We take at five players who flopped during the opening round of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, including a disappointing England star.
#1. Billy Vunipola (England)
Billy Vunipola of England during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Telegraph 5/10: "Stripped in the tackle leading to an Argentina counter-attack and had three more spills. England need more from his offloading game."
Rugby Pass 5/10: "Ate his fair share of the hard yards and looks fitter. Couldn’t find much change in the Argie pack however."
RUCK 3/10: "Starved of quality service, he was completely ineffective. England need to play to his strengths or not play him at all."
Billy Vunipola facts:
- Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998
- While at Harrow School, Vunipola joined the Wasps Academy
- Vunipola's father is former Tonga captain Fe'ao Vunipola and his mother, Iesinga Vunipola, a Methodist minister in High Wycombe
- fter being selected for England U18, U20 and Saxons squads, he earned his first senior England cap against Argentina in June 2013, scoring his first Test try
- Vunipola won his first senior silverware in 2015 when Saracens beat Bath in the Premiership final
#2. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Springbok legend Tendai Mtawarira has called for Alun Wyn Jones to retire following an underwhelming second-half performance against the All Blacks.
The loosehead-prop wrote on Twitter: "Alun Wyn Jones about time to retire...a good dancer knows when to leave the dance floor...I am sure there is a young Welsh lock waiting for his turn in that jersey,"
He wasn't the only one thinking it as fans comment showed.
One fan wrote: "Alun Wyn Jones pedestrian in filling the defensive space."
"Why won’t Wales let Alun Wyn Jones retire? His arthritis must be flaring up right now," commented a second
A third wrote: "Alun Wyn Jones coming on to play with two wingers who were 5 and 6 years old when he made his debut,:"
"Alun Wyn Jones must be at least 46 years of age," commented another.
"Seriously who else thinks Alun Wyn Jones is actually a clone and the original is actually 80," said another.
Alun Wyn Jones facts:
- He has a law degree from Swansea University and he graduated in 2010
- Jones received an OBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours for his services to rugby union football in Wales.
- He married Dr Anwen Rees, who is a doctor of physiology, in 2014 and the couple have two daughters together, Mali and Efa
- He was a part of Wales’ Six Nations Grand Slam wins in 2008, 2012 and 2019 as well as their 2013 championship title. He has also played in four World Cups – 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019
- Jones won Wales’ Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2019 after leading his country to a Six Nations Grand Slam win. The same year he was nominated for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year but was beaten by English cricketer Ben Stokes
#3. Damian Willemse (South Africa)
RATINGS:
Rugby Pass 4/10: "His game management and kicking out of hand was dreadful at times. One poor hoof perhaps cost his team the game."
Planet Rugby 6/10: "his kicking proved costly as he was off target with a penalty attempt, missed touch with one kick for the line and also put the ball out directly on one occasion."
FAN COMMENTS:
#4. Tommy Reffell (Wales)
RATINGS:
Wales Online 4/10: "Not the dominant figure we saw in South Africa in the summer. There was a decent quota of tackles, but Reffell couldn’t impact the breakdown and was stepped by Smith as the scrum-half flamboyantly crossed."
Rugby Pass 5/10: "On his home debut, Reffell made a couple of great chop tackles but didn’t nail down that textbook turnover early doors."
FAN COMMENTS:
One fan wrote: "New Zealand doing a job on Tommy Reffell today, really targeting him either by forcing him to make tackles so he’s not free to jackal or clearing him out early."
#5. Ali Price (Scotland)
RATINGS:
Rugby Pass 5/10: "Showed real intent with an early tap penalty that led to a yellow card for the visitors, but picked up a knock in the first half and wasn’t at his best."
FAN COMMENTS:
One fan wrote: "No shape what's so ever... Ali Price needs dropped."
"Ali Price offside 5 times, called on 3....embarrassing," wrote a second.
