4. Seb Atkinson (England): Lack of impact
Seb Atkinson was making his first appearance of the Championship and faced the difficult task of helping spark an England attack that has struggled throughout the tournament.
The Gloucester centre never fully clicked with fly-half Fin Smith, with several passages highlighting a lack of understanding between the pair.
Atkinson looked slightly rusty early on, throwing a couple of loose passes and later attempting a speculative offload to his former clubmate that resulted in a turnover.
While he showed enthusiasm and willingness to get involved, the challenge of revitalising England’s backline proved too much.
Up against Italy’s powerful Tommaso Menoncello, Atkinson often found himself second best on his Six Nations debut.
5. Yoram Moefana (France): Defensive Rock… Turned Defensive Sinkhole
Yoram Moefana was selected for his defensive solidity. Unfortunately, that solidity never materialised.
He missed a one-on-one tackle on Huw Jones early on and ended the match with seven missed tackles – a brutal tally in a game where Scotland repeatedly targeted the midfield channel. Two of Scotland’s tries could be traced directly back to defensive lapses in his area.
What made the situation even more baffling was that Moefana remained on the field for the full 80 minutes despite the struggles. With the ball he offered very little, and defensively it was a nightmare from start to finish.
Knowing Galthié’s ruthless selection policy, this could be a performance that haunts his international prospects.
EDITORS PICKS:
Name every England captain of the professional era
Whether it’s the grit of Will Carling in the 90s, the tactical brilliance of Martin Johnson, or the fearless leadership of Owen Farrell, this quiz will challenge even the most dedicated fans.
Think you can name them all? Grab your boots and let’s see how well you know the men who led England into battle on the world stage!
Like this:
Like Loading…