Five players who have flopped in the 2026 Six Nations

Here, we examine five individuals whose performances have disappointed so far and who will be under pressure to respond in the closing stages.

Struggled badly against both Scotland and Ireland. Under the high ball he looked uncomfortable, which is a major concern given England’s tactical approach, and he was exposed several times. Although he found himself in some promising attacking positions, he failed to convert any into meaningful impact.

It feels like someone else may deserve an opportunity in Rome in a fortnight. The raw pace and athleticism are obvious, but he simply hasn’t delivered at this level. His two yellow cards at Murrayfield proved hugely costly, and the lack of visible response afterwards raises further concern.

After a steady showing against Wales, Ford endured difficult afternoons against Scotland and Ireland.

He was largely anonymous at Murrayfield, then endured a torrid first half in the following game, twice missing touch and being jeered by the crowd whenever he kicked, a sign of how far below his usual standards he performed. Some of his decision-making was questionable, and England’s attack suffered as a consequence.

Given Ireland’s broader issues at prop, there would have been an expectation that Furlong would stand out. Instead, he too has struggled to impose himself, particularly against England and Italy. He conceded an early scrum penalty against England, with the referee quick to intervene at the set-piece.

Ellis Genge had the upper hand at key moments in the fifth and 14th minutes, and Furlong received repeated warnings from referee Andrea Piardi during a sluggish start. He was fortunate to escape sanction for a clear-out on Tom Curry and was withdrawn early in the second half. Overall, a difficult outing.

There have long been doubts about whether Cherry meets the standard required for international rugby, and his start against Wales did little to dispel them. It was a challenging performance to watch.

Multiple lineouts malfunctioned, and he spilled possession in contact five metres from the line with a try in sight, not for the last time. Substituted after 55 minutes, he appeared off the pace throughout and struggled to cope with the demands of Test rugby.

Cowan-Dickie endured a particularly poor display against Ireland, following a modest showing the previous week against Scotland.

He was substituted after just 29 minutes after a difficult spell that featured inaccurate lineout throwing, limited influence around the park, and defensive lapses on more than one occasion. It was a performance well below expectations.