"Absolute Stinker" - Six Gallagher Prem players who FLOPPED this weekend

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 19:15

byRugby Rucker

It was a weekend of thrilling wins, heavy defeats, and some individual performances that left plenty to be desired.

From missed kicks to costly errors, these six players were at the wrong end of the scoreboard, and their teams paid the price. Here’s our roundup of the Gallagher Premiership stars who fell flat this weekend.

Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

Weekend Scores

Friday 17th October

Gloucester 34-49 Bristol
Newcastle Falcons 19-36 Northampton Saints

Saturday 18th October

Leicester Tigers 22-20 Bath
Saracens 65-14 Sale

Sunday 19th October

Exeter Chiefs 37-0 Harlequins

#1. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby)

Russell was below par for most of the match, fumbling some relatively easy catches and missing his first two conversions, which proved costly in a tight finish.

However, when he did get it right, Russell showed his class, keeping the ball alive on multiple occasions – including the play that led to Redpath’s try.

His creative flair was there in patches, but overall it was well below his best, and James O’Connor ultimately outshone him.

#2. Ross Byrne (Gloucester)

The Irish fly-half had a frustrating outing, missing a crucial long-range penalty early in the second half that could have given Gloucester the lead.

Byrne did manage to slot a couple of conversions later, helping his side stay in contention, but his influence was limited overall.

While he showed some spark in building attacking phases, he was ultimately outplayed by a 22-year-old ex-Dings Crusaders player, a surprising blow for the former Ireland number 10.

#3. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)

Cowan-Dickie’s weekend went from bad to worse as he received a red card for a high tackle while defending the try-line.

Sale were hammered 65-14 by Saracens, and his absence for the rest of the game was telling. This suspension could now affect both club and country, with the England hooker potentially missing the start of the Autumn Internationals.

A costly lapse in discipline on a weekend already full of errors.

#4. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)

Obano struggled against Leicester’s forwards, particularly Joe Heyes, and couldn’t dominate the collision area as expected.

While a penalty went his way at one point, it wasn’t enough to swing momentum.

He did manage to lay in some big defensive hits, showing his physicality, but the overall performance fell short of the standard needed in a close 22-20 defeat.

#5. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby)

De Glanville put in some strong runs down the right flank, but he struggled to consistently impact the game.

His duel with Leicester’s Ollie Hassell-Collins was a highlight, though on balance, the Leicester winger came out on top, winning key battles in open play.

While he showed glimpses of his speed and agility, he couldn’t turn his individual moments into a team advantage, leaving Bath on the wrong end of a narrow defeat.

#6. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)

Smith endured a nightmare as Harlequins were thrashed 37-0 at Exeter. The wet, windy conditions did him no favors, with kicks against the wind misfiring and his creativity drying up after halftime.

A costly slip while attempting a long kick encapsulated his afternoon, and his usual spark was missing from the game entirely.

A frustrating performance that may raise questions about his selection for England in the coming weeks.

George Wellbelove

@GLWellbelove

·Follow

Never seen such a horror of a performance from Quins. They usually find a way to get at least a few points on the board. Marcus Smith did not look himself at all (injury perhaps). #GallagherPREM #EXEvHAR