Player ratings: Physical England flex their muscles

Adam Kyriacou

Following their 24-12 win over Ireland in the Six Nations match at Twickenham on Sunday, here’s our player ratings for England.

15 Elliot Daly: A game to revive the prospect that he can be a long-term option at full-back. Started explosively and played with freedom with ball in hand, with his boot also putting England in the right areas. 8

14 Jonny May: Unable to make the eye-catching breaks that are his calling card but he did the less glamorous work brilliantly. Never lets England down. 7

13 Manu Tuilagi: England are so reliant on his ability to break the gain-line and here he was an unstoppable force. Ireland simply could not stop him at source. 8

12 Owen Farrell: In the father-v-son duel against Ireland coach Andy, it was England’s composed captain who emerged with bragging rights. While Johnny Sexton struggled off the tee, Farrell kept chipping away at the scoreboard. 8

11 Jonathan Joseph: Any doubt over his suitability to start on the wing quickly faded as he danced into space and chased everything down. A solid afternoon from the Bath man. 7

10 George Ford: Scored the opening try at Twickenham as he refused to give up what looked like a pointless chase. He also managed the game well behind a dominant pack. 7

9 Ben Youngs: A ball of energy who made good decisions, but also capable of making influential mistakes. He showed Eddie Jones he was right to recall him to the side. 7

1 Joe Marler: Scythed down green shirts in a relentless defensive shift and was always in the thick of the action. 7

2 Jamie George: Growing in influence throughout this Six Nations but is being pushed hard by Luke Cowan-Dickie, who came on fairly early. 7

3 Kyle Sinckler: Another player who is beginning to find his feet after a slow start to the Championship. Gave Ireland plenty of verbals at a dominant set-piece. 7

4 Maro Itoje: A strip of the ball in the tackle was trademark Itoje, who carried the fight to Ireland. 8

5 George Kruis: Rarely produces anything spectacular but his work-rate is huge. He carries and tackles with commitment. 8

6 Courtney Lawes: Lawes was named man of match and deservedly so. A destructive outing from the Northampton man as he was everywhere. 9

7 Sam Underhill: Smashed backwards in one early carry but recomposed himself and was a physical menace thereafter. We struggle to name a stronger tackler in the game, with Ireland finding that out the hard way. 7

8 Tom Curry: The debate will continue to rage over whether he is a number eight after this peripheral performance. 6

Replacements: Ellis Genge is making a habit of having a major impact off the bench and against Ireland he wasted no time in getting under their skins. Cowan-Dickie must soon be given a start. 8

 

England