15 JASON ROBINSON: One superb break and good work in defence but not the electrifying performance he had been seeking on his return to Twickenham 6



14 MARK CUETO: Scored an excellent individual try and was a threat to Newcastle throughout the match with a series of powerful breaks 7



13 JOS BAXENDELL: Steady performance in midfield but, as in 1997, had to settle for loser's medal 6



12 CHRIS MAYOR: His try was a cracker as he slipped three tacklers, but needed to produce a tighter defensive performance to stop the threat of Jamie Noon and Mark Mayerhofler 6



11 STEVE HANLEY: Used his bulk to get over for a typical try and one of the better players on the field 7



10 CHARLIE HODGSON: His place-kicking was top-notch but his lack of rugby action showed at times. But he played well on only his second start after returning from a knee injury 6



9 NICK WALSHE: Hard-working performance from a player who has seen little action this season,but was behind a pack that was having to give second best on this occasion 6



1 ANDREW SHERIDAN: Given few opportunities to use his immense power in the loose, but ran well with the ball when he did get it and took some stopping 6



2 ANDY TITTERRELL: Only a slip prevented what would have been a great try after a tremendous break. Always in the action and was pick of the forwards 7



3 BARRY STEWART: Unable to impose himself on a game in which Newcastle's pack held the upper hand 6



4 IAIN FULLARTON: No problems at the line-out but failed to make an impact around the park. Made some unforced errors which handed possession over 6



5 JASON WHITE: Glimpses of what he might have done given enough ball in the right situations 6



6 PETE ANGLESEA: Not as commanding as he has been since his return to the side but felt his removal in the second half denied the side leadership 6



7 ALEX SANDERSON: Always in the front line but still showed the tendency to give away penalties through sheer enthusiasm 6



8 CHRIS JONES: By his own standards the big lad had a quiet game as he was starved of possession 6



REPLACEMENTS

Hugh Perrett (for Anglesea), Stu Turner (for Stewart) and Matt Cairns (for Titterrell) were not on long enough to make any real impression.