Worst ever individual performance at an international?

Worst I can think of was Henson v Ireland 2006. Disaster.

Mauro Bergamasco v England 2009, at scrum-half, which must count as the worst ever decision in sport

To save GG i'll put Wayne Barnes

Cymroglan wrote:Mauro Bergamasco v England 2009, at scrum-half, which must count as the worst ever decision in sport

Haha how did I forget that! Amazing.

Deiniol Jones.Pick any of them.Truely dreadful.

True but they couldn't have known how bad he would have done when he's done better than before (and covers for the 9 in game and can pass). He didn't play that badly because he's that bad. It was just a really bad performance. Worthy of this post but not the decision to pick him there (IMO of course)

Even Shane Williams at prop would have been a better decision.

A fifth choice specialist scrum-half could not have played any worse

Sorry something went wrong there. I edited my original post instead of replying.

Original post said something like [loads of injuries and Bergamasco had played there before and done fine [although at club level I think]

neil jenkins vs france at wembley

tony underwood vs all blacks 1995 world cup

peter francis (1 and only cap v scotland) 1987 ( i think)

cuister v italy back in 2007

sexton v scotland in dublin and o'leary france the other day were pretty dire

happe v wales the other day was pretty special to

just a few that spring to mind but worst I have ever seen was andy allen up at twickers when the only thing he did of note was fall on an english player on the floor and wind them!

For a "cameo" role, Scott Lawson-v-Wales. When he came on, we were miles ahead with Wales never looking like getting close to us. He runs around like a loon for 5/10 mins, gives away a couple of penalties and then wanders through the side of a ruck with the ref screaming at him not to do it - 10 mins in the bin and the rest is Welsh folklore history.
And to think that he is our back-up hooker................

Cusiter against Italy in 1997 was a shocker. And to think that I dragged myself out of bed at 3.30 in the morning in Auckland to go and find an all-night Irish bar to watch it. And everyone laughed at me after about 10 minutes.

cueto for past 50 years? ok only joking but yeh Mauro's perfomance was incredibly awful, urm dan biggar vs fiji (actually whole team vs fiji)

InjuredYetAgain wrote:
Cusiter against Italy in 1997 was a shocker. And to think that I dragged myself out of bed at 3.30 in the morning in Auckland to go and find an all-night Irish bar to watch it. And everyone laughed at me after about 10 minutes.

I'm not surprise everyone laughed at you, as you were 10 years too early to watch that performance.

The two guys who sang Ireland's Call at the weekend.

Ah, that explains everything then.
Time for bed said Zebedee.
To be honest, though, even if Italy hadn't actually turned up that day (be it 1997 or 2007), I still wouldn't have fancied our chances of holding any lead that we may have gained.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Cusiter against Italy in 1997 was a shocker. And to think that I dragged myself out of bed at 3.30 in the morning in Auckland to go and find an all-night Irish bar to watch it. And everyone laughed at me after about 10 minutes.

I thought it was Phil Godman with the bad passes and bad clearance? Maybe I have that wrong, but all I rmemeber it was 0-21 after less than 10 minutes. Even my dog was not amused.

Will Green and Andy Long's epic failure in the English scrum in the Autumn International vs Australia 1997 spring to mind...

Long was substituted after 40 minutes and Green just kept getting pinged.

You know I just can't get myself to give this prize to Mauro Bergamasco. He is too much of a class act and really took one for the team by simply trying to play 9 that day. He was awful, but considering the circumstances, I would give him a pass for that one.

Acttually the worst performance I can recall is Ben Blair in the Super 12 2004 final (won by Brumbies). He was at fullback for Canterbury. He personally gave Brumbies two tries by mishandling kicks, set-up a third with an awful pass and generally was Brumbies 16th player. I actually use video clips from that match when I coach my boy's teams for the good plays by Brumbies and for the bad plays by Balir.

Which French player tried to let the ball bounce out in the first minute of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, only for Lewsey to gather, run over him and score?

Not sure how he did for the rest of the match (too drunk and long ago to remember!) but that was a pretty special moment in a high-profile game.

robbo277 wrote:Which French player tried to let the ball bounce out in the first minute of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, only for Lewsey to gather, run over him and score?

