joy France had making headway down the wing! Joined up thinking
Agree Sam. The French line was deep to avoid the rush defense and Nowell was isolated on a number of occassions by Farrell rushing up and then stopping without taking the man or cutting off the pass, allowing the French backs around the outside of him and giving them a 2 or 3 on 1 on Nowell. He did well to make the tackles he did
Farrell often recovered and got back to make tackles but had the French been more accurate, it could have been much worse.
Actually thought this was one of Farrell’s worse matches, although he was still decent. I think he was passing the ball too early as well, which allowed the French defence to cut off space for Joseph and the wings
MV was somewhat exposed at scrum time
Completely agree with Sam and Pablito. Also no way Billy a 9, he only woke up at half time. Robshaw only a 6.5? Just how much donkey work does the poor bloke have to get through before he gets properly appreciated? Haskell also under-marked. He is far better than Nostrodamus ever was, as is proved by the fact that even the French never gave the old boy a cap, whereas Haskell now has a pretty fair collection. I thought Care was extremely sharp and should have been left on. He usually kicks pretty well for Quins, but his boot seems to be a bit adrenalin fuelled when playing for England. Maybe he and Youngs both try a bit too hard in an attempt to nail down the shirt? Would like to see Simpson get a crack in the summer if he can show some good club form before the end of the season. I had hoped that Ford would really nail down the 10 shirt, but he still looks decidedly tentative at present (though better on the end of Care´s pass than Youngs´). Jones has made several comments about Tuilagi at 12, but although he has power he´s not a great distributor, neither is he hugely perceptive or quick. For me, Farrell 10, Slade 12, Joseph 13, Nowell, Watson and Goode would be the next combination to try, but like a lot of others I still don´t think Jones have got close to solving the question of what the best back line combination is.
Spot on Sam. Thought Nowell actually did remarkably well considering the overlaps he was faced with. Also, the rating is too high for Care, whilst his solo effort was well taken, his box kicking was extremely wayward, rarely contestable and regularly allowed counterattacks. Reckon this was the reason for his early substitution.
Haskell ‘not a rugby Nostradamus.’ He’ll be crushed by that comment, Jamie.
He should have seen it coming!
Some extraordinary numbers there, not least a 9 for Vakatawa. 5 for Nowell??
Billy Vunipola: 9, biggest laugh I have had all six nations, totally out shone by both Haskell and Robshaw and by that standard a 6 at best. The match is 80 minutes not 40th.
Almost as bizarre as some of the Irish scores. How do Stander and Heaslip get 10s, yet Kruis and Itoje get 8 and 9? They were outstanding in everything they did but especially lineout work. Itoje was so often the first player at the breakdown in defence and picked off some nice turnovers! With a different ref he could have won a lot more ball.
A 5 for Nowell is ridiculous considering Mike (I’m not passing the ball) Brown butchered two chances and still gets a 6!!
8 and 9 for The England second row only looks odd because they are being compared to the Irish scores and the slightly high score for Care, Vunipola and Farrell. Not the perfect game but the lineout steals were immense probably would have gone with 9’s for both
I just thought the work they did was at least on par with the impact Heaslip and Stander had for Ireland? If we hadn’t stolen those lineouts, and won all of our own, the score could have been quite different. Add in Itoje’s breakdown work!?!?!
Yeah the ratings are all subjective Dazza, I didn’t write the Irish ones!
Fair enough Jamie. I think I was getting over the shock of Stander and Heaslip getting 10s when i read this, which probably didn’t help my blinkered view of a Grand Slam winning team and their respective player scores.
Really harsh on Nowell, and would have Haskell on at least an 8 and possible more. He made such a strong impact at the breakdown, and put in some really big hits.
Can’t believe Care for an 8. Awful, awful kicking. To the point where just before every box kick my mate and I kept saying, “well this will be too far and incontestable” – Care never let us down. Youngs come on and three box kicks in a row led to England contesting and two turning the ball over. That is why the substitution was made, we need a stronger control of territory later in the game.
Kruis and Itoje look immense as a pairing, unbelievable to see a player of Launchbury’s quality being third choice.
Ford again looked short of confidence, although there was some good tactical kicking later in the game. Slade will surely come in for the Aus tour and I would like to see Cips at least in the squad.
The only conclusion I came to was that Jamie was watching a different match to the rest of us & agree with the 7 comments made. Too many errors from Care, Farrell and Brown for me. Kruis and Itoje partnership such a find…long may it continue. Thought Farrell might have been subbed for Tuilagi due to his poor kicking and defensive errors.
Vakatawa a 9? Pull the other one, that would imply that tries were scored what about the needless foot in touch under no pressure whatsoever?
Billy was not a 9 either 7.5 at best as the French were all over him like a pack of jackals, Nowell not a 5 echoing the comments above.
Brown was a 5 for the reasons mentioned but more in particular his insistence not to offload to Watson when a try could’ve been on, taking ball into contact and knocking it on and when he did decide to pass doing it with the ability of my 2 year old daughter throwing around her favourite doll.
Yup. Vakatawa doesn’t even understand the lines on the pitch and to give a tryless winger a 9 is ridiculous. Sad about Brown, great attitude, courage and he’s a wonderfully balanced runner but he’s either not overly bright or maybe just lacks a bit of ‘direction’ when running with ball in hand – should have had a try in 2 mins against Wales and went the wrong way. Id Foden too old for a comeback? If so … then Princess Tippytoes Goode is on very good form … ?
But we already have a brilliant full back masquerading in the 14 shirt. Move Watson to 15 and bring in Rokodaguni, Wade, Yarde, Ashton(!) or someone like that, to take his places on the wing.
Completely agree re Watson, stroudos. Surely worth a try, especially to bring in a bigger, hard-carrying winger like Rokodaguni if Ford and Farrell continue at 10 and 12.
A 9 for Vakatawa implies he had a performance reminiscent of Jonah Lomu when he wasn’t even a Nemani Nadolo!
Hi Jamie. I don’t want to appear arsey ,although many would say that horse has bolted,but Ford’s refusal to run BESPEAKS of his lack of confidence not belies it.Sorry fella.Any chance of a job?
Sorry teecee but at least if you make a correction get it right. “Bespeaks” can never be followed by “of” and is the wrong word anyway. Shows, indicates or demonstrates would be better in this context. Front row forwards know these things!
I stand corrected Andy. You after a job too? Cheers.!!
Watson at Full back Roko on the wing. Still feel Ford offers much in the long term. Looking forward to Daly, Hughes, Underhill and Slade coming into the squad.
Agree on all those bar Roko – I don’t think he’s savvy enough for test rugby, some of the errors he makes at Bath under no pressure at all are pretty poor. James short made him look very average the last time we played Bath. I’m pretty sure there are better options out there.
Johnny May was doing ok for England until crocked, Ashton was playing well until suspended, and I still think Wade is worth a look although I´m not sure he fits the Jones template. Good to have options.
Would be very interested to see what players can come into contention. May, Roko, Slade, Simpson, Ewers, Beaumont all potentially to come in and obviously new caps, Hughes, Underhill if reports are to be believed! I would be very curious to see who Eddie means when saying these young players need to come in and take us up a level. Perhaps an article to be written there! Whos to come back if fit and whos these new guys? Was disappointed with an article i saw which just named players in the squad mainly!