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Chiefs player ratings vs Crusaders | Super Rugby Pacific

By Jack O'Rourke
Josh Ioane. (Photo by John Davidson/Photosport)

For game one of the Super Rugby semi-finals, the Chiefs travelled to Orangetheory Stadium to take on the Crusaders in Christchurch. 

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The Chiefs had a mighty task on their hands, aiming to beat the Crusaders at home in the finals for the very first time in the history of the competition. An early yellow card to Quinn Tupaea didn’t help. A man down, the Chiefs set up shop in the Crusaders 22 but couldn’t crack the defence despite Pablo Matera being sent off. 

It was the Crusaders who scored the first try through Cullen Grace. The Chiefs responded, with Angus Ta’avao finishing off a 15-phase attack. They went off the boil to close out the first half, however, allowing the Crusaders to cross again. 

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The Chiefs had opportunities to score in the second half but the Crusaders’ relentless defence frustrated them and they couldn’t convert their chances. The Crusaders, on the other hand, held tough, making over 250 tackles and relying on their first-half heroics to come away victors 20-7.  

Here’s how the Chiefs rated:

1. Aidan Ross – 5/10
Was solid at scrum time, and did the unheralded hard yards around the park. Subbed after halftime.

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 6.5
Punched holes in the Crusaders defence all night, carrying 24 times for 48 metres. The Chiefs lineout broke down a few times in the first half as the forward pack tried to contend with the wind. 

3. Angus Ta’avao – 6
Was relied on to hit the ball up all night and get the Chiefs moving. Dropped the ball the give the Crusaders an attacking opportunity in their own territory. Found space in tight to crash over for the Chiefs’ first try. 

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4. Brodie Retallick – 5.5
Was an imposing presence on the match, and caused trouble for the Crusaders lineout. Fell off a tackle against Will Jordan to open the game, but immediately made up for it by getting a turnover. 

5. Tupou Vaa’i – 6
Combined well with Finau to get the Chiefs over the advantage line, carrying nine times for 30 metres. Made eight tackles.

 

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6. Samipeni Finau – 6
Brought pace and energy in all his runs. Was the Chiefs’ main target in the lineout, winning four throws. 

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7. Luke Jacobson – 5
Was industrious around the park but wasn’t able to make as much impact as he would have liked. Shifted to blindside to accommodate Sam Cane late in the piece. 

8. Pita Gus Sowakula – 6.5
Was dangerous from the back of the scrum and carried 18 times for 36 metres. Got over the line but couldn’t ground the ball to open the Chiefs’ account. 

9. Brad Weber – 5.5
Skippering the team, he couldn’t get his backline firing. He endeavoured to get his forwards rolling but his passing at times was too slow to challenge the Crusaders defence.

10. Bryn Gatland – 4.5
Threw a few erratic passes to start the game and was kicking into the wind for the first half. Went off for an HIA in the first half and returned in the second. Built phases in attack but lacked the killer punch to get his side across the line. 

11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 4
One of the best hot-steppers in the game, but he was kept quiet for most of the match.

12. Quinn Tupaea – 6
His straight running through the middle helped get the Chiefs on the front foot. Topped the team tackle count with 18. Was lucky to escape with a yellow card as he hit Matera as the Argentinian was falling to the ground. Had a chance to put Nankivell in for a try but put too much on the pass. 

13. Alex Nankivell – 5
In career-best form this season, but the Crusaders frustrated him with smothering defence and prevented him from breaking the line. Spilled a pass when the Chiefs were on the attack which lead to the Crusaders going 80-metres to score. 

14. Jonah Lowe – 4
Came off his wing looking for work around the narrow corridors around the ruck.

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15. Josh Ioane – 5
Took over playmaking duties when Galand went off for an HIA. Was poor kicking out of hand. Threw an intercept to Leicester Fainga’anuku to spoil an attacking opportunity right on half time. Split the defence in the second half with a nice goosestep 

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater – N/A
Got on the field with 10 minutes to go. 

17. Ollie Norris – 4.5
Replaced Ross in the second half. 

18. George Dyer – N/A
Came on in the 70th minute. 

19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – N/A
Came on in the 70th minute. 

20. Sam Cane – 6
Came on in the second half to help right the ship for the Chiefs. Tried valiantly and his leadership was tested. 

21. Xavier Roe – N/A
Replaced Weber to close out the game but couldn’t spark the Chiefs backs. 

22. Rameka Poihipi – N/A
Didn’t get on the paddock.

23. Chase Tiatia – 4.5
Got into the action early in the second half. 

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks 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.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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