England XV player ratings: An England XV let a 12-point lead slip in the final 10 minutes as a France XV snatched a 26-24 victory at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
After a poor start to the match, where France opened a 12-0 lead, the hosts clawed their way back into the match and worked through the gears. The win looked inevitable, only for France to snatch the win at the death.
On to Argentina for England in July, but head coach Steve Borthwick would have liked what he saw from many of his players.
Here’s how the players rated:
Match Summary 
15. Joe Carpenter – 8
Played like a full-back with 50 caps to his name, rather than zero. Handled everything that was thrown his way from France’s kicking and never forced it in attack, joining the attack and spreading the ball with ease. On hand to score England’s third to cap off a half where he was tested aerially and came through.
14. Tom Roebuck – 7.5
Called upon for his aerial prowess more than anything in the first half, but that was simply England playing to their strengths and it worked by and large. Showed what he could do with ball in hand much more in the second half, stepping off his right foot to trouble the French defence.
13. Hendy Slade – 7
The England veteran really showed his worth and nous during the 20-minute red card period, covering both flanks. Seemed to form a slick partnership with Seb Atkinson as the game progressed, linking well after a stuttered first half.
12. Seb Atkinson – 8
A nervous start from the uncapped Gloucester centre, conceding a penalty and soon after slipping off a tackle on Theo Attissogbe as France broke to score their second try. He bounced back and provided some hard yards off first-phase ball, which gave England a lot of momentum, particularly in England’s second and third tries. In truth, he probably could have scored England’s third himself after waltzing through the French defence, but had the presence of mind to pop the ball to Carpenter. England’s No.12 shirt has long been problematic, but this was what Borthwick would have wanted to see.
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 3
Making his first appearance of 2025, the 22-year-old looked as though he was going to be on the scoresheet within the first two minutes, but had the ball ripped from his clutches over the line. Maybe a sign of rustiness, as there were a few handling errors in his display. Yet more rustiness with what was a reckless and sloppy high tackle on Antoine Hastoy which resulted in a red card. A calamitous comeback, particularly if he was harbouring any hopes of being called into Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad. Prior to that, he showed promise, being deployed almost as a ninth forward, the way he pinballed his way around the fringes of the ruck.
10. George Ford – 6.5
Started the match with a pinpoint 50:22, but there were a few somewhat aimless kicks in the French half. Then again, the kicking tactic was largely successful. His cohesion with Atkinson and Slade noticeably improved as the match developed, as England’s attack improved. Not his finest afternoon from the tee though, which proved decisive.
9. Ben Spencer – 6.5
Nothing too flashy from the Bath captain, which was maybe needed with a new-look side. Kicked well and upped the tempo when England needed to.
1. Fin Baxter – 7
Up against a seasoned and accomplished tighthead in Rabah Slimani and the loosehead held his own. Brought his typical high work rate for a loosehead to the game.
2. Jamie George – 7.5
Fresh from a stint training with the Lions the England captain looked hungry to crack on with Borthwick’s side. Barring one loose lineout near the French line, this was an industrious display from the captain.
3. Joe Heyes – 8
Week by week, the Leicester Tiger proves that he is not only a handy deputy to Lion Will Stuart, but a worthy rival for that No.3 England jersey when he returns. The pillar of a strong scrummaging display against a big French pack with a handful of penalties to his name. His eyes would have lit up when he received the ball with no one in front of him from 40 metres out in the first half – he may have been chased down eventually on the way to the line, but he made a mighty good crack of it and a surprising turn of pace.
4. Alex Coles – 6.5
Guilty of two maul infringements which allowed France to march their way up the field with penalties for their first try. He put that behind him though, scoring England’s second try from close range, where he just looked fitter, quicker and more alert than the French pack. That seemed to be a common theme throughout the match.
5. Nick Isiekwe – 6
A gritty display, where he was tasked with disrupting the French lineout and maul and did a decent job of it. A plus point in what was otherwise a muted display in the loose.
6. Ted Hill – 6.5
Really got a chance to gallop and show his athletic credentials for the first time after 65 minutes as the game got looser. The Bath star’s pace is a real point of difference, and one England should look to exploit more in attack, although he was still used well as a kick-chaser. The flanker has some engine, produce a full-throttle 80-minute display.
7. Guy Pepper – 8
A week from his player of the match performance in the Gallagher Premiership final at the same venue, the openside did what he did best when he ripped the ball from Tyler Duguid to fool the other 29 players on the pitch and even Hollie Davidson (so much so that Gael Fickou stood there with his arms aloft wonder where the ball was). Looked as though he was clear to run in from 50 metres, but for a last-gasp tap tackle. Made a strong claim to wear the No.7 jersey against the Pumas with a busy defensive display, topping England’s tackle charts in the hour he was on the field.
8. Tom Willis – 8
Deservedly scored England’s first try as the No.8 had been the most dependable and busiest ball carrier up until that point and continued to smash into the heart of the blue wall thereafter. More carries than the next best two performers combined when he left the field after 55 minutes (16), and topped the metres carried and defenders beaten charts as well.
Points Flow Chart
France XV win +2
Time in lead
48%
% Of Game In Lead
28%
15%
Possession Last 10 min
85%
Replacements
16. Theo Dan – 5.5
A quiet final 10 minutes.
17. Bevan Rodd – 5.5
Nothing of note in his 25 minutes on the field.
18. Trevor Davison – 5
Couldn’t maintain the dominance that Heyes had had at the scrum, being penalised on one occasion.
19. Chandler Cunningham-South – 5.5
Being deployed again in his more unfamiliar role as a lock – as was seen at the end of the Guinness Six Nations – the 22-year-old, was only given 10 minutes at the end.
20. Jack Kenningham – 5.5
Threw his head into many breakdowns at the end in an attempt to slow down France as they marched towards England’s line.
21. Alex Dombrandt – 6.5
Responded to a loose carry where he spilt the ball with a thunderous carry from deep, and a try in the corner soon after.
22. Raffi Quirke – 5.5
Looked surprisingly comfortable on the wing in what was a hotchpotch England backline in the second half, but England were left exposed at the back.
23. Oscar Beard – 6
Unfortunate to find himself playing on the wing in his first appearance under Borthwick rather than in the centres, but he did a job nevertheless.
