England vs Wales result: Player ratings as Manu Tuilagi seals win for hosts to keep Six Nations hopes alive

England 33-30 Wales: Tuilagi was shown a red card late on for connecting with George North’s head

England secured victory over Wales at Twickenham behind three tries to keep alive their hopes of winning the Six Nations.

Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly and Manu Tuilagi went over for Eddie Jones’s side in the 33-30 win.

Wales stormed back into contention at the start of the second half with Justin Tipuric polishing off a magnificent move from the visitors inside the first minute.

Tuilagi capped the perfect response from the hosts though, going over unopposed following fine work by the forwards to soften up the Welsh defence. But Tuilagi’s afternoon was tinged with sadness when the centre picked up a red card late on after a review from the TMO for making contact with George North’s head.

Dan Biggar and Tipuric’s second try ensured Wales capitalised on the advantage to secure a bonus point, but it was not enough to prevent defeat. Here are the player ratings from Twickenham:

Manu Tuilagi celebrates scoring for England (REUTERS)

England

England:

Elliot Daly – 8

Has proven one of England’s best players this Six Nations after scoring his second try in as many matches, while he has silenced questions of his defence since the France defeat. Moved to the wing early as Jonny May departed with a head injury, Daly came to life to convert his chance in to a try and didn’t put a foot wrong throughout.

Anthony Watson – 8

A welcome return to the international stage brought a try inside four minutes as he danced his way past Tomos Williams, and his agility caused the Welsh defence many problems in as first tacklers continually fell by the wayside.

Manu Tuilagi – 8

The depiction of hero to zero, but gets a let-off as England held on to victory. A red card would normally have plummeted his rating, but the reason England had 33 points to their name was largely down to Tuilagi. He battered Biggar and North early on and took on a huge work rate in the opening half to physically dominate the Welsh defence, and bagged England’s third try that appeared to have sealed victory. In the end it did, but only after he was sent off for a shoulder charge to the head of North, and he very nearly cost his teammates dear.

Owen Farrell – 8

An up and down performance as he threatened to get drawn into the niggly side of the game, but what he did with the ball was brilliant. Part of the unit that sent Daly over for the second try and maintained a 100 per cent record from the tee despite a few tricky efforts, but it was his carrying with power that really impressed.

Jonny May – 5

Forced off in the eight minute after being hit with Halfpenny’s elbow as the two competed for an aerial ball. Replaced by Slade.

George Ford – 8

Mesmerising with the ball in hand as he utilised his unrivalled vision to pull the strings from No 10 in front of the Prime Minister, who was sitting in the stands. Outsmarted North and Halfpenny to attract both of their attentions and release Daly, and he mixed up his kicks-to-runs ratio nicely to keep Wales on the back foot.

Ben Youngs – 8

His best performance for more than a year as he finally showed the speed around the breakdown that has been missing from his game of late. Lovely snap-back pass to Watson set up the first try, delivering a very tricky skill to execute, and his box-kicking was on the money from the start. Named man of the match, which can’t be argued.

Joe Marler – 8

Had Dillon Lewis in worlds of trouble early on that resulted in an early penalty against Dillon Lewis, who departed at half-time, and he defended well too. However, his naughty grab of Alun Wyn Jones in a rather private area will not have gone unnoticed.

Jamie George – 7

A solid all-round performance that featured a 100 per cent record in the lineout, though given little opportunity to carry.

Kyle Sinckler – 7

Excelled in the front row alongside Sinckler and secured a crucial penalty soon after Wales’s second-half try that threatened a fightback. Kept his discipline and tackled emphatically that stopped a number of runners in their tracks.

Maro Itoje – 8

Stood out defensively yet again and his lineout partnership with Lawes is developing into one of the world’s best, and it was his strong carry in the opening minutes that set up the platform for Watson’s try.

George Kruis – 8

In what looked to be his final England performance at Twickenham – and possibly his England farewell – he carried impressively and even managed to make up for his horror kick against Ireland with a much better effort this time around. If that was to be it, he went out on a high.

Courtney Lawes – 8

A colossus in defence again and secured a penalty that stood out in the second half when he got himself over the ball and proved impossible to budge. Taken off before the chaos of the final 10 minutes, which proved a problem when the backs were against the wall.

Mark Wilson – 8

Solid return to international rugby that saw his epic defensive work-rate shine once again.

Tom Curry – 8

Support line off Youngs’s break kept England going forwards in the lead up to Tuilagi’s crucial try, and his defensive work was relentless with 22 tackles.

Wales celebrate after Tipuric scores (PA)

Wales

Leigh Halfpenny – 6

Guilty of spilling two high balls that has seen his aerial prowess let him down a touch this championship, though his reliability from the kicking tee remains unquestioned. Guilty of losing faith in North’s defensive powers and bit in to give Daly the space needed to score.

George North – 5

Spurned the chance to score by inadvertently dropping the ball over the line and had very little impact on the game until the closing stages. On the end of a sickening collision from Tuilagi that resulted in red for the England man, and his powerful run after time had expired set-up the closing try for Tipuric.

Nick Tompkins – 7

Another impressive showing yet again in defeat. Tompkins makes stuff happen around him, and though it doesn’t always pay off with points, it does bring Wales precious go-forward ball. The centre made a strong break early in the lead up to North’s drop, started the move that brought Tipuric’s first try and also supported Rhys Webb well following a smart second-half break. He looks an able understudy for Jonathan Davies, but may well just find himself next to him when he returns from injury.

Hadleigh Parkes – 5

Another game where the bad outweighs the good. Guilty of knocking on when England were under the pump and conceded a penalty for a high tackle on Tuilagi.

Liam Williams – 5

Looked like a player making his return from a lengthy injury, and was able to do little with the ball in hand. Contested well with Daly in the air, but could do little to stop Watson early on.

Dan Biggar – 7

Led the fightback in the final quarter that saw Wales refuse to give up, which was all the more special given he looked like he was standing on one leg. Scored a try late on and played a pivotal role in the final score, only for it to prove too little too late.

Tomos Williams – 5

Looked off the pace and Wales struggled as a result, with little pace in their game throughout the first half His box-kicking was also poor, and replacement Rhys Webb looked a cut above.

Rob Evans – 5

Struggled against Sinckler and conceded a penalty in the second half, with very poor returns both attacking and defensively.

Ken Owens – 6

High-tackle on Youngs gave England a free play that resulted in England’s second try, but was one of their more prominent tacklers and gave his all in his 75-minute display.

Dillon Lewis – 5

Another who was penalised in the scrum as Wales’s old problems returned to haunt them, and forced off with injury at half-time to be replaced by Leon Brown.

Jake Ball – 6

Carried emphatically and brought a strong presence with the ball, only for a nasty-looking injury to his arm forcing him out in a considerable level of pain.

Alun Wyn Jones – 6

Pinged in the first half for not rolling away and did well to keep his cool when grabbed in the private parts by Marler, but was unable to do anything about the England intensity that came Wales’s way.

Ross Moriarty – 5

Led the attempt to rile England but it did not pay off, with Moriarty twice penalised and having little effect on the match itself.

Justin Tipuric – 8

Known for his defensive efforts but it was his attacking play that shone. Claimed an early cross-field kick that was a sign of things to come, as twice he broke away down the wing and his support running brought two tries in defeat.

Josh Navidi – 7

A solid return from injury but Navidi could not match what is expected from Wales’s regular No 8 Taulupe Faletau. Looks more of a six than an eight in all honesty.