Brumbies player ratings vs Hurricanes | Super Rugby Pacific
To finish off round 11 of Super Rugby Pacific the Brumbies welcomed the Hurricanes to GIO Stadium in Canberra for Sunday afternoon rugby.
The Brumbies welcomed back Tom Banks in the fifteen jersey after recovering from a facial injury sustained in round six and he was instrumental in the 42-25 victory.
The Brumbies built their lead early by taking points away from all of their trips inside the Hurricanes territory. The Hurricanes stayed in the game, with the Brumbies heading into the half only three points ahead.
It was an arm-wrestle for most of the second half, but a dominant performance from the Brumbies back row set the platform for a Brumbies blitz as they ran in four tries to seal the match.
Here’s how the Brumbies rated:
1. Scott Sio – 6.5/10
The veteran prop’s purple patch of form continues. Was asked to make a lot of carries and made metres after contact. Matched up well against Lomax in the scrum battle. Replaced in the 50th minute by Slipper.
2. Lachlan Lonergan – 6
Was solid throwing at the linout and got around the park like a backrower. Was a recipient of the Brumbies maul machine, scoring from short range in the second half to put the Brumbies ahead. Replaced in the 50th minute
3. Sefo Kautai – 6
Carried hard off the ruck in tight and was solid at scrum time. Fell off some tackles, including a stray jersey grab that allowed Rayasi to slice through. Substituted in the 57th minute.
4. Darcy Swain – 7
Was industrious in defence, working hard around the ruck. Was targeted six in the lineout for the Brumbies and won a Hurricanes lineout against the throw in the 32nd minute. Continues to be the best counter-mauler in the competition, disrupting the Canes on multiple occasions.
5. Cadeyrn Neville – 6
Got through a mountain of work in both defence and attack, doing the hard work that allowed the Brumbies back row to range out wide. Was involved in every other ruck and made 12 tackles. Replaced by Tom Hooper in the 57th minute
6. Rob Valetini – 8
Made up for an early drop ball off a lineout move but putting in one of his best performances in a Brumbies jersey. Punched holes in the Canes defence all game and was abrasive in every carry. Made 16 tackles. In the 33rd minute he put in a grubber and won the 50-metre horse-race to get enough pressure down on the ball to ground it over the line.
7. Jahrome Brown – 7.5
Was his usual combative self in contact and was dogged in defence, making 12 tackles. Sat down Umuga-Jensen to bounce out of a tackle early in the game. Gave away a cynical penalty for slapping the ball out TJ Perenara hands and was yellow carded. Backed up Tom Wright to score a important try in the 53rd minute.
8. Pete Samu – 6.5
Powered over the advantage line on a number of carries to build momentum for the Brumbies. Was tenacious around the ruck and was targeted in the lineout three times.
9. Nic White – 6.5
Found space around the edges of the ruck to get the Brumbies in behind the Canes defence. Controlled the tempo of the game and used the box-kick effectively to get the Brumbies out of trouble and into Hurricanes territory. Did well to wrestle the ball away from Fainga’a and get it out to Ikitau for Banks’ try. Replaced by Lonergan shortly after.
10. Noah Lolesio – 6
Took the points when they were on offer and built the Brumbies lead early in the match. The radar was working, converting 7 from 8 off the boot. He missed a soft tackle that allowed Rayasi to stroll over for a try early in the second half.
11. Andy Muirhead – 5.5
Made some great textbook tackles and did well to contain Julian Savea. Had limited opportunities with ball in hand but was able to use his quick fit to escape heavy traffic.
12. Irae Simone – 6.5
Was outstanding in organising the Brumbies backline and acting as a second playmaker. Set the line for the backs and covered his channel well in defence, making a team-high 17 tackles. Split the Canes through the middle to set up Jahrome Brown’s try.
13. Len Ikitau – 6.5
Ikitau was influential on defence, and his big shots forced errors from the Canes backline. Saw a glimpse of his immense strength when he carried three Hurricanes defenders as fought to find the grass in the second half.
14. Tom Wright – 6
Supported his fellow outside backs and ran lines that exposed the Canes in the backfield. Made himself a menace at the breakdown and won a crucial turnover in their own 22 to stop an attacking raid from the Canes.
15. Tom Banks – 7
Played up in line and got plenty of touches from fullback. His running lines broke through consistently and he was good in the aerial battle against Barrett. Was on the end of a pass from Ikitau to score in the 57th minute. Was lucky to get away with a suspect charge on Julian Savea late in the match.
Replacements:
16. Folau Fainga’a – 5.5
His first involvement was to break away from the maul and carry it to the line, setting up the Banks try. Had a number of carries but was not able to break through the Canes rush defence, and took some wrong options in attack.
17. James Slipper – 6
Came on and added some power in the scrum. The veteran continues his incredible work rate.
18. Tom Ross – N/A
Gave away a penalty at scrum time to hand possession to the Canes.
19. Tom Hooper – 6.5
Supported his forwards carrying into contact and was there to clear out. At times lost the physical battle when carrying into contact. Managed to make 9 tackles in fifteen minutes.
20. Luke Reimer – 6.5
Was a menace at the breakdown and was rewarded with a crucial turnover late in the game.
21. Ryan Lonergan – 6
Kept the tempo up when he came on the park, providing good service to his outside backs.
22. Hudson Creighton – 5
Came on in the 72nd minute. Barely got across the line in the 77th minute to seal the win for the Brumbies.
23. Ollie Sapsford – N/A
Entered the game in the 70th minute.
Comments on RugbyPass
What about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
2 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
15 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
15 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
1 Go to commentsThanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
15 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
15 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
15 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
15 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
5 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to comments