SIX NATIONS: England v Ireland player ratings

England defeated Ireland 24-12 to open up the Six Nations Championship race.
George North scores the opening try for EnglandGeorge North scores the opening try for England
George North scores the opening try for England

Here are the player ratings from the Twickenham match.

ENGLAND

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. 8

Jonathan Joseph: Any doubt over his suitability to start on the wing quickly faded as he danced into space and chased everything down. 7

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manu Tuilagi: England are so reliant on his ability to break the gain-line and here he was an unstoppable force. 8

Owen Farrell: In the father-v-son duel against Ireland coach Andy, it was England's composed captain who emerged with bragging rights. 8

Jonny May: Unable to make the eye-catching breaks that are his calling card but he did the less glamorous work brilliantly. 7

Ben Youngs: A ball of energy who made good decisions, but also capable of making influential mistakes. 7

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

Jamie George: Growing in influence throughout this Six Nations but is being pushed hard by Luke Cowan-Dickie. 8

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

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

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

Courtney Lawes: On the day he equalled Martin Johnson's 84-cap record for a lock, Lawes was named man of match. Destructive. 9

Sam Underhill: Smashed backwards in one early carry but recomposed himself and was a physical menace thereafter. 7

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

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

IRELAND

Jordan Larmour: Caught well under pressure early on but, at times, the 22-year-old appeared to be targeted by England and fell below his recent standards. 5

Andrew Conway: On occasion struggled to cope with pace of opposing wing Jonathan Joseph and had little chance to impress going forward before being forced off in the second half for a head injury assessment. 5

Robbie Henshaw: Bulldozing try briefly brought Ireland back into the contest. Later escaped punishment for a late but vital tackle which prevented Jonny May adding to England's lead. 6

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bundee Aki: Offered little for his team and, on this performance, could see his position at inside centre come under threat for the remainder of the tournament. 4

Jacob Stockdale: Inexplicable hesitation from the wing allowed England to score a second try and take complete control of the contest. Contributed little from an attacking point of view. 3

Johnny Sexton: A dreadful fumble, which allowed George Ford to score the opening try, set the tone for his team's performance, while he also squandered a simple penalty and was guilty of some poor kicks. 3

Conor Murray: The underwhelming scrum-half was punished when a misplaced exit kick culminated in England's second try. Struggled to dictate play as the hosts dominated, before being replaced. 5

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cian Healy: Limped off injured in the aftermath of the hosts' second try to be replaced by Dave Kilcoyne after being part of a team struggling to contain the aggressive hosts. 4

Rob Herring: Part of a front row which repeatedly lost their battles, resulting in England romping to a third successive emphatic success over Ireland. 5

Tadhg Furlong: After plenty of pre-match talk around the scrum, was guilty of conceding the first scrum penalty of the afternoon during a pedestrian performance from the visitors. 5

Devin Toner: The lock's first start since his shock World Cup omission was one to forget. Will probably return to the bench once Iain Henderson returns from a short period of paternity leave. 5

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

James Ryan: Showed incredible work-rate and repeatedly put his body on the line, while finding ways to impose himself, despite limited opportunity to do so. 7

Peter O'Mahony: Produced an important pick-up and carry in the build-up to Henshaw's score as Ireland started the second period strongly. 6

Josh Van Der Flier: Among the few who could hold his head high after a dismal opening 40 minutes but was came out second best against opposite number Sam Underhill. 6

CJ Stander: Once again one of Ireland's top performers once again but, on this occasion, that was not a difficult feat. Involved in a petty altercation with Owen Farrell but, despite the England skipper's claims, appeared to slap, rather than punch. 6

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Replacements: Andrew Porter marked his cameo appearance with a late try, while scrum-half John Cooney, bidding to take Murray's shirt, was lively. Return of Caelan Doris following a head injury was another notable positive. 6