Blues player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific
The Blues had an opportunity to secure a third-place finish with a win over a desperate Highlanders side in Auckland on Friday night.
The result would likely define the Highlanders’ season, as the Southlanders sat in eighth place and needed a win to qualify for the knockout stages.
The visitors had to make just shy of 100 tackles with just a 74% success rate at halftime, leaving the opening period on the wrong side of a 16-6 scoreline.
The second half was played at a snail’s pace with brief intervals of Mark Telea magic and Rieko Ioane speed. Just three points to the Highlanders in the second 40 reflected the stagnant nature of the match. Fulltime score: 16-9.
Here’s how the Blues rated:
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 7
Tu’ungafasi was heavily involved in attack – by prop standards – and claimed some impressive run meters in the match. Squaring off with the in-form Jermaine Ainsley in the front row was a strong challenge for the All Black and one that went both ways. He was called out for taking a knee in the scrum after over-extending early in the second half but provided a good platform throughout the rest of the match.
2. Ricky Riccitelli – 8
Riccitelli’s execution at lineout time was nearly perfect, his side struggled to capitalise on it though. Some brief runs gained good meters and provided energy which the match lacked in large parts.
3. Nepo Laulala – 7.5
A mighty battle up front was on offer on the night with Laulala facing off with Ethan de Groot. Laulala looked to have the upper hand in the contest, but the supporting cast in the second row looked to be contributing more for the Blues compared to their opposites.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 7.5
Tuipolotu Handled some awkward takes under the high kick-offs. The All Black was winning the contact regularly and getting his side over the gain line while looking for the offload.
5. James Tucker – 6.5
Poor tackle execution cost his side early. The slug-fest nature of the game meant Tucker was hitting rucks and not doing a whole lot else. The Blues dominating possession didn’t demand much defence of the forwards.
6. Tom Robinson – 8.5
Robinson’s mobility around the park was a huge positive for the Blues, his ability to keep up with dynamic play and lend a heavy shoulder to the ensuing breakdowns with multiple-effort plays ensured the Auckland team made the most of their runs.
7. Anton Segner – 8
A great support line saw the young German storming upfield with ball in hand having received a Mark Telea offload. Segner has a knack for timing at the ruck, he’s efficient in his clearouts and has the motor and mobility to be effective all over the park. Snagged an opportunistic ball at the back of the ruck to initiate some more attack just before halftime.
8. Dalton Papali’i – 7
Saved his team early with a turnover. Papali’i won’t have made any fans by reducing nearly the entire third quarter of the game to scrum practice. Papali’i didn’t get to benefit much from his move to the back of the scrum, the platform and field position never allowed him to spread his legs. The defence was as exceptional as you’d expect from the captain.
9. Finlay Christie – 8
Some awkward takes off the kickoff saw Patrick Tuipolotu get isolated right in front of Christie, the forwards should have taken care of it but if Christie had recognised the threat quicker it would have saved his side a turnover. Had some great clearing kicks, peeling off heavy meters. Generally managed an ugly game well.
10. Stephen Perofeta – 7
Perofeta hit the ball with pace and intent early. Some fine kicking from Freddie Burns put Perofeta and Zarn Sullivan in awkward positions to clear. The backs just had limited opportunities in the match given the amount of time spent at set piece.
11. Caleb Clarke – 5
Clarke has struggled to find his rhythm in 2023 and started the night by slightly overrunning his first line before getting called for not rolling shortly after.
12. Harry Plummer – 7
Plummer is a composed leader in the backline, he doesn’t rush anything but also doesn’t hesitate to inject pace into the attack when he sees it fit. Very little was asked of the backline defensively on the night.
13. Rieko Ioane – 7.5
Some heroic work not only saved a try but sparked a counter-attack. Ioane ran some good lines, claiming a couple of clean breaks in addition to some clean distribution work.
14. Mark Telea – 8
There’s X-factor galore every time this guy touches the ball. As well as beating defenders at will, his influence around the ruck was superb. A silky offload contributed to the first try of the game.
15. Zarn Sullivan – 7
Sullivan has a game IQ that continues to grow and a boot that rarely fails. His size offers physicality you don’t often see at fullback.
Replacements:
16. Kurt Eklund – 7
17. Jordan Lay – 6
18. Marcel Renata – 6.5
19. Rob Rush – 8
20. Akira Ioane – 7.5
Entered the game early for a brief stint and showed great strength in the lineout drive. Physical in defence.
21. Sam Nock – 8
22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – 7.5
23. AJ Lam – 7.5
Comments on RugbyPass
Crazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
4 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
4 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
212 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
23 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
23 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
212 Go to comments“Teams would generally have three coaches below their head honcho; attack coach, defence coach, forwards coach” do they? I’m not sure what the NZ set up is tbh, but the other 4 sides top 5 sides all have very different structures to the one outlined in the article! As well as attack, defence, and forwards coaches, SA, Ireland, and France also have specialist scrum coaches. England have a specialist scrum coach too, but arguably don’t have a forwards coach, with that role taken on by Borthwick. SA also have a backs coach in addition to defence and attack, and Ireland and England have fitness coaches, with England also having two skills coaches.
2 Go to commentsWorst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
4 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
23 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
212 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
23 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
8 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
4 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
212 Go to comments