England A Player Ratings vs Australia A – Henry Pollock stars in 38-17 win
11/17/2024 11:00 AM
England A cheered up the Twickenham fans after yesterday’s defeat to South Africa, with a stunning win over Australia A at the Stoop. The stars of the future England senior squad lit up the home of the Harlequins in this exhibition Test, with the likes of Cadan Murley and Henry Pollock starring in this afternoon’s 38-17 win.
Scroll down for our England A Player Ratings
Match Report: England A 38 – 17 Australia A
England A opened up the scoring after just six minutes, with the pathway side emulating the fast start that Steve Borthwick’s senior squad enjoyed against the Springboks. The England attack came alive from Gabriel Ibitoye burst of pace, before Joe Heyes crossed over from close range. A missed conversion from Charlie Atkinson allowed Australia to take the lead, following their own converted try just four minutes later.
Australia impressed with the early set-piece, as back row Luke Reimer grounded a rolling maul that sent England’s pack back-peddling. Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh, then nailed a penalty through the sticks, for a 10-5 half-time lead. England started the second half quick out the gate, with Oscar Beard’s offload key in the build-up to Cadan Murley’s try just three minutes after the re-start. England followed this up with a try from Curtis Langdon, with the replacement hooker crossing the whitewash just before the hour.
Greg Fisilau had an immediate impact after coming off the bench, as the Exeter Chiefs back row picked from the back of the ruck and crossed over for a try from close range. The ‘Joeys’ rallied back for a try of their own from close quarters, as Rhys van Nek crossed over after a powerful rolling maul dented the English defence. There was another immediate impact off the bench, as England wing Will Muir intercepted a looping pass, before the Bath man nicknamed ‘The Horse’ cantered downfield to score.
The closing score of the match saw Jamie Shillcock send a strong looping pass out wide, with Stoop fan favourite Cadan Murley crossing over for his second try of the match. Shillcock’s impressive conversion from out wide secured the win for England A, and wrapped up a stunning afternoon for the development side.
Check out our England A player ratings, from this afternoon’s Autumn fixture against Australia A.
ENGLAND A PLAYER RATINGS
15. Joe Carpenter, 7
The Sale fullback was impressive under the high ball, with his wits tested out in the early goings. Carpenter would try his own luck with some neat grubbers, with Gabriel Ibitoye giving chase. Carpenter made a handful of heavy hits, showcasing his skill on the defensive side of the ball.
14. Cadan Murley, 8
The Harlequins hot-stepper's best involvement in the first half, saw him collect a high ball and skip past a handful of Aussie defenders for an impressive solo run on the half hour mark. Murley capped off England's hot start after the break, with a well finished try in the corner. Marley wrapped up his afternoon with a second try, in what was a walk-in thanks to Shillcock's excellent miss pass.
13. Oscar Beard, 7
A slower first half than Oscar Beard would have hoped for, given the warm reception he received at his home ground of the Stoop. Executed a nice offload to find Ibitoye, in the lead up to Cadan Murley's first try.
12. Fraser Dingwall, 6
The England A captain led well from the front, and sent many a searching miss-pass out wide to Ibitoye to attack.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 8
A stand-out man for England A, the Bristol Bears flyer continues upon his impressive form, that won him the October Premiership Rugby Player of the Month award. A fifth minute burst of pace set the tone for England's opening try, and Ibitoye followed this up with exciting carries along the touchlines. Ibitoye put in a strong hit on an Australian high ball recipient, who looked sore after the seventh minute collision. Exploded down-field to scatter the defence, in the run-up to Langdon's try. (Off 60')
10. Charlie Atkinson, 6
Despite missing a straightforward effort to convert Joe Heyes' try, Atkinson impressed with his kicking from out of hand. The Gloucester fly half also made some dominant tackles in defence, with a duo of hits ringing around the Stoop on the 27th and 29th minute marks. (Off 67)
9. Will Porter, 7.5
The Harlequin scrum half has had a real break-out campaign, as he takes on the torch from Danny Care. Porter maintained this form and began the match with a nice turnover, as he stripped the ball and stubbed through a neat grubber kick. Kept up with Ibitoye's break to provide the assist for Curtis Langdon's try. (Off 75)
1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 6
Plenty of the pre-match focus was upon the England A loose-head, as Asher Opoku-Fordjour was recently called up to the senior England camp by Steve Borthwick. Some solid carries and dominant scrummaging put his hand up for future England contention. (Off 43)
2. Gabriel Oghre, 6
Like his front row partner, Gabriel Oghre has also been in a recent England camp, but is yet to make his senior England debut. The Bristol hooker mis-placed a handful of line-outs, but worked hard in the loose with some clattering carries. (Off 43)
3. Joe Heyes, 7.5
The opening try scorer for England A, Joe Heyes was out on a mission for a re-calling to the senior England camp. Heyes muscled his way over for a try from close range after just six minutes, and left some marks on the helpless Australian defenders in his wake. (Off 57')
4. Hugh Tizard, 6
The Saracens lock had a solid performance on both sides of the ball, as he mixed it up on the front foot and made some strong shots. The lock's 19th minute carry stood out at the Stoop, as he broke the gain-line with his blonde hair bouncing in the breeze. Tizard showcased his passing skills with a long looping pass out wide to Ibitoye before the break.
