"Dropped this weekend" - Five players who've flopped during the 2024 Six Nations

RUCK’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations content 

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Amidst the intensity of the tournament, let's spotlight the top five underperforming stars of the competition (thus far)...

Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, has made four changes to the lineup ahead of their Six Nations clash against France, dropping the out-of-form Tompkins.

Tompkins' struggles were evident from the start, as he earned a mere 3/10 rating in the tournament opener against Scotland. His performance was marred by being outmuscled by Sione Tuipulotu, highlighting his lack of physicality. Additionally, defensive lapses allowed Scotland to exploit gaps, and a costly ball spill disrupted Wales' momentum, leading to his substitution for Mason Grady at the 52-minute mark.

His shortcomings persisted against England, where he failed to make an impact in midfield and contributed to turnovers, earning a marginally better rating of 4/10.

Against Ireland, Tompkins' struggles reached a new low, as he lacked the necessary power and received a dismal 2/10 rating. His inability to handle Bundee Aki's physicality and his ineffectiveness in supporting North on the outside compounded Wales' woes. Despite an initial display of defensive effort, Tompkins faded as the game progressed, leaving his channel vulnerable to Ireland's relentless attacks.

Though he's only had one outing against Scotland in round three, it's hard to overlook the expectations placed on this centre.

Touted as England's potential savior, expected to inject brute force into the team's backline after lackluster performances against Italy and Wales.

The team relied on him to power through the opposition's defense, but he struggled to replicate his club form on the international stage, plagued by several unforced handling errors.

While there's room for improvement, his underwhelming performance earned him a disappointing 4/10 rating, leaving England fans yearning for the return of Manu Tuilagi to the starting lineup.

With a disappointing 4.5/10 rating in the Six Nations opener against Ireland, it's the type of performance that often leads to being benched, and he should brace himself for criticism from the local press.

Though he managed to hold onto his spot for the match against Scotland, Danty found himself thwarted by Scotland's midfield, which matched his usual physicality and denied him the opportunity to make significant gains. Once again, his performance fell short, earning him a meager 5/10 rating.

The situation worsened against Italy in round three. Despite showing signs of improvement prior to his red card, Danty struggled to replicate his usual form. While he displayed some solidity in midfield, contributing defensively and making effective runs, his partnership with Fickou failed to fully ignite. Unfortunately, his game was cut short by a reckless tackle on Juan Ignacio Brex, leading to an early exit after intervention from the match officials.

Once more, it's important to consider that tactical decisions may have influenced the player's performance to some extent.

The journey began promisingly against Italy, yet a lackluster showing in round 2 against Wales saw him receive a modest 4.5 rating. Early errors in handling and a few misplaced kicks marred his performance. However, given his extensive international experience and pedigree, there's confidence that he'll rebound from this setback.

Facing Scotland, he remained pivotal in England's defensive strategy, yet his contributions in attack were minimal, with few carries and limited offensive impact, warranting a 4/10 rating.

In a disappointing display against Scotland at Cardiff, hopes were dashed as Adams, the second-most capped player in the squad, failed to showcase any sign of maturity. His reckless act of throwing the ball into the crowd gifted Scotland a penalty, adding to his mounting errors.

But that was just the beginning of his woes. Unable to contend with high kicks, easily turned over twice in the first half, and lacking the necessary aggression, Adams' performance left much to be desired, earning him a dismal 3/10 rating.

His struggles persisted against England, where a crucial moment saw him lacking the speed to outmaneuver the defense or the strength to hold his ground. Substituted for Mason Grady at the hour mark, Adams could only muster a modest 5/10 rating.

Facing Ireland, while Adams showed glimpses of defensive effort and delivered some powerful kicks, his role in the defensive line meant he missed as many tackles as he made. His substitution for Mason Grady in the 57th minute further highlighted his shortcomings, as he was mercilessly given a paltry 3/10 rating.