ITALY:
Best: Tommaso Menoncello
Planet Rugby 9/10: “The young inside centre came of age in this encounter as he delivered an outstanding all-round performance for the full 80 minutes. Constantly tested the English defence with some strong attacking runs and eventually gained a team-high 80 metres. Was also excellent in defence where he completed 10 hits.”
Worst: Lorenzo Pani
Rugby Pass 4/10: “Saw very little action and simply could not get himself into the game while on the field.”
Planet Rugby 4/10: “Not much to report here as the Zebre Parma wing made little impact on attack and defence and came off second best in his direct duel with Tommy Freeman.”
ENGLAND:
Best: Ethan Roots
RUCK 8/10: “The man of the match on the day, Exeter Chiefs back-row Ethan Roots could not have dreamt up a better international debut. A strong all round performance, with his physicality showcased in the ruck and collision. Roots made a key carry on the run up to Daly’s try, and also excelled in the air at line-out time.”
Telegraph 9/10: “An outstanding debut. Virtually the only English forward who consistently punched over the gainline, strong at the breakdown and became a very handy line-out option.”
Planet Rugby 8/10: “Very good debut from the New Zealand-born flanker. Carried hard into contact and was also a useful option in the lineout. “
Rugby Pass 7.5/10: “Like a jumbo jet taking off, the debut-maker made a slow start but he eventually rose to the occasion and did enough to be voted the official player of the match. His ball-carrying was important in England’s revival.”
Worst: Fraser Dingwall
Rugby Pass 3.5/10: “A player with the patience of Job waiting for this Test debut, given the number of squads he was involved in without even playing, he encountered a baptism of fire defensively and will likely be a fall guy in the inner sanctum post-mortem.”
Planet Rugby 5/10: “Won’t like the missed tackle for Monty Ioane’s try in a debut performance where there wasn’t too much to shout about.”
Telegraph 5/10: “Grew into the game on his debut but fell off the tackle badly for Ioane’s try. England also need to involve him more as a ball carrier.”
RUCK 5/10: “Dingwall, long-awaited for his Test debut, struggled a lot in the opening 40. Criticised for a missed tackle leading to an opponent’s try, he got better as the game went on.