England player ratings dwell from Stadio Olimpico: A nervous, close-run factor on the scoreboard for England wasn’t within the script for this Guinness Six Nations round-one encounter. The consensus was that we have been going to see an vitality within the guests that hadn’t been seen in a very long time.
Even the likes of the now-retired Test wing Jonny May prompt that 2024 would really be the actual begin to Steve Borthwick’s tenure 12 months after he crashed and burned in his maiden marketing campaign in cost, his workforce dropping at house to Scotland first-up and happening to win only a miserly two of their 5 championship matches.
However, as an alternative of taking off like a rocket towards an Azzurri they’ve by no means ever misplaced to, a depressingly restricted England solely managed a stodgy 27-24 win after they blundered their approach by a horrible first half that ended with them 14-17 behind and going through big questions on their defence after the leakage of two tender tries.
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The recruitment of Felix Jones from the Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks to handle the rearguard was meant to close the door on opposition groups; not depart gaping holes of the sort that Alessandro Garbisi and Tommaso Allan gleefully exploited on 11 and 26 minutes.
Having trailed 0-10 and 8-17, it was solely by Alex Mitchell’s 45th-minute strive that England ultimately hit the entrance after being behind because the fifth minute, however even then a victory procession didn’t observe.
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There was no four-try bonus level to rejoice – they have been left with simply the 2 and their final alternative to get a 3rd was wasted with a penalty on their very own scrum 5 metres from the Italian line.
That was expensive because the hosts performed on for 5 added minutes and have been ultimately gifted a dropping bonus as Monty Ioane completed Fraser Dingwall’s debut to forget by giving him the slip to score a third Italian try.
If there was straw to clutch amid the English gloom, this will at least go into the history books as their first round one win since 2019 in Dublin, a crumb of comfort that gives them something to try and build on next weekend when they host Wales in London. Here are the England player ratings:
15. Freddie Steward – 5.5
Had his World Cup issues, getting dropped and also picked on the wing, and he can’t be happy here with how the England defence gave up two first-half stroll-ins and were then cut open at the finish. On the upside, his carry was important in the lead-taking Mitchell try.
14. Tommy Freeman – 7.5
A first appearance under Borthwick, he more than justified his recall. His offload to put in Elliot Daly, when he smartly popped up in the left wing channel, was sweet and the few extra kilos he added gave the impression of greater comfort at Test level. His backside was also on show, Italy desperately hauling down by the shorts neat the interval.
13. Henry Slade – 6.5
Another on the comeback trail with something to prove having been axed for the World Cup, his defensive partnership with Dingwall didn’t inspire but he was smart with the ball on occasion, as seen in the run he made when helping to tee up the Daly try.
12. Fraser Dingwall – 3.5
A player with the patience of Job waiting for this Test debut, given the number of squads he was involved in without even playing, he encountered a baptism of fire defensively and will likely be a fall guy in the inner sanctum post-mortem.
11. Elliot Daly – 5.5
Took his first-half try well on 20 minutes but would have been aghast at being left facing a three-on-one in defence around the halfway line six minutes later for the second Italian try. Yellow carded on 76 minutes for foot-tripping Tommaso Menoncell.
Alex Mitchell = Man on a mission for @EnglandRugby ?#ITAENG #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/wJaXWVxoDf
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2024
10. George Ford – 6.5
His expertise was wanted in digging England out of an enormous gap. Mixed up his sport – have a look at the dummy that led to Steward being tackled with out the ball and England getting three first-half factors again. Was six from seven off the tee for 17 invaluable factors earlier than exiting on 67 minutes. His inevitable detractors, although, will now demand a begin for rookie Fin Smith.
9. Alex Mitchell – 6.5
Beat off an contaminated leg wound to take his place within the beginning line-up and his working presence was essential given he scored the strive that gave England the lead they weren’t to lose.
1. Joe Marler – 5.5
Chalked up a good deal with tally however supplied little else. Way much less of a presence than he was towards South Africa within the World Cup semi-final.
2. Jamie George – 6
The new skipper didn’t lead his aspect to an inspiring efficiency despite the fact that he completed as his workforce’s joint-highest tackler.
3. Will Stuart – 5.5
Got on the ball hundreds however had nothing to point out for it. Scrums have been few and much between and it was 51 minutes earlier than England had considered one of their very own to feed into. It ended effectively with a penalty win.
4. Maro Itoje – 6
An inconsistent afternoon that was summed up simply after the break when he expertly tackled and received a breakdown penalty solely to overlook his subsequent catch on the lineout underneath strain from Federico Ruzza. Gave Italy their opening penalty factors with offside and would have value his workforce one other three for a similar kind of offence if Allan didn’t miss on 59 minutes.
5. Ollie Chessum – 5.5
Gave up England’s first penalty concession for no launch and that was the immediate for his workforce’s forgettable first half. Missed too many tackles.
6. Ethan Roots – 7.5
Like a jumbo jet taking off, the debut-maker made a gradual begin however he ultimately rose to the event and did sufficient to be voted the official player of the match. His ball-carrying was essential in England’s revival.
7. Sam Underhill – 5.5
Wasn’t the large presence he was anticipated to be. Limited influence towards a pent-up Italian pack.
8. Ben Earl – 7
The sudden star of the World Cup, he ultimately continued the place he left off by carrying the struggle to Italy when England most wanted it.
Freeman ? Daly @EnglandRugby with a strong reply ?#GuinnessM6N #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/WQFyLtA3B4
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2024
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan – No Rating
Only a 74th-minute introduction for George.
17. Beno Obano – No Rating
There have been 76 minutes performed when the late call-up for Ellis Genge lastly obtained a run.
18. Dan Cole – 5
The first of the bench to get used, arriving into the fray on 56 minutes. Very restricted influence.
19. Alex Coles – No Rating
It took Chessum getting a bang on 73 minutes for him to get despatched on.
20. Chandler Cunningham-South – 7
There have been 67 minutes performed when he changed Underhill and his debut impacts have been wonderful, making an enormous cowl deal with in his 22 on Federico Mori with Italy on the lookout for a lifeline strive after which managing a powerful carry. Looked a pure at this stage.
21. Danny Care – 5.5
A 59th-minute arrival with England holding a seven-point benefit. Didn’t present the hurry-up seen throughout a few of his sub appearances off the World Cup bench.
22. Fin Smith – 5
A 67th-minute introduction with Cunningham-South after Ford had simply kicked England 27-17 forward, his debut handed by with out England including to the scoreboard.
23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – No Rating
A brief-lived debut as a 77th-minute sub for Freeman.
