Eight Players Who Flopped in the Six Nations This Weekend

Sunday, 09 February 2025 at 20:36

byRugby Rucker

The second round of the 2025 Six Nations saw Italy defeat Wales 22-15 in Rome, England edge France 26-25 at Twickenham, and Ireland secure a dominant 32-18 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield.

Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!

Despite the thrilling action, several players underperformed. Here’s a summary of the eight who struggled, with quotes from the key publications.

1. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Rugby Pass 4.5/10: "Lost a couple of high hanging kicks... Forced off after 21 minutes following a head collision."
RUCK 5/10: "Couldn't get his nation ticking in the early stages."
The Scotsman: "Limited impact on the game early on as Ireland took control."

Verdict: Russell was underwhelming, leaving Scotland on the back foot from the start.

2. Jonny Gray (Scotland)

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Struggled to make an impact and was replaced early in the second half."
Planet Rugby 5/10: "A few good moments in the set-piece, but nothing substantial."

Verdict: Gray was largely ineffective and couldn’t contribute to Scotland’s fightback.

3. Antoine Dupont (France)

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Had a few sloppy passes and missed a try-scoring chance."
Mail Online 6/10: "Far from his best but still involved in setting up tries."

Verdict: Dupont’s usual brilliance was lacking, and he struggled with errors that disrupted France’s rhythm.

4. Josh Adams (Wales)

RUCK 3/10: "Butchered two try-scoring opportunities and got a yellow card."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "Missed two huge chances, lucky to escape a red card."
Wales Online 4/10: "Butchered two easy try-scoring chances and received a yellow card."

Verdict: Adams’ poor decision-making and missed opportunities overshadowed his performance.

5. Marcus Smith (England)

RUCK 5/10: "Struggled with decision-making and was inconsistent in attack and defence."
Evening Standard 5/10: "Lucky not to be punished for defensive lapses."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "His kicking woes made things difficult."

Verdict: Smith’s performance was mixed, with missed kicks and defensive mistakes.

6. Henry Thomas (Wales)

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Put under serious pressure in the scrum, conceded multiple penalties."
Wales Online 4/10: "Gave away four scrum penalties and was replaced at halftime."
RUCK 3/10: "Physically outmatched by the Italian pack."

Verdict: Thomas struggled at the scrum, and his performance hurt Wales’ forward dominance.

7. Evan Lloyd (Wales)

Planet Rugby 4/10: "Lineout misfired again and couldn’t help his props."
Wales Online 4/10: "Struggled in the lineout but solid in attack and defence."
RUCK 3/10: "Failed to make an impact at the lineout."

Verdict: Lloyd’s lack of impact in the lineout hurt Wales' set-piece.