15 Mike Brown 7/10
Not the form of the rest of the season, but a step up from last week. Try and assist late on to epitomise England’s pugilistic spirit — and fitness.
14 Manu Tuilagi 7/10
Promising first start on the wing but is surely better deployed in the centre. A specialist winger might have finished that breakaway in the first half.
13 Luther Burrell 4/10
Looked a bit lost at times. As big and strong as ever but vulnerable to the stepping bewitchery of these All Blacks. Forced a few off-loads ill-advisedly.
12 Billy Twelvetrees 4/10
His passing looks a million dollars, except when it’s to the opposition, which it was too often. Lack of precision summed up the difference.
11 Marland Yarde 7/10
Getting better. Fine finish for his try, fine pass for England’s last. Even showed off a kicking game. Now needs to learn to find touch with it.
10 Owen Farrell 5/10
Mixed bag. Pretty good off the tee and had moments with ball in hand. Conceded two pens at crucial times, the second sending him to the bin.
9 Danny Care 5/10
Was deadly sharp in early exchanges but lost that as the game wore on. Communication off the back of the maul particularly troublesome.
1 Joe Marler 5/10
More a nuisance than destructive, but there’s a role for those as well. Put in lengthy shift and didn’t waver. Missed a tackle and penalised in first half.
2 Rob Webber 6/10
Inches away from try-line, having run fine support line in first half. Neat and tidy as always elsewhere. That’s three first-class hookers England have.
3 David Wilson 6/10
None of the spills that plagued his game last week. This time he even put in a crucial touch-finder. In the thick of things till deep into the final 10 minutes.
4 Joe Launchbury 6/10
Early charge-down set tone for England’s superior first-half performance. Tackling and grappling at the breakdown were as tireless as ever.
5 Geoff Parling 7/10
Game’s best player in the first half, taking lineouts and restarts with authority and smashing back All Blacks in defence. Gradually faded after break.
6 Tom Wood 7/10
People worry that he’s too similar to Robshaw but having two of these all-rounders in a back row is something no one should baulk at. Fine game.
7 Chris Robshaw 7/10 capt
Another tireless display, always on hand with a support option, tidy-up or tackle. Few better back-row forwards. None fitter. Key figure in late surge.
8 Ben Morgan 5/10
Decent industry with a few big hit-ups though none devastating. His replacement added fresh impetus, albeit against a side who knew they’d won.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley (for Webber) 48; Courtney Lawes (for Launchbury) 58; Billy Vunipola (for Morgan) 58; Matt Mullan (for Marler) 72; Kieran Brookes (for Wilson) 72; Ben Youngs (for Care) 72; Chris Ashton (for Burrell) 72
