RBS 6 Nations 2016: 3 Players Whose Reputations Suffered

The 2016 RBS Six Nations saw the arrival on the main stage of international rugby of Maro Itoje and George Kruis, the confirmation of Guilhem Guirado, Billy Vunipola and Gareth Davies’ places, and the re-emergence of George North. But what of those whose reputations suffered in the championship?

Here, Bleacher Report analyses the cases of the three players whose stock fell most in this year's tournament and provides a blueprint for them to return to their former glories.

Despite winning a first Grand Slam since 2003, England provide the two players most in need of a boost, with Ireland’s form meaning one of their key men may have a battle to regain his starting place.

Mike Brown, England’s most capped full-back, had a disappointing championship. On consecutive weeks, in tight games against both Wales and France, Brown squandered relatively simple try-scoring opportunities after making a break.

Against Wales, he had a clear run into the corner but inexplicably cut inside, and in the France match, he failed to spot a straightforward two-on-one to put Anthony Watson over.

Brown is not a young, inexperienced player: He’s 30 and has 48 caps. Therefore, such profligacy is hard to excuse.

Fortunately for him, although he has Alex Goode—the playmaking No. 15—challenging him hard for the England jersey, Brown can rectify this difficulty comfortably: by scanning the field when he makes a break.

But the simplicity of the task arguably makes Brown’s poor execution all the more damning.

After England beat Ireland on Matchday 3, Rugby World noted that Rob Kearney had been “way off his best for some time.”

To cite one critical appraisal of the full-back, the Daily Telegraph’s Brendan Gallagher noted in a 2013 article on lucrative moves to France that he “would be close to the top of any French club’s shopping list.”

What’s more, Kearney—for his big boot, excellence under the high ball and incisive running lines—was voted the finest Irish full-back of the professional era last year in a poll by RTE.

So what has happened to the Leinster man?

To some extent, injuries have held Kearney back, both before the World Cup last summer and in the Six Nations, but given his high standards, the full-back was very disappointing in the latter, having barely any impact on the game.

What Kearney needs is to gradually build up confidence and form with Leinster in the Pro 12.

His rival for the Ireland No. 15 spot, Simon Zebo, is extravagant but unreliable: hardly a perfect formula for the conservative Ireland coach, Joe Schmidt.

As such, returning to the basics of full-back play—catching and joining the line at pace off Jonathan Sexton with Leinster—should mean we consider this season to be only a momentary blip in Kearney’s fine career.

Jonathan Joseph, the England outside centre, may have been joint-second top scorer in the 2016 Six Nations with three tries (all against Italy), but the Bath No. 13’s reputation suffered across the championship. Although this is not Joseph’s fault, his star is not shining as brightly now as it did in 2015, when he was England’s player of the year.

Joseph’s attacking threat was minimal this Six Nations because of England’s lack of physicality in midfield. The 24-year-old comes into his own when the defence are on the back foot, and England’s light-weight back line couldn’t provide him with the opportunities he craves.

His club, Bath, may not have bulk inside Joseph, but they do have Matt Banahan, who makes good runs off his wing, either to get his team over the gain line or to fix defenders’ attention away from Joseph.

Per the Daily Mail, England head coach Eddie Jones has publicly stated that he regards Manu Tuilagi as an inside, not an outside centre: “I think 12’s his best position, yes. He’s not a 13. That’s what I know he’s not. He’s definitely a 12. He can carry the ball across the gain line.”

This should encourage Joseph for two reasons. Firstly, he won’t be competing for a starting place with the Leicester Tiger.

Secondly, if Tuilagi is at No. 12, Joseph would have the midfield battering ram that would put opposition defences on the back foot and allow him to attack more purposefully.