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Blues player ratings vs Reds | Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
The Blues continued their march in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition with a 31-24 victory over the injury decimated Reds in Brisbane.
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The home team had playmakers James O’Connor and Bryce Hegarty pull out hours before the match but put up a plucky display, closing the gap in the closing stanza to grab a bonus point.
Conversely, the Blues missed out on a bonus point so they’ll be watching the Hurricanes closely in Canberra.
The Blues have started to look a lot more organised in attack and defence in the last month, and they were able to dictate play with the front foot ball they got from their meaty pack.
Here’re the Blues’ ratings.
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 6
Steady as you like in the set piece but will be under pressure from Hodgman for the starting role. Is what he is (a scrummaging beast!) but didn’t contribute as much as his team mate in the open. Off at 52.
2. Kurt Eklund – 7
Was one of the leaders in defence. Nice, low tackling style and showed good speed getting up and closing down the Reds’ defence. The set piece was also good, Eklund’s line out combos are working well. Off at 60.
3. Ofa Tuungafasi – 6
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Building back from his knee injury. A couple of errors in open play; stats showed only a 50% tackling completion rate and a rudimentary handling mistake just before halftime. Off at 52 .
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 7.5
Welcome back skip! He was like a 16lb bowling bowl churning out an average of 3 metres in each of his 11 carries and a try. Good distribution out the back for Telea’s try and a lineout steal in the 41st minute to set the Blues up at the start in the second half. He’ll be unhappy he didn’t spot Wilson running the lovely line off Paisami for the Reds first try. Off at 64.
5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – 7
If there was a Super Rugby unsung hero award the gutsy lock would be right up there in contention. He has played all 12 games for the Blues this season and just keeps going. 19 tackles, 2 turnovers, beating Papalii as top tackler and a nifty lineout steal at 42 minutes. Off at 66.
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6. Tom Robinson – 7.5
He has really improved vastly since we saw him first play at 6 for the Blues. We still get the pumped up energy, now his physicality and understanding of the game has made him such an important asset for the Blues. Two standouts he would’ve enjoyed, stopping Tupou who was charging like a rhino in the 14th minute and bounced off Vunivalu in the 34th.
7. Dalton Papalii – 7
Workman-like outing from the high-performer. He didn’t get the chance with the ball in hand apart from the close-quarters try but claimed 18 tackles.
8. Akira Ioane – 7
Loves the contact and wins the contact. Strong work with ball in hand, a very difficult man to tackle. I jotted down the 7th, 11th and 40th minutes where he smashed across the advantage line to get substantial go-forward. He also had some aggressive tackles, on Henry in the 10th minute and Scott Young in the 40th. He did spoil it a couple of times, penalised twice by lying around the ball. He won the Maradona award with a lovely trap with his foot in the 53rd minute from a goal line drop out. Off at 60.
“I think it was a bit of a wake-up call, to be honest.”
New @ChiefsRugby halfback Xavier Roe spoke to Tom Vinicombe about his change in fortunes ahead of last year’s breakout season. #SuperRugbyTT #CHIvREBhttps://t.co/UI0iRxFXtz
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) June 4, 2021
9. Finlay Christie- 7
For me, one of the biggest reasons the Blues have hit their straps in the last month is because of the regular starts Christie is getting at halfback. Got himself a try with the sneaky dot down. Off at 60.
10. Otere Black – 6
Is Mr Undercover in a lot of ways, makes the plays and isn’t scared of taking a shot if it means setting up his outsides. Doesn’t overplay his hand. Off at 64.
11. Mark Telea – 7
The wing hasn’t been sighted for a while, he got a start on the unfamiliar left wing and made every post a winner. Ran with conviction and then went looking for some work in-field and prospered with a try. Got across the try line in the 43rd minute but couldn’t dot down. It’s great to see him back in the groove as he’s an elusive, slippery eel.
12. TJ Faiane – 7
Good straight running to set targets in the midfield and orchestrated the breakout at 17 minutes that got Sullivan into space. Tackled like a demon and keep the dangerous Reds’ centres in check.
13. Rieko Ioane – 6
Nice save in defence in the 3rd minute from a Wilson breakout. A quiet night for the centre but sometimes the ball just doesn’t come your way.
14. Bryce Heem – 6.5
Beefy Bryce managed to bump off a defender or two and ran for 65 metres in the 1st half. Stopped seeing the ball in the second half and off at 60.
15. Zarn Sullivan – 7
Is becoming an important part of the Blues line-up and it’s hard to see him giving up his spot to Perofeta. He’s by no means the finished article but with his left-foot kicking game I’m sure he’s a coach’s favourite. Also displays some sublime skill, the 25metre pass off the left hand to Heem in the 17th minute was a pearler and some amazing balls in tight spaces. Top metre eater for his team, saved a try with a scything tackle on Daugunu in the 47th minute but then inexplicably chose not to compete in the air minutes later with Daugunu which allowed him to score easily; a lesson for the young fullback.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn has described himself as “quite annoyed” at star recruit Suliasi Vunivalu’s almost seamless transition from league to union. #SuperRugbyTT #REDvBLU https://t.co/q0VzG5aZfB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 4, 2021
Reserves:
16. Soane Vikena – 6.5
On at 60. Lovely work in the pod freeing up runners. Looks like a real prospect.
17. Alex Hodgman – 7
On at 52 and in 28 minutes tagged 13 tackles. Incredible! Showed a hunger that he wants his starting spot back and probably needs it to get more game time and keep his All Black chances alive.
18. Nepo Laulala – 6
On at 52. Had a funny moment where he picked up a ball from a ruck in a very offside position but had the last laugh with a genuine turnover later.
19. Jacob Pierce – N/A
On at 64.
20. Hoskins Sotutu- 7
On at 60, got some good metre numbers from kick returns and 8 hefty tackles.
21. Jonathan Ruru – 5
On at 60. Joined as the Blues started to hang on and couldn’t recreate the fluidity his team enjoys with Christie on the paddock.
22. Harry Plummer – 5
On at 64. Knocked on first ball.
23. AJ Lam – 6
On at 60. Good defence around 77 minutes with three tackles in 10 secs. Didn’t get a chance in space.
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
28 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
28 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
28 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments