England player ratings: Maro Itoje leads by example but Alex Mitchell made to rue missed tackle on return vs Ireland

ENGLAND suffered a shocking second-half illness against Ireland arsenic their Six Nations opener fell apart successful a 27-22 defeat.

The Red Roses dominated the archetypal 40 minutes earlier the Boys successful Green showed them what's what successful the next.

Here's however SunSport's Martin Lipton rated each Red Rose from Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

Freddie Steward - 6

Secure and truthful coagulated nether the precocious shot but made to look silly by Gibson-Park erstwhile helium near the full-back connected his backside for Ireland’s archetypal points.

Tommy Freeman - 5

Few chances to truly detonate down the helping and among those outfoxed by Aki for Ireland’s 2nd try. Not definite the Northampton antheral is simply a game-breakeR

Henry Slade - 7

Superb grubber to acceptable up Murley for the aboriginal England effort and made a watercourse of large hits arsenic helium defended with relish and passion.

Ollie Lawrence - 7

Carried the shot with powerfulness and his tackling was arsenic exceptional arsenic those of Slade alongside him. 

Cadan Murley - 7

Dream debut for the Harlequins winger arsenic helium scored a quality wrong the archetypal 10 minutes.

Spent overmuch of the remainder of the crippled defending for his life.

Marcus Smith - 7

Showed that imaginativeness and footwork from the outset to springiness England anticipation and inspiration.

Alex Mitchell - 5

Returning scrum fractional brought calmness but the missed tackle connected Lowe, conscionable arsenic Smith was getting acceptable to return, was critical.

Ellis Genge - 6

Old fashioned grunt and grind successful the beforehand enactment seldom gets the plaudits but it meant England were ne'er going backwards astatine the set-piece.

Luke Cowan-Dickie - 6

Missed his archetypal enactment retired but different than that got the radar working, a captious origin with England a jumper abbreviated due to the fact that of the backmost enactment mix.

Will Stuart - 6

Another whose champion enactment goes unrecognised by astir but helium showed the aforesaid exertion arsenic his team-mates.

Maro Itoje - 8

The caller skipper promised helium would pb by example. He did not disappoint successful an all-action objection of his prowess.

George Martin - 7

Worked good successful tandem with his skipper to guarantee England were capable to vie and nat times soundlessness the location crowd.

Tom Curry - 7

Like his twin, the Sale flanker seemed to beryllium popping up everyplace wrong a remorseless determination.

Ben Curry - 7

Ireland truly indispensable person wondered however galore Currys were connected the transportation arsenic helium gave full committedness to the cause.

Ben Earl - 6

The Saracens antheral mightiness not beryllium a accepted No 8 but his willingness to bust his guts from archetypal to past infinitesimal is simply a motion of his mentality and quality.

Replacements:

Dan (for Cowan Dickie) - 6

Did his occupation successful a hard cause

Willis (for Earl) - 6

Came connected conscionable arsenic the tide truly started to crook against England. Could not stem it. 6 

Cunningham-South (for Ben Curry) - 6

Sent connected to springiness England much bulk and vigor successful the past 4th 6

Chessum (for Martin) - 6

Back aft wounded and giving England other line-out capableness successful the last stages.

F Smith (for Steward) - 6

All oregon thing determination with namesake Marcus moving to full-back but the dice was formed 6

Randall (for Mitchell) - 6

Another who came connected erstwhile the crippled was gone 6 

Baxter (for Genge) - 5

Run retired successful the past 10 arsenic England were near progressively ragged 5

Heyes (for Stuart) - 5

Also a precocious instauration arsenic the Red Rose wilted 5