PLAYER RATINGS: Freddie Steward proves his worth on the wing and powerhouse Joe Marchant continues to impress as England give reason for optimism despite defeat to France
England fell to a 25-13 defeat to France in Paris in the final round of this year’s Six Nations fixtures.
Freddie Steward scored the team’s only try as they put in a defiant display against their hosts, whose victory earned them the Championship and the Gram Slam.
Sportsmail‘s ADAM HATHAWAY was on hand to rate the performances of each of Eddie Jones’ players…
England finished third in the Six Nations following their 25-13 defeat to champions France
George Furbank 5
Had a nightmare debut here in 2020 and was a bag of nerves again and had one catastrophic incident when he took ball out.
Freddie Steward 8
Switched to wing to do a job and took his try well and performed his usual heroics under the ball on the back and front foot.
Joe Marchant 8
Has come on a bundle in the last two games in defence and attack. Superb muscular break set up England first score.
Full back Freddie Steward was used on the wing by Eddie Jones and scored England’s only try
It was Joe Marchant’s powerful line-break that set the wheels in motion for Steward’s try
Henry Slade 6
Would be better off at 13 but kicking game showed up well and was involved in England’s best bits in attack.
Jack Nowell 6
Correctly escaped a first half red card for a dangerous challenge but could not escape unlucky injury in the 26th minute.
Marcus Smith 6
Feels like he has a new trick up his sleeve for every occasion and they don’t always come off but he has to stay at 10.
Marcus Smith scored two first half penalties and finished as the tournament’s top points scorer
Ben Youngs 5
A horses for courses starter brought in for his box-kicking which went well but service from breakdowns still slow if pace ups.
Ellis Genge 6
Played the Billy Vunipola role of carrying ball from the back field but did not have things his own way at scrum time this week.
Jamie George 6
Tidy in the line out as usual and was a rallying point when a landslide threatened like he was at Twickenham last weekend.
Will Stuart 5
Showed up well off the bench against Ireland last week but not the same impact starting especially at scrum time.
Maro Itoje 7
Itoje went to see the Mona Lisa this week and if this was not a masterpiece it was good work with turnovers and line out work.
There was plenty of good work from Maro Itoje in the line out despite England’s defeat in Paris
Nick Isiekwe 6
In one week, out the next, in this Six Nations but the Saracens man should be given a longer run in the starting team. Line out banker.
Courtney Lawes (capt) 6
The skipper put himself about again and England’s line out is balanced with him at 6 and hit a few Frenchmen hard.
Sam Underhill 7
Just 56 minutes of rugby since 22 Jan after concussion but smashed into Jaminet first up and looked back to his old self with high tackle count.
Sam Underhill looked back to his old self despite limited game time in the last two months
Sam Simmonds 6
Was not seen to his best effect in broken field but got through his fair share of graft on the tackle front.
Replacements: Nic Dolly (N/A), Joe Marler (for Genge 65) 5, Kyle Sinckler (for Stuart 50) 5, Ollie Chessum (for Isiekwe 62) 6, Alex Dombrandt (for Underhill 67) 5, Harry Randall (for Youngs 65) 5, George Ford (for Furbank 77) 5, Elliot Daly (for Nowell 26) 5
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