Ireland player ratings v England: ‘Superlative’ half-back and ‘Mr Defence’ at the heart of ‘performance of the ages’
Jamison Gibson-Park celebrates his first-half try while Ireland teammate Robert Baloucoune, inset, bottles up Henry Arundell
Following their stupendous 42-21 demolition of Steve Borthwick’s hapless England in the Six Nations Round Three match at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, here are the player ratings for Andy Farrell’s brilliant Ireland.
Ireland player ratings
15 Jamie Osborne: Began with a poor ninth-minute clearance to Freddie Steward that resulted in an England penalty and copped a yellow card for infringing on the line in the second half for the converted Ollie Lawrence try that reduced the leeway to 29-10, but he was otherwise the safest of safe Irish hands. His commitment was evident in the way he, at one stage, clung to Henry Arundell’s shorts before Garry Ringrose finished off the stop, and then came his footwork and power through the contact for his 70th-minute try. 8
14 Robert Baloucoune: What a display from a player who, until last week, had been left in the Test rugby wilderness for years. He gave the sense he was up for the biggest game of his life with a super defensive read on 12 minutes and then a lovely aerial catch. What followed was electrifying, though, taking on Arundell on the outside with style in the lead-up to the opening Ireland try. Then scored himself and also gave the assist to sub Tommy O’Brien on the opposite wing with another sweet dash. He commendably stayed on task despite his inexperience, cantering across to the opposite wing with Ireland a carded man down to halt Tommy Freeman on 63 minutes. A blockbuster effort. 9
13 Garry Ringrose: With Stuart McCloskey repeatedly taking the ball on and denting the English cover, this was an afternoon where his midfield partner featured little on the ball. This anomaly didn’t impact his team, as it was all part of the Farrell master plan. Where Ringrose showed up best was shutting the door on the opposition attack. A missed tackle on Lawrence was an early cause for concern, but he quickly got to grips with the situation to put in an acceptable 55-minute shift. 7
12 Stuart McCloskey: This overnight success, who has been 10 years in the making, continued with his 2025/26 brilliance, starting with several tone-setting carries and also an important 11th-minute tackle on Henry Pollock. Had one momentary mishap with a pass intercepted, but bounced back with a superb break for the Baloucoune try and then an important one-handed deflection to put a stop to an Arundell attack. Continued his influential contribution across the second period. 9
11 James Lowe: Lasted just 18 minutes, exiting injured at 3-0 before this Six Nations first-half exploded to life. Had knocked on in Ireland’s first visit to the 22, but teamed up with Osborne to put a stop to a Freeman run just before getting hurt when kicking clear a pass frantically given to him by Ringrose. 5
10 Jack Crowley: Irish fans have at last witnessed the type of reassuring all-court out-half performance they had been waiting for ever since Johnny Sexton hung up the boots after Rugby World Cup 2023. With Sam Prendergast rightly taken from the firing line and excused from Round Three duty, Crowley produced a superb display after biding his time since match two in November to regain the No.10 shirt. Having enjoyed a reassuring start, he could have wobbled when missing two successive kicks off the tee, but he admirably regained his composure to finish with seven kicks for 17 points in a performance where he astutely mixed up his game. 8
9 Jamison Gibson-Park: Has slowly been building all season to this type of trademark, irresistible player of the performance. You sensed as soon as he conjured up a fourth-minute step, he would be on top of his game, and he rubber-stamped this impression with his try-scoring quick tap on 20 minutes which blew open the game. Denied a second try just minutes later due to O’Brien’s collision with Steward in the air, but he had the last laugh there as Steward was carded for playing the nine in the build-up to Baloucoune’s try. He was just as good in the second half. His 42nd shunt for the line ended with a yellow for Pollock and then he was croc-rolled nine minutes later near his own line by Jamie George to lift the danger. A superlative 71-minute performance. 9
Incredible Ireland shock Twickenham in Six Nations stunner as England embarrassed
The forwards
8 Caelan Doris: Mr Defence captained his team diligently and inspiringly led his team’s tackle count in this performance of the ages from an Irish side that was alleged to be in sharp decline. His energy never wavered throughout – look at his gas when chasing to set up the collision that won the turnover penalty to extend the lead to 35-12. With the Irish a man down for the opening part of the second half, he memorably powered past Ellis Genge to ensure his team got on the front foot and were the first scorers to nip in the bud any home team notions of a comeback. 9
7 Josh van der Flier: Needed a big one to remind everyone that he definitely still has that it takes at the very top of the sport, and he would have exited on 50 minutes with his head held high after helping his team into a 22-point lead. A sublime break on 29 minutes was evidence that he retains the eye for a gap, and although he will kick himself for not preventing Fraser Dingwall from grounding for his score, it was his abrasive defensive work in messing up England’s flow of ball that was more important. 7
6 Tadhg Beirne: The flanker set the tone in the forwards with his two-handed steal of an early English lineout that would have greatly helped to settle Irish nerves. Played smartly the whole way through, with several brilliant moments that even included something as simple as giving the dead ball promptly to Gibson-Park so that he could quickly tap and score. Other highlights were the breakdown turnover that earned Ireland a missed penalty shot and the incredible steal that denied England in the corner two minutes before the interval. His was the type of contribution that simply broke opposition hearts. 9
5 James Ryan: Was the sticky glue that Ireland very much needed in the early stages to reassure themselves that they had the beating of England. Contributed greatly to the ‘not today, lads’ foundation that frustrated the hosts and he deserved kudos for his improved discipline, something he had often been criticised for this season. He was at fault for the missed tackle in the late Sam Underhill try, but that was but a consolation at a time when the Irish were loving life and looking towards the final whistle. 8
4 Joe McCarthy: Another of Ireland’s Lions who finally found his best form. It helped, of course, that he stuck to the rugby and stopped the unnecessary nonsense that had been taking away from his impact. Huge commitment in the tackle, and he wasn’t averse to positively getting on the ball. Check out the nonchalance of his one-handed pass away from a 46th-minute ruck; that epitomised how much he was enjoying himself. Left the fray with 17 minutes to go, having done a brilliant job in helping his team lead 32-14. Maro who? 8
3 Tadhg Furlong: Other than the penalty given against him at a scrum with Ireland 3-0 up, this was a sweet 47-minute outing for the prop who has been struggling for fitness and form all season. Put in a healthy double-figure tackle count and came out the right side of the officialdom’s early second-half conversation when Itoje wanted action over a breakdown clash with Tom Curry. 7
Outrage as Tadhg Furlong escapes punishment for Tom Curry ‘decapitation’ attempt
2 Dan Sheehan: This was his best effort in an underwhelming season of searching for post-Lions tour form. There was an early missed tackle on Steward during his 56 minutes on the pitch, but he recovered and a step in the carry on 13 minutes hinted he was up for this and would deliver. That was steeled by his break 11 minutes later from an England overthrow, and his uplifting afternoon was capped by his trademark 43rd minute finish for Ireland’s bonus-earning try. 7
1 Jeremy Loughman: Like Furlong, there was one occasion when he was penalised for a scrum infringement. But his commitment to not fold in the set-piece and his thirst for general involvement around the park – not only at the ruck but also in looking to be a ball carrying option – was a redemption-helping boon for an Irish pack frustrated with its previous two outings this month. 6
Replacements: The polished performance of first-half injury sub O’Brien was tremendous, quickly involving himself in the lead-up to the opening try and going on to have a distinguished afternoon where he also got in among the try-scorers. Ireland’s sub props Tom O’Toole and Finlay Bealham won’t want to see the scrum footage from their time involved, but the likes of Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley can feel pleased with what they did. 6
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