"Weakest link" – England fans believe a 65-cap star shouldn't play for his country again

Yesterday at 05:12 PM

A 65-cap England international has come under heavy scrutiny for his performance against South Africa, with some supporters branding him the weak link in the England lineup.

England suffered their fifth consecutive defeat as reigning world champions South Africa held them off to secure a win at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium. This loss marks England's worst run since the five-match losing streak under Eddie Jones in 2018.

The southern hemisphere heavyweights—New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa—have now triumphed at Allianz Stadium on consecutive weekends.

Henry Slade, in particular, faced a wave of criticism on social media, whether for a poorly-timed pass that put Ollie Lawrence in a tough spot or for his generally uninspired defensive play. Fans did not hold back:

One critic tweeted, "Reckon some of the crowd could play better defence than Henry Slade."

Another wrote, "Henry Slade is easily the weakest link in this England team. The coach just doesn't see that Slade is the issue that needs addressing."

“A hospital pass from Slade almost ended Ollie Lawrence there,” said another.

A different user recalled, "Henry Slade made the same kind of missed tackle that let Australia snatch the win before. His defence is just not up to scratch… it's really disheartening to see."

Someone else commented, "Henry Slade playing for England is as embarrassing as having Borthwick as coach."

And another called for change, saying, "Once again, Henry Slade is dreadful defensively and contributes nothing in attack. Borthwick needs to drop him, but he won't."

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England players ranked from worst to best: Average rating

27. Jack van Poortvliet – 3.0
Spilled the ball immediately and looked out of sorts. Struggled against South Africa's behemoths and was regularly charged down.

26. George Ford – 3.5
Had limited impact off the bench. The usual tactical master couldn't turn games around when it mattered.

25. Ellis Genge – 3.8
Usually a wrecking ball, but this Autumn saw missed tackles and too many penalties. Breathless in one match and stood still in another – not a vintage Genge season.

24. Tommy Freeman – 4.3
An electric talent with ball in hand, but we barely saw that. Looked off the pace and found himself chasing kicks more than making breaks.

23. Fin Baxter – 4.5
Promising but didn't stand out. Did the basics but struggled to make a lasting impact when introduced.

22. Nick Isiekwe – 4.5
Solid in the line-out but quiet in open play. England needed more from the Saracens second-row.

21. Alex Dombrandt – 4.8
Inconsistent performances off the bench. A few good carries but not enough to change the game. He’ll want to prove his worth next time.

20. Freddie Steward – 5.0
Reliable under the high ball but was outplayed by South Africa's lethal backs. Couldn't quite get England moving forward.

19. Henry Slade – 5.2
Defensive general in the blitz but exposed at times. A ruled-out try and injury added to a frustrating Autumn.

18. Ollie Lawrence – 5.2
Strong in contact when used, but England simply didn't play to his strengths. Needs to be more involved to make a difference.

17. Ben Spencer – 5.3
A mixed bag: good moments against Australia but a bit slow under pressure. England needed more from their half-backs.

16. Chandler Cunningham-South – 5.7
Physical and aggressive but couldn't dominate South Africa’s brutal back row. Still learning at this level.

15. Jamie George – 5.8
Led from the front with big hits and a presence in the scrum. Ran out of steam, but his leadership remains key.

14. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 6.0
Brought dynamism from the bench. Physical and combative, but couldn’t quite change England's fortunes.

13. Will Stuart – 6.0
Solid in the scrum and chipped in with some handy carries. An unfortunate Autumn with harsh penalties.

12. Tom Curry – 6.5
Battled bravely through serious injury concerns. Still a defensive workhorse, but England fans will worry about his health.

11. Ben Curry – 6.5
A reliable force when on. Kept the breakdown competitive and played with spirit, but overshadowed by his twin's absence.

10. Sam Underhill – 6.5
Stepped in for Curry and gave everything. Scored a try against South Africa and defended heroically. An Autumn to remember for his comeback.

9. George Martin – 6.5
Tireless and physical. Stood out against South Africa, creating a try and tackling relentlessly. He's one for the future.

8. Harry Randall – 6.5
Quick and lively from the bench, adding pace to England’s game. Needed more minutes to truly shine.

7. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 6.7
Injured twice but showed resilience. A try against New Zealand and solid defensive work hint at his promise.

6. Tom Roebuck – 6.8
Came on against the Boks and looked lively. Created some excitement with his attacking verve.

5. Ben Earl – 7.0
The carrying machine of England's pack. Impressive footwork and dynamism, though he missed a key tackle against the Boks.

4. Ellis Sleightholme – 7.5
Three tries in two games. Knows where the line is and added spark to England's faltering attack.

3. Chandler Cunningham-South – 7.5
A beast against the All Blacks. Monster hits and two tries against Australia. Showed England fans his immense potential.

2. Marcus Smith – 7.8
The heartbeat of England’s attack. Cross-kicks, fakes, and line breaks. England's bright light even when results went dark.

1. Maro Itoje – 7.8
Iconic in every sense. Marked his 85th cap with a performance full of power, line-out dominance, and bruising physicality. England's best, even in defeat.

EDITORS PICKS:

• Scotland coach is bookies favourite to replace Warren Gatland following record loss
• Sir Ian Botham's Grandson allowed to play on despite being 'knocked' out for Wales against Australia
• Ugo Monye calls out Courtney Lawes 'bullish**' live on air following England defeat
• England's collapse down the world rankings lands them in group of death for 2027 Rugby World Cup
• Ben Earl faces criticism for controversial incident moments before halftime against the Springboks

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