Eight Players Who Flopped in Round Three of the Six Nations
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The Six Nations is heating up, but while some players thrived under the pressure, others had weekends to forget. Ireland remain the kings of the Triple Crown after edging past Wales in Cardiff, keeping their dream of a historic three-peat alive.
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Meanwhile, Scotland's Calcutta Cup dominance finally came to an end in a Murrayfield thriller, as Finn Russell's late conversion attempt drifted wide to hand England a crucial victory.
The on Sunday, France put on a try-scoring masterclass, running in 11 against a helpless Italy to set up a seismic showdown with Grand Slam-chasing Ireland.
However, not everyone rose to the occasion. Here are eight players who struggled in Round Three.
1. Finn Russell (Scotland) – Calcutta Cup heartbreak
Russell's usually pinpoint boot abandoned him at the worst possible time, as Scotland's co-captain missed all three of his wide-angle conversions in a gut-wrenching defeat to England. While he orchestrated attacking play well and asked questions of the defence, his wayward kicking proved to be the difference between victory and defeat. His Lions hopes may have taken a hit, too.
2. Garry Ringrose (Ireland) – Seeing red in Cardiff
Ringrose's return to the Ireland starting lineup ended in disaster, as a high tackle on Ben Thomas saw his initial yellow upgraded to a 20-minute red. While he was solid defensively before that, his ill-discipline handed Wales easy points and left Ireland a man down for a crucial period. A nightmare outing that could see him banned for the rest of the tournament.
3. Marcus Smith (England) – Mixed bag against Scots
Smith's return to fly-half split opinions, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by defensive frailties. He was steamrolled by Duhan van der Merwe for Scotland's second try and sliced a clearance under pressure. While he probed from deep, his inconsistent performance left England fans divided once again.
4. Thomas Clarkson (Ireland) – Baptism of fire
Thrown into the starting lineup, Clarkson endured a brutal first Test start as Ireland's scrum crumbled in the first half. Opposite number Nicky Smith often had the upper hand, though Clarkson did win a key penalty to help extend Ireland's lead. A tough learning experience for the young tighthead.
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