Ratings manage a trois

[Epaminondas Pules]

15. Freddie Steward

Combined well with Freeman for an early break which went nowhere and excellent under the high ball as ever. Good step to score, finding the gap after combining with Van Poortvliet. Cracking tackle on Samu too 8

14. Jack Nowell

No one can question his graft and he had his work cut out trying to contain Koroibete, but barely saw a sniff of an attacking chance as England favoured the left-hand side. 6

13. Guy Porter

Missed tackles as Australia seemed to target him, with the slip on Koroibete leading to the opening try. Hard to say as a result whether he’ll be back in the autumn. Made 12 tackles and missed five. 5

12. Owen Farrell

Howler of a 22 restart out on the full and hit the post with one penalty attempt. But a very nice grubber into the corner pinned the Wallabies back after half-time. Couldn’t stop Fainga’a for his try. 6

11. Tommy Freeman

Threatening runs down the left aplenty which England couldn’t make the most of. Outpaced by Wright for Australia's try and inches from scoring himself. But he’s looked assured over the last two weeks. 7

10. Marcus Smith

Flat pass made one break for Freeman but was otherwise subdued, until he pounced on a loose Wallaby lineout to race away and score impressively. Structural issues still persist though with England’s attack. 6

9. Danny Care

Charged down 20 seconds in by Frost but box-kicking improved. Koroibete thundered through him on one run and after 37 minutes Eddie Jones had enough, hooking him with no injury. Is that the end? 4

1. Ellis Genge

First blood at the scrum to Genge in his battle with Tupou. Gave away a high tackle penalty on Porecki but had a highly-entertaining carry through Kerevi of all people. Arguably England’s best carrier. 8

2. Jamie George

Sharp work pouncing for an interception and was solid all round the field, with a nice pass right before he went off. Beat a couple of defenders as well with his underrated footwork. 7

3. Will Stuart

Soft penalty early on for offside and could have been penalised at an early scrum for losing his bind. Had a decent rumble in the second half making good ground. 6

4. Ollie Chessum

Not easy replacing Itoje and the prominent lineout outlet. Slipped through by Care for one break, only to be penalised, but there’s so much promise there and every reason to think he could be a future starter. 7

5. Jonny Hill

‘Mr Popular’ in Australia. Officials were hot on any cynical play, with Hill penalised for holding onto Nic White early after a tackle. Good lineout disruption though led to Smith’s try. 6

6. Courtney Lawes (c)

Quality turnover from the England captain to win a penalty and overall just relentlessly physical, helping to disrupt Australia’s mauls and rucks. A late turnover when Australia were threatening was vital. 9

7. Lewis Ludlam

Finished the season in flying form and unsurprisingly was England’s top tackler here. Saw less of him in attack which is a shame, because he can contribute in that area as well. 6

8. Billy Vunipola

Penalised early at the ruck and then later again for no clear release. Bounced back with a good turnover to earn three points and while he took on the brunt of the carrying, wasn’t explosive. 6

Replacements 8

Luke Cowan-Dickie (George 46), Mako Vunipola (Genge 56), Joe Heyes (Stuart 61), Nick Isiekwe (Chessum 67), Jack Willis (Ludlam 67), Jack van Poortvliet (Care 37), Will Joseph, Henry Arundell (Freeman 70)

[Epaminondas Pules]

Seems harsh in Hill, Stuart and Billy

[Raggs]

Definitely harsh on Billy, he had some great moments of handling too. Porter needs to lose a point too. Stuart add a half, Hill could be a 7 too.

[Mr Mwenda]

Seems harsh in Hill, Stuart and Billy

Agreed. Thought the latter in particular was very impressive.

[Mellsblue]

‘But a very nice grubber into the corner pinned the Wallabies back after half-time.’
Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh

[Puja]

Anyone else of the opinion that Freeman was absolutely going to score if he'd just believed and kept going for the line rather than flipping to play it back? To me it looked like he was practically over and his momentum would've scored if he'd just reached to place the ball.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

To me, he was being turned by the tackle, so could only have reached by dislocating his shoulder

[Mr Mwenda]

Yes, I thought it was an amazing tackle to be honest.

[fivepointer]

Billy and Lawes were our best forwards. Steward our best back. Very good cameo's from LCD, Isiekwe and Willis i thought. JVP showed conclusively that the decision not to start him was a very poor one.

[Beasties]

Billy and Lawes were our best forwards. Steward our best back. Very good cameo's from LCD, Isiekwe and Willis i thought. JVP showed conclusively that the decision not to start him was a very poor one.

JVP looks to the manor born happily. Strange to think he prob wouldn’t even be on the tour if it wasn’t for the injury to Quirk. Suddenly 9 looks like an area that could come good. Hill’s a lucky git, now most are happy with his tour overall, could’ve been quite different. There’s a lot to like about Freeman, very bright creative player.

[Oakboy]

Based purely on his effect on this game, Hill was 8. Ranking him below Chessum is just wrong. One factor is his ability to maintain physicality for 80 minutes. (With Itoje able to do the same, their pairing has great potential.)

[fivepointer]

Hill got better throughout the series. He was very rusty in the 1st test, plus he behaved like a dick, but put in 2 very effective performances in the 2nd and 3rd test.

[Which Tyler]

JVP looks to the manor born happily. Strange to think he prob wouldn’t even be on the tour if it wasn’t for the injury to Quirk. Suddenly 9 looks like an area that could come good. Hill’s a lucky git, now most are happy with his tour overall, could’ve been quite different. There’s a lot to like about Freeman, very bright creative player.

Let's not count our chickens just yet.

I remember thinking much the same when Youngs and Care were starting to get caps...

I'd have JVP as the man in possession, and I'm very excited about Quirke, but neither are close the the finished article just yet.
Mitchell then looks good as a 3rd choice, but beyond those 3, the cupboards a bit bare.

[Banquo]

Anyone else of the opinion that Freeman was absolutely going to score if he'd just believed and kept going for the line rather than flipping to play it back? To me it looked like he was practically over and his momentum would've scored if he'd just reached to place the ball.

Puja

Nope.

[32nd Man]

Anyone else of the opinion that Freeman was absolutely going to score if he'd just believed and kept going for the line rather than flipping to play it back? To me it looked like he was practically over and his momentum would've scored if he'd just reached to place the ball.

Puja

Nope.

I thought there were a few passages close to the line where we made smart decisions to turn back and recycle rather than risk a knock on or being held up over the line by stretching for the score.

[Banquo]

Anyone else of the opinion that Freeman was absolutely going to score if he'd just believed and kept going for the line rather than flipping to play it back? To me it looked like he was practically over and his momentum would've scored if he'd just reached to place the ball.

Puja

Nope.

I thought there were a few passages close to the line where we made smart decisions to turn back and recycle rather than risk a knock on or being held up over the line by stretching for the score.

Yep; though earlier we created some chances and blew them because of a lack of support or trying impossible offloads.

[Puja]

Anyone else of the opinion that Freeman was absolutely going to score if he'd just believed and kept going for the line rather than flipping to play it back? To me it looked like he was practically over and his momentum would've scored if he'd just reached to place the ball.

Puja

Nope.

Fair enough - clearly just the angle.

Puja

[Slater582]

Genge 7, George 6, Stuart 5, Chessum 7, Hill 6, Lawes 8, Ludlam 6, Billy 7

Care 3, Smith 6, Freeman 8, Farrell 6, Porter 5, Nowell 6, Steward 9

LCD 7, Mako 6, Heyes 6, Isiekwe 6, Willis 6, JVP 7, Arundell 5

That's from (some bloke called Adam Hathaway) The Times.