5 George Martin
Sometimes technical terms do not quite capture Martin’s impact. “Melted”, “smashed” and “banged” are often more appropriate descriptions for the damage the Saracens-bound lock produces in the tight.
However, he did not produce the same standout performance he managed against the Springboks, while his statistics were also fairly modest.
Martin finished with just four tackles and four carries in his 48 minutes on the pitch. While he is clearly still working his way back into Test rugby, England now have an irresistible option waiting in the wings.
6 Kyle Steyn
Scotland pushed South Africa all the way, but Kyle Steyn struggled to make the impact expected on the wing.
Scotland repeatedly looked for him with high kicks in the opening stages, yet none of those contests resulted in possession for the visitors. He also spilled a high ball in defence during an uncharacteristically untidy display under the aerial bombardment.
His afternoon ended on another frustrating note when he failed to gather Tom Jordan’s cross kick with the try line wide open, a missed opportunity that summed up an otherwise disappointing performance.
Quiz: Name the Top 10 Highest Points Scorers in Rugby History
Scoring points at Test level is one of rugby’s toughest challenges. It takes consistency, longevity and the ability to deliver under pressure against the very best teams in the world.
You have three minutes to name the top 10 highest points scorers in men’s international rugby union history. How many can you get?
