England 26-25 France: Six Nations player ratings from Twickenham

England

Marcus Smith

Got lucky after he was stripped by Bielle-Biarrey. Both missed kicks were poor, but he always looks likely to spark something.

6

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Tommy Freeman

Silly penalty against when chasing box-kick but came up with final pass for Lawrence’s try. Took own try very well.

8

Ollie Lawrence

Came up with a turnover after Boudehent found himself isolated. A simple finish but how England needed it at the time. 

7

Henry Slade

Missed touch with a penalty but brushed that off and made an important tackle on Ramos. Ran an excellent defensive ship.

7

Ollie Sleightholme

Had one burst down the right on transition but should be proud of defensive efforts after struggling during the autumn.

7

Fin Smith

Defensively solid and delightful kick to Freeman. Taking over kicking duties felt significant and symbolic. Some first start. 

9

Alex Mitchell

Kicked well and kept the tempo high and when he does that England look so much more threatening.

8

Ellis Genge

Conceded a penalty when offside but stood up to Atonio at scrum-time well. No longer carries with the same menace.

7

Luke Cowan-Dickie

Chopping France’s behemoths round their ankles and brings an abrasive edge to England’s defence. Odd lineout wobble.

6

Will Stuart

No complaints with his scrummaging and even had one brief gallop. Unheralded but growing into reliable performer.

7

Maro Itoje (capt)

While he wasn’t full of his momentum-shifting moments he takes huge credit for finally dragging this side over the line.

8

George Martin

Made a mess of lineout when England were well placed. Gets through plenty of work but isn’t quite making desired impact.

6

Tom Curry

One of his classic performances. Breakdown penalty relieved early French bombardment and he didn’t stop thereafter. Huge.

9

Ben Earl

Hung out to link with Smith and did well to get ball down under pressure from Bielle-Biarrey. Won key penalty at death.

9

Tom Willis

Wriggling through contact to make valuable yards, hitting everything that moved, stripping the ball in the contact.

8

Replacements

Jamie George (for Cowan-Dickie, 62) Made a big difference

8

; Fin Baxter (for Genge, 52) Took try well

7

; Joe Heyes (for Stuart, 59) No complaints

6

; Ollie Chessum (for Martin, 62) Ran head first at everything

7

; Ben Curry (for Willis, 53) Whirling dervish

7

; Elliot Daly (for Slade, 76) An easy finish but made no mistake

7

.

France

Thomas Ramos

Not his best game by a distance. Handling was poor and though he always looked composed he won’t be happy with his display.

5

Damian Penaud

Couldn’t keep ball as tryline beckoned. Can look unengaged before bursting into life but England did well to limit impact.

6

Pierre-Louis Barassi

Not a great pass to Bielle-Biarrey who would have surely scored early on but made a couple of fine breaks up the middle.

7

Yoram Moefana

Rarely wasted an opportunity to run down Fin Smith’s channel but got little change from the Northampton fly-half.

6

Louis Bielle-Biarrey

Took his tries well – both were opportune but that is what he preys on. A couple of curious decisions to kick and little chance to stretch his legs properly.

7

Matthieu Jalibert

Kept things simple for an hour – not his fault most of his teammates couldn’t catch a cold – before showing a few touches of class.

7

Antoine Dupont (capt)

The odd flash of brilliance and rarely makes the wrong decision but not the fireworks so many had come to expect.

6

Jean-Baptiste Gros

Did superbly well to cover back after Mitchell’s threatening grubber and honours even in the scrum against Stuart.

6

Peato Mauvaka

Absurd decision to go for inside pass but ultimately France still capitalised for opening try. Dropped ball with tryline gaping.

4

Uini Atonio

Lovely hands for someone with his scrummaging prowess. Met his match in Genge but milked one penalty out of Baxter before he was replaced.

6

Alexandre Roumat

A menace at the lineout, where he caused England problems. Handling not great – he made at least two costly knock-ons.

5

Emmanuel Meafou

Such a thunderous presence but England dealt with him well. Couldn’t make as much of a mauling impact as he’d have liked.

6

François Cros,

Huge early hit on Martin and did plenty of hard yards but another France forward who did not live up to their pre-match billing.

6

Paul Boudehent

Part of a starting back row that came off second best. How France could have done with Charles Ollivon on a day like this.

5

Grégory Alldritt

Charged down Fin Smith early on but coould not stamp his authority on proceedings in the way he often does. Ran down too many blind alleys.

6

Replacements:

Julien Marchand (for Mauvaka, 57) Little impact

6

; Cyril Baille (for Gros, 57) Carried hard

7

; Georges-Henri Colombe (for Atonio, 57) Rolled sleeves up

6

; Hugo Auradou (for Roumat, 50) Caught the eye

7

; Mickaël Guillard (for Meafou, 66)

6

; Oscar Jegou (for Boudehent, 50)

7

; Nolann Le Garrec (for Jalibert, 66) Lively

6