5. Arthur Clark, 6.5
It was a tricky first half for the Gloucester lock, as he gave away a couple of penalties at the breakdown. The lock did also steal the ball for an early down-field break, yet some over-eagerness played against him in the first 40 minutes. (Off 69)
6. Tom Pearson, 6
The Northampton man battled well to win a turnover on England’s 5m line, which took England out of danger at the 27 minute mark. (Off 60')
7. Henry Pollock, 8
Henry Pollock penalised in the 16th minute for a foolish offence, as he needlessly stripped the scrum cap off an Australian player's head, and gave away possession in a dangerous position. However, the Saints man made up for it with an impressive involvement on the front foot, and some clattering hits around the Aussie ankles.
Pollock was often entrusted to gain the hard yards near England's own try-line, before the ball was cleared. Pollock carried well along the touch-lines, and was pivotal in the build-up to Curtis Langdon's try. Awarded the Player of the Match for his efforts.
8. Tom Willis, 6.5
It was a quieter first half than Tom Willis would have hoped for, as he was beaten in the air at the line-out. However, his physical presence was felt throughout the match, with the Aussies requiring a couple reinforcements to halt his carries.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Curtis Langdon, 7.5 (On 43)
On just three minutes after half-time, the replacement hooker was eager to try out the line-out play-book but was penalised for an early throw. The following line-out failed to find Tom Pearson's call. Found in space by Will Porter for a walk-in score.
17. Emmanuel Iyogun, 6 (On 43)
On for Asher Opoku-Fordjour at 43 minutes, Manny Iyogun was solid at the scrum, and looked all the bit eager around the park as the Sale Sharks starter.
18. Afolabi Fasogbon, 6.5 (On 57')
Immediately elevated the tempo of the faltering front row, and contributed some nice passes. The replacement prop has some excellent handling skills, which is a neat string to his bow of brute force.
19. Rusi Tuima, 6 (On 69′)
Made the most of his minutes, as he took the fight to Australia's pack. Hassled the line-out and asked questions of any carrier that came his way. Put his hand up to carry as the first receiver, when England were under pressure or in an attacking stance. Strong in the air as England utilised his height.
20. Greg Fisilau, 7 (On 60)
Immediate impact after coming off the bench, as the Chiefs man picked the ball from the back of the ruck and shot across the whitewash for a try from close range.
21. Archie McParland, 5.5 (On 75)
Steered the ship to victory with his five minute cameo. Did not have the biggest impact given his minutes, but kept the tempo high to close out the win.
22. Jamie Shillcock, 7 (On 67)
The replacement fly half brought his shooting boots, with an immediate involvement off the tee to convert Will Muir's try. Commanded the back-line well to see out the match. Provided a nice miss pass to find Murley out wide for the last try of the match.
23. Will Muir, 7 (On 60)
The man nicknamed 'the Horse' raced out the pen, as he scored with his first touch. The Bath wing intercepted a looping pass, and cantered down the track for a nice solo finish.
ENGLAND A
TRIES: X (Heyes 6′, Murley 43′, 78′, Langdon 57′, Fisilau 62′, Muir 68′
CONVERSIONS: X (Atkinson 57′, 62′, Shillcock 68′, 78′
PENALTIES:
DROP GOALS:
YELLOW CARDS:
RED CARDS:
15. Joe Carpenter 14. Cadan Murley 13. Oscar Beard 12. Fraser Dingwall 11. Gabriel Ibitoye 10. Charlie Atkinson 9. Will Porter 1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 2. Gabriel Oghre 3. Joe Heyes 4. Hugh Tizard 5. Arthur Clark 6. Tom Pearson 7. Henry Pollock 8. Tom Willis
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Curtis Langdon 17. Emmanuel Iyogun 18. Afolabi Fasogbon 19. Rusi Tuima 20. Greg Fisilau 21. Archie McParland 22. Jamie Shillcock 23. Will Muir
AUSTRALIA A
TRIES: X (Reimer 10′, van Nek 66′
CONVERSIONS: x (Lynagh 10′, McLaughlin-Phillips 66′
PENALTIES: X (Lynagh 32′
DROP GOALS:
YELLOW CARDS:
RED CARDS:
15. Jock Campbell 14. Corey Toole 13. Joey Walton 12. Hamish Stewart 11. Darby Lancaster 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Ryan Lonergan 1. Harry Hoopert 2. Josh Nasser 3. Massimo De Lutiis 4. Ryan Smith 5. Josh Carnham 6. Tom Hooper 7. Luke Reimer 8. Joe Brial
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Lachlan Lonergan 17. Tom Lambert 18. Rhys van Nek 19. Angus Blyth 20. Rory Scott 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa 22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 23. Ollie Sapsord
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