Round 2 of the Nations Championship delivered another gripping chapter as northern and southern hemisphere sides continued their tug-of-war, leaving the overall contest locked at six wins apiece.
⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
While some stars enhanced their reputations, others failed to meet expectations.
Here, we examine five players whose performances fell short, highlighting the disappointments that shaped an enthralling weekend of international rugby across both hemispheres this round alone.
1 Salesi Rayasi
Fiji were dismantled 73-8 by England at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Rayasi was one of two Fijians to feature in this week’s flops.
A costly defensive error gifted Marcus Smith the opening try after Rayasi allowed the ball to bounce off the corner post before switching off, leaving Smith with a simple finish.
England’s backline repeatedly targeted him, exposing gaps in Fiji’s defence throughout the match. Henry Pollock burst past him with ease, and while the back-rower is exceptionally quick, a forward beating a fullback so comfortably highlighted Rayasi’s difficult afternoon.
2 Ronan Kelleher
Winning a 50th Test cap should have been a memorable occasion for Ronan Kelleher, but it quickly turned into a frustrating afternoon against Japan.
His opening lineout sailed over James Ryan and landed perfectly for Japan, allowing the visitors to score the first try. It set the tone for a difficult outing at the set piece.
Another lineout in the 23rd minute failed to go straight, reflecting Ireland’s continued struggles in that area. Kelleher remained involved with ball in hand and worked hard around the field, but the lineout problems continued throughout the second half.
With Dan Sheehan firmly established as Ireland’s first choice hooker, performances like this make it difficult to see Kelleher forcing his way into the starting XV next week.
