Player ratings: England

England player ratings live from Twickenham: It was Friday when Steve Borthwick’s assistant, Kevin Sinfield, calmly vouched that “getting better and improving is never a straight line”.

That’s very true but the line England had drawn so far this year was a squiggly sideways and backwards type of a scrawl that wasn’t inspiring much optimism for their World Cup chances.

Suspensions, injuries and deflating losses had all affected Borthwick’s squad during this month’s Nations Series.

So too the purgatory of the blunt attack where there hadn’t been a try scored by a back since Ollie Lawrence dotted down in the corner in the 75th minute in Cardiff last February five and a bit matches ago.

This culminated in the worrying sight of Twickenham only attracting 56,84 just a day after the All Blacks versus the Springboks had packed out Twickenham with 80,000-plus. Add in a first-half cloudburst and lightening overhead and the gloomy scene was set for a potential Fijian ambush.

So it came to pass. England did solve their backline try-scoring drought with three of them scoring, but they were second best to a more precise, more creative and a more physical Fiji team who were fully deserving of the 30-22 ambush that leaves them ready to become everyone’s favourite second team at the World Cup.

For Borthwick and co, this was another sorry August story where they were outfought and outmanoeuvred by a better drilled and better coached opposition. Here are the England ratings:

15. Freddie Steward
Turnovers in his game have become a concern and there were more here. Showed little in attack and also couldn’t shut the door as last man for the opening two Fijians tries, the second concession on 53 minutes the prompt for him to be subbed for Marcus Smith.
4/10

14. Max Malins
A statistically quiet outing and yet he got a flapping hand to a couple of aerial first half kicks, enough to win back the ball for England with a tactic that had failed them this month. Also denied a diving try in the corner late in the first half, but his second half showing petered out.
4.5/10

13. Ollie Lawrence
A first start with Tuilagi as his midfield partner, he began with a cracking run past Semi-Radradra that revved up the home support. Still very learning his trade, though. Jonny May was rightly furious that he cheaply kicked away possession in the 22 when a pass would have given the wing a gallop into open space. Went on to become the centre subbed when England fell into crisis.
5/10

12. Manu Tuilagi
Clive Woodward has called for an end to England’s attachment to Tuilagi and there was evidence why with his game starting with a no-release penalty while there were also too many missed tackles in a rumbustious power-game midfield battle. Carried hard and regularly, he was given the full 80 to get minutes into his legs for France 2023.
5/10

11. Jonny May
Officially not in the 33 for the World Cup, he is expected to get the slot vacated by the crocked Anthony Watson and what he did early on here rubber stamped that inclusion. He scored, excellently hugging the touchline to nip in at the corner, and his vision in attack was further emphasised by the left to right pass that nearly put Malins in. Badly missed the tackle in the lead up to Fiji’s momentum-changing opening second-half try, although later chased down to deny Waisea Nayacalevu with the score at 15-20.
5.5/10

10. George Ford
Fizzed early on with slick passes in either direction, including the assist for May to score. Some tackles were missed – he was dumped on his backside on one Radradra rampage. His kicking from the hand was sharper judging by the touch finder clearance from a scrum in the England 22. Went on to provide the assist for the two second-half England tries but the in-between moment when he was swallowed by Radradra at the cost of a no-release penalty was an example of how greater support for his efforts was lacking.
6.5/10

9. Alex Mitchell
England have been in dire need of a hurry up in this position and there seemed to plenty more tempo about what they tried to do here. However, like too many of his teammates, he endured a less effective second half. Never made a break and also penalised for the high tackle that gave Fiji penalty points to go 15-23 up. Gone on 69.
6/10

8. Ben Earl
A first start in this No8 position at Test level, no one can quibble with his huge number of tackles. However, England needed a ball carrier in this role and he didn’t do this, his struggle encapsulated by the flapped attempted to catch a Ford cross field kick with his team chasing on the scoreboard.
5/10

7. Jack Willis
Used sparingly this month until here, which was understandable given the later end to his French season compared to the Prem. His tackle stats were high but it was his penalty that allowed Fiji to go 8-20 ahead, an infringement followed by his substitution.
5.5/10

6. Courtney Lawes
His 100th Test cap started with a penalty-winning turnover and there was a crucial try-saving intercept on 27 minutes when Fiji tried to work an offload. Left bemused by a leg wrap penalty given against him at 8-10 and couldn’t give his team the leadership necessary to make good their attempted comeback.
5.5/10

5. Ollie Chessum
Can take kudos for the maul appearing more efficient at times but other aspects of his game were rusty in his injury comeback game such as not having the footwork to react to the initial break in the disallowed first-half Fiji try. Another forward with little or no ball carrying threat.
5/10

4. Maro Itoje
Borthwick had spoken in recent weeks about the plan for England to get sharper the longer the month went on. There were glimpses of this regarding Itoje in one elegant restart catch, his dive on a loose ball that squirted from a ruck and the better maul cohesion, but these were crumbs when it came to the winning and losing of the match. High tackle stats but more creativity is needed.
5/10

3. Dan Cole
A first start since September 2019, the question must be asked is can England afford to have him involved when he is allergic to the ball? Just a single carry in 69 minutes.
4/10

2. Theo Dan
Finally, a proper stage for him to audition his talent after two sub runs in already beaten England teams. Started anxiously with a crooked lineout throw, but quickly recovered, carrying hard and tackling regularly, going in to play 72 minutes that will be invaluable to him.
5.5/10

1. Ellis Genge
The line he took when taking a Mitchell pass in his own 22 at 8-0 was the type of full-tilt carry England had been lacking this month. Conceded a 23rd-minute scrum penalty for hinging with England’s early pressure dissipating and the loosehead’s effectiveness drained away from there. Hooked on 51 looking out of sorts.
4/10