"Big names struggle" - Three England hopefuls who FLOPPED in the Premiership this weekend

The pressure is mounting for these stars to perform at their best, but their recent displays have raised concerns as they battle for form and fitness ahead of international selection.

Alfie Barbeary, the powerful Bath number 8, has struggled to replicate his explosive form from last season. In the second round clash against Leicester, Barbeary left the field early for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) but returned after 10 minutes.

Despite being a key ball carrier for Bath last year, the 23-year-old has had minimal impact in his opening two games, making no real inroads against Leicester.

His subdued performance is a far cry from the player known for his dynamic running and hard-hitting play, leaving Bath fans and national selectors looking for signs of improvement.

Exeter Chiefs’ Rus Tuima, a rising England hopeful, also failed to impress in his side’s latest outing. Known for his x-factor carries and physical presence, Tuima was expected to lead from the front.

However, in a match that required greater intensity, he was unable to impose himself, earning a modest rating of 5/10 from Devon Live.

With England head coach Steve Borthwick spoilt for choice in the second row, Tuima will need to step up in the coming weeks if he wants to secure a spot in the national squad.

Sale Sharks fly-half George Ford’s Premiership return has been marred by another injury setback. After missing the summer tour due to surgery, Ford picked up a quadriceps injury in his side’s match.

Sale Sharks' Head of Medical, Navdeep Sandhu, confirmed that Ford experienced discomfort following a long-distance kick.

While the full extent of the injury is still unclear, Ford’s latest knock could keep him sidelined, once again casting doubt over his availability for the Autumn Nations Series.

To make matters worse, his rivals for the Number 10 shirt, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, both delivered man of the match performances for their respective clubs.