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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nick Purewal

England player ratings vs Samoa: Ford-Farrell partnership fails to fire in concerning Pool D finale

England survived a huge scare against sensational Samoa at the Rugby World Cup.

Steve Borthwick’s side trailed for much of their thrilling Pool D encounter in Lille on Saturday, only to rescure a late 18-17 win courtesy of veteran scrum-half Danny Care’s crucial try off the bench.

While a fourth victory from as many games sealed a perfect group-stage run for England, the manner of the performance from a full-strength team will provoke real concerns ahead of next weekend’s quarter-finals.

Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal was at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to rate the England players.

Backs

Freddie Steward – 5

Caught out of position, a rarity, for Samoa’s cross-field kick try.

Joe Marchant – 5

Showed glimpses of what he can do but drifted out of the game for long periods.

Manu Tuilagi – 7

Delivered a promising performance on the front foot against his homeland.

Owen Farrell – 6

Linked well with Ford but struggled for accuracy in a rare off-kilter effort.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Jonny May – 7

Grafted all night with little success but was always busy and available for the ball.

George Ford – 6

Started the night in purring form with Farrell but ended it being hauled off before the hour in a frustrating showing.

Alex Mitchell – 5

Slipped off the lofty perch he set for himself with his shining turn against Argentina, with his core skills looking rusty.

Forwards

Ellis Genge – 6

Struggled to dominate Samoa in the tight and around the fringes.

Jamie George – 7

Another very solid showing from England’s crucial experienced front-row forward.

Dan Cole – 6

Locked down the scrum early on but could not sustain that level.

Maro Itoje – 6

Will be kicking himself for his forward pass that denied Marchant what would have been a fine try.

Ollie Chessum – 8

England’s best player on a piecemeal night but at least one where the Red Rose men hit back to claim victory.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Courtney Lawes – 6

Struggled to impose himself on a night full of mistakes and frustration.

Tom Curry – 7

A promising showing given his lack of rugby but will need to raise the level again for the quarter-finals.

Ben Earl – 6

Always puts himself about and his engine carried him through but did not deliver to his usual high standards.

Replacements

Joe Marler (for Genge, 55) – 6

Struggled to hit his usual levels in both the tight and loose.

Kyle Sinckler (for Cole, 48) – 6

Still working back to his sharpest after injury.

George Martin (for Lawes, 59) – 7

A physical cameo from the powerhouse Leicester lock.

Billy Vunipola (for Curry, blood 45-55, 74) – 6

Searching for his best rugby, just when England need him most.

Danny Care (for Mitchell, 66) – 8

Seized the crucial moment with the winning score to spare England’s blushes.

Marcus Smith (for Ford, 51) – 8

Looked sharp on the ball at full-back again and almost sparked a try to remember only for Itoje’s forward pass to thwart Marchant.

Ollie Lawrence (for Tuilagi, 58) – 7

Cut the line with one telling punch that shows what he can provide to this England team.

Unused: Theo Dan

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