Not sure how he did for the rest of the match (too drunk and long ago to remember!) but that was a pretty special moment in a high-profile game.

Damien Traille. I think it was his first game at full back and there were some questions over whether he was suitable.

That was a great traille Especially as I was watching it in a Frog & Firkin pub in Paris that had about four England fans in it.

Balshaw v Wales at Twickers 2008 = Thanks for the Slam

He was much much much worse against France that year

Then you should suggest that game then

I already have

That was Traille's second game at full back I think. His first was against New Zealand in the quarters where he was pretty solid. I believe he was put there to put his big boot to use.

Sione Lauaki.
ABs v Aust. 07/2008
Perhaps the worse 20 mins of
rugby by an All Black this century.
Couldnt catch.
Couldnt tackle
(i could be wrong but i think he was substituted as
a substitute!!!)
After this inept performance Siones
career went into freefall.
How could someone so big and strong
Be such a big jessie!!!!

Every time Lawrence Sepakha came onto the pitch for SA, he couldn't scrum, was slow, couldn't run.

nottins_jones, you're right he was at 15 against New Zealand.

RubyGuby, sorry just looked back and it looks like I accidentally overwrote my bit about Balshaw.

To recap, that was the game with Moore's wonderful commentary such as

"He's an idiot" and "What are you doing? You're the full back" [paraphrased].

robbo277 wrote:Which French player tried to let the ball bounce out in the first minute of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, only for Lewsey to gather, run over him and score?

Not sure how he did for the rest of the match (too drunk and long ago to remember!) but that was a pretty special moment in a high-profile game.

You must have been drunk, it wasn't the final...

Any game/performance involving Chris Paterson. What a joke.

Knackeredknees wrote:To save GG i'll put Wayne Barnes

I sense... mischief!!!

bathmad wrote:Any game/performance involving Chris Paterson. What a joke.

I'm sorry, what?

Surely Iain Balshaw must get a mention somewhere? A great player on his day, but an absolutely awful player on a bad day.

Paterson is a legend. The Scottish Neil Jenkins.

O'Gara, any time he pulled on a Lions jersey?

krusty wrote:Paterson is a legend. The Scottish Neil Jenkins.

At least Jenkins attempted all his kicks, Paterson only took the easier kicks.

Paterson knows his limitations. there's nothing wrong with that. what's the point in attempting a kick which you know is beyond your capabilities? He's still a great defender and is possibly the most wasted attacking talent Scotland had until the Evans brothers.

mckay1402 wrote:Paterson knows his limitations. there's nothing wrong with that. what's the point in attempting a kick which you know is beyond your capabilities? He's still a great defender and is possibly the most wasted attacking talent Scotland had until the Evans brothers.

what's funny?

Surprised no one has mentioned Steven Donald for last years Bledisloe cameo.

Or how about Lesley Vainikolo's 6N's performance? What performance you ask? Check the team sheet he was there apparently, not that anyone ever saw him.

yappysnap wrote:Or how about Lesley Vainikolo's 6N's performance? What performance you ask? Check the team sheet he was there apparently, not that anyone ever saw him.

Can I suggest the performance of Lesley Vanikolo's hair from the same 6N.

Probably the most entertaining part of his tournament.

It was terrible, britain braids? c'mon les!

On a more serious note........

Andy Farrell at 12 at any point? He just didnt make the transition over from league properly, or at least, his knees didnt.

O we have an equivalent in Wales (more than one) Iestyn Harris. Talk about chucked in at the deep end...

Will James vs England in the 2007 warm-up at Twickers.....

Nick De Luca's debut for Scotland was something special. You'd struggle to find anything he did correctly bar putting on the right jersey.

Farrell was 50 & in a wheelchair when he came to union so he didn't have much of a chance.

Paterson is actually a very good all round player and to be honest that old chesnut of "he only takes the easier kicks is a bit of a

It makes absolutley no sense to try and kick a goal that is out of your range Steven Jones in Ireland's 2009 grand slam anyone?

As for performances in internationals that are notably awful NDL's debut was a farce. As FES points out it is a miracle he had the right jersey on, something tells me his team mates dressed him for that game.

Scott Lawson against Wales too is one of the worst performances from a bench warmer in Rugby history. Gave away a handful of penalties and got himself binned.

Dan Parks has had some shockers too.