ENGLAND v SCOTLAND: PLAYERS' RATINGS
England:
Delon Armitage 8
Another assured performance in defence, especially under the high ball. Has really come of age in this tournament and could have played himself on to the Lions plane.
Mark Cueto 7
The Sale winger bristled with energy but could rarely the ball found him. Was strong in defence and seldom found space in attack.
Mike Tindall 7
Bludgeoned the Scottish backs with strong, hard bullocking runs al afternoon long. The Gloucester centre is forming a promising partnership with the more nimble Flutey.
Riki Flutey 9
His well-taken first-half try was his fourth in the campaign. The Maori-born back sparkled and dazzled the Scots with his fancy footwork. Feels at home in an England shirt now.
Ugo Monye (replaced by Tait 48) 8
The Harlequins wing was having a sensational game before he was withdrawn through injury after the break. A try saving tackle kept was followed by his first score for England.
Toby Flood (replaced by Goode 74) 8
Showed what he is capable of with an impressive all-round performance. Stood flat and gave his backs the chance to shine. Fluffed a penalty in the second-half.
Harry Ellis (replaced by Care 17) 6
Crunched into a tackle in the first half and was carried off on a stretcher after knocking himself out. Had been solid up until then, but Care took his chance.
Andrew Sheridan 7
Had a great game in the loose, putting in a number of shuddering hits on Scottish runners. Scrummaged well, too and looks to have done enough to ensure Lions selection.
Lee Mears (replaced by Hartley 73) 7
The hooker had a solid game and regularly hit his man in the line-out. Made way for Hartley who is the future. But for now he must keep the shirt.
Phil Vickery (replaced by White 14) 4
Only on the pitch for a short time but had already cost England a penalty for not scrummaging properly – something that has been suspect in this campaign.
Steve Borthwick 6
The skipper was less impressive than last week – at one point he was outpaced by opposite man White. But he has grown into his role and rallied his troops well.
Simon Shaw (replaced by Kennedy 58) 6
The old haggard lock did all the usual dirty work but rarely gained yards the few times he had the ball in hand. His last England performance?
Tom Croft (replaced by Haskell 73) 6
The tall, quick Leicester flanker had a tidy game and only really had one chance to show his pace. But he was bundled into touch in the first half.
Joe Worsley 7
Another tough-tackling performance from the Wasps flanker. Was hard in defence and popped up in attack. Covered the ground well – who said he was not an international No7?
Nick Easter 5
Crossed the line in the first-half but was missed by the officials. The No8’s mobility, discipline and work-rate must improve if he is to keep his England jersey.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley (on for Mears 73) 6, Julian White (on for Vickery 14) 7, Nick Kennedy (on for Shaw 58) 6, James Haskell (on for Croft 73) 5, Danny Care (on for Ellis 17) 7, Andy Goode (on for Flood 73) 5, Mathew Tait (on for Monye 48) 7.
Manager: Martin Johnson 7
Pumped up his team well and they weathered the early Scottish storm. Was forced into a number of changes but his team adapted well and played with confidence.
Scotland
Chris Paterson 6
Scotland’s record points scorer laced three penalties and gave his country a chance. But missed Monye for England’s first try and looked suspect in defence.
Simon Danielli 6
Had little chance to get involved but was on Blair’s shoulder when he made a break. Had he been found Scotland would have been certain to score a try.
Max Evans 6
The elder Evans brother tackled well in the midfield but had little chance to stretch his legs in attack.
Graeme Morrison 5
The Glasgow Warriors centre did his best but does not look like an international centre. Was totally dominated by his opposite man Tindall.
Thom Evans (replaced by Southwell 44) 7
Ran 50 metres and would have scored but for a superb Monye tackle before the break. Was forced off through injury early in the second-half.
Phil Godman 5
Not his best game in a Scotland jersey. Had a kick charged down and was generally outclassed by his opposite number Toby Flood.
Mike Blair (replaced by Cussier 68) 6
Captain and scrum half, he had a mixed game. Before the interval he broke through England’s defensive wall but failed to see the man on his inside.
Alasdair Dickinson 6 (replaced by Low 76) 6
The Gloucester prop had the edge over Vickery but found his replacement White harder to deal with. Put in a good defensive shift and tackled well.
Ross Ford (replaced by Hall 57) 5
Threw in well but went missing in the loose on a number of occasions. Hooker remains a problem position for Frank Hadden’s team.
Euan Murray 6
The big Northampton Saints prop, tipped by many to be the Lions loose-head, scrummaged well but did not get involved in the rough stuff as much as he would like.
Jason White (replaced by Hines 57) 6
One good run in the second-half, outpacing his opposite man Borthwick. Did the dirty work well and tackled with passion but he ran out of puff soon after the break.
Jim Hamilton 6
The tall lock was good in the line-out and worked hard in the loose. But he and White were outplayed by the English second-row.
Alasdair Strokosch 6
Gloucester flanker tried his best to disrupt England, but was beaten to the loose ball on a number of occasions. Tackled well though and showed typical Scottish braveheart mentality.
Scott Gray 5
His first start for years but the Australian-born flanker found the pace hard to deal with. The English backrow dominated and Gray looked like a fish out of water.
Simon Taylor (replaced by Brown at half-time) 5
The Stade Francais No8 found it had to get into the game and made little impact in the first-half. Hadden replaced him at the break.
Replacements: Dougie Hall (on for Ford 57) 5, Moray Low (on for Dickinson 76) 5, Nathan Hines (on for White 57) 6, Kelly Brown (on for Taylor h/t) 6, Chris Cusiter (on for Blair 68) 6, Nick De Luca, Hugo Southwell (on for Evans T 44) 5.
Coach: Frank Hadden 6
Under pressure still. Made a change in the backrow at the interval and his team started well. But without the raw materials Scotland are always going to struggle.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).
England:
Delon Armitage 8
Another assured performance in defence, especially under the high ball. Has really come of age in this tournament and could have played himself on to the Lions plane.
Mark Cueto 7
The Sale winger bristled with energy but could rarely the ball found him. Was strong in defence and seldom found space in attack.
Mike Tindall 7
Bludgeoned the Scottish backs with strong, hard bullocking runs al afternoon long. The Gloucester centre is forming a promising partnership with the more nimble Flutey.
Riki Flutey 9
His well-taken first-half try was his fourth in the campaign. The Maori-born back sparkled and dazzled the Scots with his fancy footwork. Feels at home in an England shirt now.
Ugo Monye (replaced by Tait 48) 8
The Harlequins wing was having a sensational game before he was withdrawn through injury after the break. A try saving tackle kept was followed by his first score for England.
Toby Flood (replaced by Goode 74) 8
Showed what he is capable of with an impressive all-round performance. Stood flat and gave his backs the chance to shine. Fluffed a penalty in the second-half.
Harry Ellis (replaced by Care 17) 6
Crunched into a tackle in the first half and was carried off on a stretcher after knocking himself out. Had been solid up until then, but Care took his chance.
Andrew Sheridan 7
Had a great game in the loose, putting in a number of shuddering hits on Scottish runners. Scrummaged well, too and looks to have done enough to ensure Lions selection.
Lee Mears (replaced by Hartley 73) 7
The hooker had a solid game and regularly hit his man in the line-out. Made way for Hartley who is the future. But for now he must keep the shirt.
Phil Vickery (replaced by White 14) 4
Only on the pitch for a short time but had already cost England a penalty for not scrummaging properly – something that has been suspect in this campaign.
Steve Borthwick 6
The skipper was less impressive than last week – at one point he was outpaced by opposite man White. But he has grown into his role and rallied his troops well.
Simon Shaw (replaced by Kennedy 58) 6
The old haggard lock did all the usual dirty work but rarely gained yards the few times he had the ball in hand. His last England performance?
