15 MIKE BROWN 8/10
Outstanding under the high ball and carried well in attack, breaking the gain-line regularly. Did well to shake off an ankle injury in the second half.
14 ANTHONY WATSON 6
Took his first-half try brilliantly but faded later on as England tried to close the game out and were more reluctant to go wide.
13 JONATHAN JOSEPH 7
Strong in the tackle and stripped Jared Payne brilliantly, but rarely got the chance to run at defenders and use his dangerous pace.
12 BRAD BARRITT 6
Solid in defence and organised the line well, but remains limited when England are on the front foot and got sucked into too many rucks.
11 JONNY MAY 8
Looks to have become even quicker and showed great strength, both in breaking two tackles to score and when defending his wing.
10 GEORGE FORD 6
Only one miss, an easier conversion for Watson’s try than the one he nailed for May’s. Did not turn Ireland’s defence inside out as he is able to.
9 BEN YOUNGS 8
Back near his best, he outplayed both Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan. Sharp behind a struggling scrum and excellent tactical kicking.
1 JOE MARLER 5
Decent enough in defence, but was part of a pack that struggled badly in the tight and lost two scrums against the head.
2 TOM YOUNGS 3
A 100% lineout success rate but was reliant on excellence of the jumpers. Battered in the scrum and forward pass butchered a try for May.
3 DAN COLE 5
Good work in the loose and contributed to England dominating the breakdown, but Graham Rowntree will have expected more in the scrum.
4 GEOFF PARLING 7
One of the main reasons for Tom Youngs’ good lineout stats. Called the set-piece well and England missed his physicality when he departed.
5 COURTNEY LAWES 7
Also impressed in the lineout and was much stronger with ball in hand than in Paris. Characteristically huge in defence and won the final penalty.
6 TOM WOOD 8
Man of the match and his best performance for club or country in a year. Master of the gain-line and only Chris Robshaw made more tackles.
7 CHRIS ROBSHAW 8
Led the defence, making 18 tackles. Ran good, unusual angles around the fringes to keep Ireland on their toes when England attacked.
8 BEN MORGAN 8
Outstanding control at the base of a struggling scrum kept Ireland to winning just two against the head. Two important turnovers won as well.
REPLACEMENTS Joe Launchbury (for Parling 44) Wasted big overlap 4 Billy Vunipola (for Morgan 55) One big carry and two huge tackles 7 Mako Vunipola (for Marler 55) Slightly improved scrum 6 Richard Wigglesworth (for B Youngs 59) Unlucky to be denied try by earlier offence 6 Owen Farrell (for Ford 55) Terrible pass cost England try but kicked well 5 Sam Burgess (for Barritt 59) One huge tackle but knocked on first touch 5 Jamie George (for T Youngs 59) Threw confidently 6 Kieran Brookes (for Cole 61) Little impact 5
