Telegraph brutally ranked England's FIVE worst players this Autumn

Monday, 28 November 2022 at 09:34

byRugby Rucker

With the World Cup little under a year away, Telegraph Sport have taken a look at who underperformed during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.

Their top performers included fullback Freddie Steward, Ellis Genge and Joe Cokansiga.

But who struggled? Take a look at who The Telegraph rated as Eddie Jones poorest performers.

#5. Joe Heyes

Age: 23
Position: Tighthead-prop
Club: Leicester Tigers
Caps: 7

Joe Heyes of England during the Under 20s Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and France at Sandy Park on February 9th 2019, Exeter, Devon. Photo: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

Having impressed in Australia, this autumn was a step backwards for Heyes because it seemed as though Jones was reluctant to trust him.

RUCK's rating: 5.5/10

RUCK rating explained: What we've done is taken every England players 'rating' from each game this month and averaged their score with powerhouse Joe Cokanasiga coming out on top.

#4. Jonny Hill

Age: 28
Position: Lock
Club: Sale Sharks
Caps: 10

Jonny Hill of England looks dejected after losing during the Autumn Nations International Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham, London on 26 November 2022 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

They said: "Having appeared to have established himself over the second two Tests of the series victory over the Wallabies in July, this was a poor autumn for Hill."

RUCK's rating: 5.6/10

#3. Mako Vunipola

Age: 31
Position: Loosehead-prop
Club: Saracens
Caps: 76

Mako Vunipola applauds in the direction of the supporters at full-time followinga the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

They said: "This might have been a disastrous score were it not for a phenomenal display from the bench to confound New Zealand, because Vunipola’s scrummaging stunted England throughout the autumn."

RUCK's rating: 4.6/10

#2. Billy Vunipola

Age: 30
Position: Number 8
Club: Saracens
Caps: 61

Billy Vunipola of England in possession ahead of Kazuki Himeno of Japan during the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

They said: "The younger Vunipola began with a quartet of handling errors in the loss to Argentina before being dropped to the bench for Japan. Grew into the New Zealand clash after an inaccurate start but quiet when South Africa came to town."

RUCK's rating: 5.1/10

Billy Vunipola facts:

Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998
While at Harrow School, Vunipola joined the Wasps Academy
Vunipola’s father is former Tonga captain Fe’ao Vunipola and his mother, Iesinga Vunipola, a Methodist minister in High Wycombe
fter being selected for England U18, U20 and Saxons squads, he earned his first senior England cap against Argentina in June 2013, scoring his first Test try
Vunipola won his first senior silverware in 2015 when Saracens beat Bath in the Premiership final

#1. Manu Tuilagi

Age: 31
Position: Centre
Club: Sale Sharks
Caps: 50

Manu Tuilagi of England looks dejected after losing during the Autumn Nations International Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham, London on 26 November 2022 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

They said: "Few alarm bells are beginning to ring about how effective Tuilagi can still be at cracking defences open. It’s not that Tuilagi isn’t seeing enough of the ball, he just isn’t breaking enough tackles."

RUCK's rating: 5.6/10

Manu Tuilagi facts:

Etuale Manusamoa ‘Manu’ Tuilagi is named after the Samoa national rugby team
He is the younger brother of Freddie, Henry, Alesana, Anitelea and Sanele Vavae Tuilagi, all of whom are Samoan internationals and also played for Leiceste
In June 2010, Tuilagi faced possible deportation from the UK after it became known that he had entered the country on a holiday visa six years earlier
During the 2011 World Cup, he was fined £4,800 after wearing a sponsored mouthguard, breaking the tournament’s rules
He became England’s youngest RWC player at 20 years and 115 days against Argentina, being 15 days younger than Jonny Wilkinson, who set the record in 1999

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