Tom Croft (replaced by Haskell 73) 6
The tall, quick Leicester flanker had a tidy game and only really had one chance to show his pace. But he was bundled into touch in the first half.
Joe Worsley 7
Another tough-tackling performance from the Wasps flanker. Was hard in defence and popped up in attack. Covered the ground well – who said he was not an international No7?
Nick Easter 5
Crossed the line in the first-half but was missed by the officials. The No8’s mobility, discipline and work-rate must improve if he is to keep his England jersey.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley (on for Mears 73) 6, Julian White (on for Vickery 14) 7, Nick Kennedy (on for Shaw 58) 6, James Haskell (on for Croft 73) 5, Danny Care (on for Ellis 17) 7, Andy Goode (on for Flood 73) 5, Mathew Tait (on for Monye 48) 7.
Manager: Martin Johnson 7
Pumped up his team well and they weathered the early Scottish storm. Was forced into a number of changes but his team adapted well and played with confidence.
Scotland
Chris Paterson 6
Scotland’s record points scorer laced three penalties and gave his country a chance. But missed Monye for England’s first try and looked suspect in defence.
Simon Danielli 6
Had little chance to get involved but was on Blair’s shoulder when he made a break. Had he been found Scotland would have been certain to score a try.
Max Evans 6
The elder Evans brother tackled well in the midfield but had little chance to stretch his legs in attack.
Graeme Morrison 5
The Glasgow Warriors centre did his best but does not look like an international centre. Was totally dominated by his opposite man Tindall.
Thom Evans (replaced by Southwell 44) 7
Ran 50 metres and would have scored but for a superb Monye tackle before the break. Was forced off through injury early in the second-half.
Phil Godman 5
Not his best game in a Scotland jersey. Had a kick charged down and was generally outclassed by his opposite number Toby Flood.
Mike Blair (replaced by Cussier 68) 6
Captain and scrum half, he had a mixed game. Before the interval he broke through England’s defensive wall but failed to see the man on his inside.
Alasdair Dickinson 6 (replaced by Low 76) 6
The Gloucester prop had the edge over Vickery but found his replacement White harder to deal with. Put in a good defensive shift and tackled well.
Ross Ford (replaced by Hall 57) 5
Threw in well but went missing in the loose on a number of occasions. Hooker remains a problem position for Frank Hadden’s team.
Euan Murray 6
The big Northampton Saints prop, tipped by many to be the Lions loose-head, scrummaged well but did not get involved in the rough stuff as much as he would like.
Jason White (replaced by Hines 57) 6
One good run in the second-half, outpacing his opposite man Borthwick. Did the dirty work well and tackled with passion but he ran out of puff soon after the break.
Jim Hamilton 6
The tall lock was good in the line-out and worked hard in the loose. But he and White were outplayed by the English second-row.
Alasdair Strokosch 6
Gloucester flanker tried his best to disrupt England, but was beaten to the loose ball on a number of occasions. Tackled well though and showed typical Scottish braveheart mentality.
Scott Gray 5
His first start for years but the Australian-born flanker found the pace hard to deal with. The English backrow dominated and Gray looked like a fish out of water.
Simon Taylor (replaced by Brown at half-time) 5
The Stade Francais No8 found it had to get into the game and made little impact in the first-half. Hadden replaced him at the break.
Replacements: Dougie Hall (on for Ford 57) 5, Moray Low (on for Dickinson 76) 5, Nathan Hines (on for White 57) 6, Kelly Brown (on for Taylor h/t) 6, Chris Cusiter (on for Blair 68) 6, Nick De Luca, Hugo Southwell (on for Evans T 44) 5.
Coach: Frank Hadden 6
Under pressure still. Made a change in the backrow at the interval and his team started well. But without the raw materials Scotland are always going to struggle.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).
Labels: England, RBS 6 Nations, Scotland
