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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nick Purewal

England vs New Zealand player ratings: Will Stuart saves the day in thriller as Jack van Poortvliet misfires

Cameo to remember: Will Stuart rescued England with two late tries at Twickenham

(Picture: Getty Images)

England somehow pulled a 25-25 draw out of the fire in a stunning clash with New Zealand at Twickenham.

Nick Purewal rates England’s players after a grandstand finish in west London.

Backs

Freddie Steward 7

Grew into the game as the tie went on and his late try proved crucial.

Jack Nowell 6

Could not get into the action as England struggled for much of this match.

Manu Tuilagi 6

One burst aside it was another quiet day for the England powerhouse.

Owen Farrell 7

Battled through a leg problem to drag England out of the mire.

Jonny May 7

Always a threat with ball in hand.

Marcus Smith 7

Can always conjure something from nothing and showed it at the death.

Jack van Poortvliet 5

Not his day but also needed more protection at the fringes.

It proved a difficult afternoon for England’s sprightly scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet (Getty Images)

Forwards

Ellis Genge 5

Bested in the set-piece but still bullish around the park.

Luke Cowan-Dickie 5

Pushed the envelope but could not get any dominance at the set-piece.

Kyle Sinckler 5

Scrum was a problem for England from the jump.

Maro Itoje 6

Kept pushing all the way on a difficult day.

Jonny Hill 5

Unable to put any telling pressure on New Zealand.

Sam Simmonds 5

Failed to impose himself in the way England wanted.

Tom Curry 6

Improved as things went on but a slow start.

Billy Vunipola 6

Battled hard throughout for the home side.

Replacements

Jamie George (for Cowan-Dickie, 56) 7

Good cameo from the Saracens hooker.

Mako Vunipola (for Genge, 56) 7

Added impetus and power in all areas.

Will Stuart (for Sinckler, 56) 8

Two-try man saved the day for the home side.

David Ribbans (for Hill, 65) 8

Put himself about again and proved he is a real option.

Jack Willis (for Simmonds, 67) 7

Added pace and impetus off the bench.

Ben Youngs (for Van Poortvliet, 53) 7

Experience and nous told its own tale at the end.

Guy Porter (for Nowell, 68) 7

Put himself around to fine effect.

Henry Slade (for Tuilagi, 53) 8

Showed his qualities again and surely merits a bigger role somewhere.

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