"About time to retire" - Four players who flopped in their Autumn Nations Series opener
Rugby NewsSaturday, 05 November 2022 at 19:48
We take a look at five players who failed to perform in today's Autumn Nations Series action.
#1. 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
#2. 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.
Ali Price facts:
- Born in King’s Lynn in England, Price qualifies for Scotland through his mother
- Price stands at 5 ft 10 in (178cm), weighing 12 st 8lbs (80kg)
- At the beginning of his rugby career, Price was nicknamed ‘Sonic’ due to his sharp turn of pace, but more importantly his spiky hair
- Educated at Wisbech Grammar School in Cambridgeshire, Price was a talented all-round sportsman
#4. Caleb Clark (New Zealand)
RATINGS:
Rugby Pass 4/10: "Fluffed a simple catch early in the first half, handing Wales an attacking opportunity right outside the NZ 22. Defended well but didn’t get any opportunities with the ball in hand until time was almost up."
Stuff 6/10: "Hands let him down on a couple of occasions. Like Reece, the wing had little action go his way. The All Blacks need to get the ball in this man’s hands."
FAN COMMENTS:
One wrote: "Caleb Clark needs to invest in grip gloves."
#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."
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