Blues player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Aotearoa
Don’t worry, there was no gunfire at Forsyth Barr Stadium in a Round 8 Super Rugby Aotearoa match but the Blues shot themselves in the foot more than once, as they went down to the plucky Highlanders 35-29 to intensify the race for the final.
The Blues looked good when they focused on getting across the advantage line and using momentum, dominated statistically across the board but they allowed the Highlanders to dictate terms for crucial periods through aimless kicking, blowing chances in the red zone and indiscipline.
Here’re the Blues’ ratings
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 6
Scrummed solidly, looked a little pedestrian in open play. Off at 49 but back for a final cameo after Hodgman’s red.
2. Luteru Tolai – 6.5
Probably his best game of the season, the set piece was good and he was energetic around the paddock as usual. Off at 62.
3. Ofa Tuungafasi – 7
Packed a lot of work into under 50 minutes. He was the big dog at scrum time and top tackler for his team and an awesome maul swim turnover in the 29th minute. On the negative side, he conceded a penalty that led to the Himeno try and probably should have done more to stop Punivai off the back of the lineout. Off at 49.
4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – 7
Has taken the Paddy role controlling the midfield with strong running and defence. Some good metres, angry defence on Ash Dixon in the 56th minute and reliable aerial man at kick off and lineout.
5. Sam Darry – 6.5
Seems to have been working on his clean outs, was strong there and is quite spectacular to watch at lineout time. Silky slip of the ball to Cowley-Tuioti in the 35th minute who gave him one back seconds later. Off at 55.
6. Tom Robinson © – N/A
Blood bin after taking on the Frizell melon and off for good at 3 minutes.
7. Dalton Papalii – 6
Great charge down in the first minute, driven out at the corner in 5th minute. Looked good on the left flank at the start of the 2nd half although couldn’t collect a tough ball for a try in 45th. Was penalised for changing his line at a crucial time.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 5.5
Brave turnover at 8 minutes, tried hard to deny Smith on Himeno try. Silly play on the ground that led to yellow card but good to see glimpses of his running off the boot. Marked him down a point for the card.
9. Jonathan Ruru – 6
Quite phenomenal reflexes to score the first try, leaving a bit of egg on Aaron Smith’s face but Smith wiped the egg off and turned it into a juicy omelette. Wasn’t quick enough to cover for the Josh Ioane try. Off at 55.
10. Otere Black – 6
Aimless kick at 17 minutes that led to his team mates being offside. Fine piece of play in 33rd minute to slink through a gap to feed Rieko for his try and some good combos to get Caleb Clarke in the game.
11.Caleb Clarke – 7.5
It was comforting to see the youngster step up a gear and have his best game of the season. Good kick off collection at 12 minutes and was finally released in the second half running challenging shadow lines off the playmaker and breaking tackles, almost reaching the 100 metre mark in running.
12. TJ Faiane – 6
Needed to draw the defender on Papalii’s near try a bit better in the early minutes. Ran arrow straight in the run to set up Rieko try and generally did well in the midfield. Off at 50.
13. Rieko Ioane – 6
Finished the try at 33 minutes. Tried to step up in the final stanza to gee up the troops but couldn’t shift the gears.
14. Mark Telea – 4.5
Off at 67. Tepid outing from the wing and may have played himself out of next week’s fifteen.
15. Stephen Perofeta – 5.5
A little aimless kicking at 30 minutes but is always good running it from the backfield. Got drawn in on the Nareki try.
Reserves:
16. Leni Apisai – 4
On at 62. Didn’t add much and took out Hunt when Papalii was penalised as well.
17. Alex Hodgman – 3
On at 49. Red-carded at 72. Clumsy stuff rather than dirty.
18. Nepo Laulala– 6
On at 49. Good swan dive for a try and had a ding-dong battle with the young gun de Groot.
19. Josh Goodhue – 5.5
On at 55. Brought the energy, was lucky to not get a try disallowed for accidentally swinging an arm onto Smith.
20. Akira Ioane – 6
On at 3 minutes after blood bin for a good opportunity to get his mojo back. Some good straight running leading up to the Rieko try. Stopped the Highlanders in their tracks with a turnover in 49th. Points win for Frizell though.
21. Finlay Christie – 5
On at 55. Frenetic but didn’t add to the momentum.
22. Harry Plummer – 4.5
On at 50. Needed to make a difference but didn’t.
23. Bryce Heem – 5
On at 67. Put one on the toe instead of keeping it in hand which is a shame as he is a dangerous runner and may be preferred next week.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments