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Chiefs player ratings vs Crusaders | Super Rugby Aotearoa
The Chiefs sent Hamilton and surrounding cow country into a frenzy by pipping the Crusaders 26-25, showing belief and skill to underline they are contenders for this competition, with four wins in a row.
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The home team had a dominant scrum, a steady lineout, territorial advantage and enough guts to stay in the fight as the lead changed 6 times. Richie Mo’unga will rue his final missed conversion from a handy spot.
Here’re the Chiefs’ ratings:
1. Aidan Ross – 8
I think he’s taken the mantle of form loosehead prop off de Groot in the last fortnight. Powerful at scrum time, popped up with ball in hand and top tackler for his team. Relentless. Off at 61.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 8.5
Finally a game where he wrapped up all his skills in one performance. Amazing leg drive which obviously helped in the scrum too and good results at lineout time with no Whitelock. Off at 61.
3. Angus Ta’avao – 7.5
He is a great anchor and the coaches leave him on for as long as they can. Massive scrums, nice work at the maul swimming through for a penalty at 34. The commentator Nisbo confused him for Nankivell in the 43rd minute so he’ll want to play at 12 next week! Off at 69.
4. Tupou Vaa’i – 8
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Lovely soft hands at 8 minutes, smashing clean outs at 14 and 35 minutes. Looked to do enough to get out of tackle but was penalised at 28 minutes to give the Crusaders a 10-9 lead. My opinion last year was he was 2 years away from regular test starts but with current form he’d slot in pretty easily right now. Off at 63.
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 8.5
One handed Colin Meads type runs at 10 and 42 minutes make me a little nervous but incredible ball skills, he must be an ex-basketball player the way he carries and passes the ball. Brilliant last minute turnover that won his team the game, thank God the refs got the challenge right or they’d have to lock themselves in under the stand for a while!
6. Mitch Brown – 6
Toils away and an important complement for the two young athletic locks. At 72 minutes he gave away a stupid penalty around the side of maul. Could have cost his team the win.
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7. Lachlan Boshier – 7
If we ever wondered if he still had it we needed to wait only 15 minutes 42 seconds for his first turnover, what a doozy on Will Jordan. Got himself a try from 20 centimetres out and looks a little bigger, which won’t harm his All Black chances. Needs a big 3 weeks. Off at 69.
8. Luke Jacobson – 7.5
Silly start going over to nudge Sevu Reece (who dived like an soccer striker) that led to the Faing’anuku try. Great defensive rucking in the 23rd minute. Featured 3 times in an attacking passage just before halftime but got robbed by Sanders just as it looked as though it was try time. Got carried away with the chicken wings off the right arm by popping one to the head of Ta’ava that led to Codie Taylor try.
The Chiefs have edged the Crusaders 26-25 in a Super Rugby Aotearoa thriller at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton. #CHIvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/hMiJKmr1uI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 17, 2021
9. Brad Weber – 7
Good leadership and crisp distribution. Almost had his head taken off by Bower early on, good pressure on Blackadder at the scrum that turned into their 2nd penalty. Off at 65, love his post-match bashful interview style.
10. Damian McKenzie – 8
Didn’t overplay his hand but allowed others around him to prosper. Really orchestrated the attack at 10 minutes that led to their first penalty. Looking comfortable taking the ball flat on the front foot. Great kicking under pressure with a conversion at 61 minutes from the sideline and then the last cool-as-ice penalty. 6 from 6 at the tee.
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 7
Some good impact with the ball in hand and loved his dominant tackles of Reece and Dunshea at 29 minutes.
12. Alex Nankivell – 6.5
First half was a little off with a scruffy pass and a couple of lineout wins was all he had to show and it looked as though the Chiefs missed Tupaea big time. Then in the second 40 he came alive averaging ten metres a carry and giving his team momentum. Off at 61.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown – 8
He’s a lion with his leadership and waits for his chances and makes the most of them. Saw an opportunity in the 36th minute attack as he ran round Sanders.Beautiful round the back pass at 58 minutes and then moments later the last pass to Jonah Lowe for his try. Top metres for his team.
14. Jonah Lowe – 6.5
Covers some ground every week. Lots of head down running into contact before he got a chance to finish and he did well to dot it down from a standing start. Off at 63.
15. Chase Tiatia – 7
He has insane skills, brave in the air and the casual flick of a 15 metre looped pass to Dmac inside the 22m and another to Lowe. Nice to see him inject himself more into the line and carving off metres with his left foot in the second stanza.
A trio of All Blacks stars have combined to tear the Chiefs' defence apart during the two side's Super Rugby Aotearoa clash in Hamilton. #CHIvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/GuGiSAZDwJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 17, 2021
Reserves:
16. Nathan Harris – 7
On at 61. Great to see him back from a long injury break and showed nerves of steel in the last few line outs.
17. Ollie Norris – 6
On at 61. First action was to go offside (with his hands) but is good around the field and bested Jager at scrumtime.
18. Sione Mafileo – 6
On at 69. Some huge scrums.
19. Pita Gus Sowakula – 6
On at 63. Stepped with ball in hand.
20. – Kaylum Boshier – N/A
On at 69.
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi – 5.5
On at 65. Looks to be playing with too much nervous energy. Got up on McLeod to chase the kick at 66 minutes but couldn’t tackle him. Had a crucial run in the 77th minute but it broke down but they had the advantage and McKenzie kicked the winning penalty.
22. Bryn Gatland – N/A
On at 63.
23. Sean Wainui – 5
On at 61 and missed a chance at 67 with a huge hole beckoning.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments