Chiefs player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific
The Chiefs have extended their unbeaten run to 10 games with a convincing 52-28 win over the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night.
Things didn’t quite go to plan for the ladder-leaders early on, with the Highlanders scoring in just the seventh minute through All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot.
But led by the likes of Damian McKenzie, Danial Rona and Shaun Stevenson, the Chiefs showed their class with an incredible try-scoring blitz. Here’s how the Chiefs rated.
- Shaun Stevenson – 9/10
There’s three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Shaun Stevenson scoring tries for the Chiefs. The competitions top try scorer added another five-pointer to his season tally, and also set up teammate Anton Lienert-Brown for a score.
Stevenson was sensational at both wing and fullback, having run for almost 90 metres from 11 carries. The All Blacks XV representative also kicked quite well, and was safe under the high ball. Another quality performance from one of the players of the season so far.
- Emoni Narawa – 9
There was plenty of interest and intrigue following Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa coming into Friday night’s clash. All Blacks coach Ian Foster has highlighted the winger as a potential Test bolter, and the boss was in the crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium as well.
SOLOOOO 🔥
Emoni Narawa puts on the burners for this @ChiefsRugby try!#SuperRugbyPacific #HIGvCHI pic.twitter.com/W5cCITgF7R
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 5, 2023
Narawa didn’t do his All Blacks chances any harm with his performance tonight – far from it, in fact. The winger scored a sensational try midway through the first half which simply has to be seen in order to be believed. Narawa sliced his way through the Highlanders defence as he ran about 60 metres to the house, and beat a few defenders en route to the try line as well.
The winger ended up running for a staggering 99 metres from nine carries, and beat eight defenders as well.
- Daniel Rona – 8.5
Rising star Daniel Rona is getting better every week for the Chiefs. After getting an opportunity to join the squad during preseason as an All Blacks replacement player, Rona has found himself a home in the Chiefs’ No. 13 jersey.
Rona was sensational against the Highlanders, and was certainly in the conversation for player of the match honours. The outside centre scored two tries, including a 75 metre runaway score, and a try assist as well. Rona ended up running the ball for 94 metres, which included three clean breaks and three defenders beaten.
- Anton Lienert-Brown – 7.5
As the sports adage goes, form is temporary but class is forever. Milestone man Anton Lienert-Brown celebrated his 100th Super Rugby appearance with a sensational display on Friday night, which included a first half try at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Running a clever support line off Shaun Stevenson, the All Black reaped the rewards as he crossed for a five-pointer in the 28th minute.
Lienert-Brown ran for 40 metres and beat one defender on the night, but was especially impressive in defence – having made all 11 of his tackle attempts in Dunedin. For a world-class talent who hasn’t played since round one, Lienert-Brown didn’t look out of place after returning to competitive rugby.
- Peniasi Malimali – N/A
Peniasi Malimali only ran the ball once before going off injured inside the opening 20 minutes of the match. The winger received a brilliant pass from Shaun Stevenson around the halfway line, and limped his way about 25 metres down the field. Malimali was replaced immediately after.
- Damian McKenzie – 8.5
It wasn’t quite a game of two halves for Damian McKenzie, but there was certainly a turning point for the playmaker following a slow start to the clash. Lining up at first five, McKenzie threw a forward pass inside the opening 20 seconds of the contest – not a great start. The pivot struggled to make an impact in the 20 minutes or so that followed.
Colossal!
Damian McKenzie is just the ninth player in #SuperRugbyPacific history to cross 1000 points!
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/VwhOymffTl
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 5, 2023
But once Bryn Gatland came on, McKenzie began to play with some more freedom. The 40 Test All Black began to express himself with the ball, having set up two tries on the night. McKenzie ran for a game-high 112 metres from 11 carries, beat five defenders, and also finished with no missed tackles.
- Brad Weber – 8
Brad Weber was hot and cold against the Highlanders – and when I say cold, that’s not to say he was poor. Weber was good without overplaying his hand for a majority of this clash, but certainly came alive as the Chiefs began to take control.
Weber led the Chiefs’ attack around the park with clever passing and kicking games, also scored one of his sides many tries on the night. Weber ended up running for 72 metres, and also beat four defenders.
- Aidan Ross – 6.5
Any prop who plays 61 minutes of any Super Rugby match deserves some praise. Aidan Ross put in an admirable shift down south against the Highlanders, which included a solid effort at the set-piece. Ross ran the ball four times and made seven tackles.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t all smooth sailing though. The loosehead prop was penalised more than once.
- Samisoni Taukei’aho – 7
All Black and Chiefs star Samisoni Taukei’aho had an uncharacteristically quiet night against the Highlanders. Taukei’aho missed his second lineout throw, but was otherwise perfect at the set-piece.
Around the ground, Taukei’aho ran the ball seven times for a hard-fought 18 metres, and also got busy in defence with 10 tackles. To say this was an ‘uncharacteristically quiet night’ like I did above is saying something – Taukei’aho is a world-class player, and he was good without being great tonight.
- George Dyer – 7
Chiefs prop George Dyer put in a solid shift against the Highlanders, which included an impressive score just before the half-time break. Following some brilliant lead-up play from All Blacks Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber and Pita Gus Sowakula, Dyer managed to finish off a brilliant team try.
The prop also scrummed quite well, and got busy on the defensive side of the ball. While Dyer made seven tackles on the night, the 23-yar-old also missed three attempts.
- Tupou Vaa’i – 8
In some ways, all that needs to be said is this: 17 tackles. It’s incredible. All Blacks and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i worked tirelessly in defence as he made a majority of his 20 tackle attempts. Vaa’i was also the go-to man for Samisoni Taukei’aho at the lineout.
- Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 7
Following a quiet start to the contest, Naitoa Ah Kuoi made his first memorable impact in the 23rd minute by winning a penalty at the breakdown. While the lock worked tirelessly around the field, he couldn’t quite steal the show in Dunedin.
Lining up alongside All Black Tupou Vaa’i in the second row, Ah Kuoi finished with 100 per cent tackle accuracy from eight attempts. But again, while he managed to recover from a long start with some moments of promise, it was far from his best performance in Chiefs colours.
- Pita Gus Sowakula – 7.5
Backrower Pita Gus Sowakula had another great game on Friday night. As he has done all season, the All Black just seemed to have a towering presence about him in both attack and defence – and certainly made the most of this with moments of brilliance against the Highlanders.
- Sam Cane – 7
Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane has been very impressive this season, but the flanker was kept quiet against the Highlanders. Cane struggled to make an impact as the Highlanders took control early on, and the Chiefs backs led the resurgence later on.
Cane did impress on the defensive side of the ball though, having made an impressive 10 tackles on the night.
- Luke Jacobson – 7.5
Luke Jacobson just didn’t stop running at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The All Black did everything he could on both sides of the ball, which included a staggering amount of tackles (13) in defence. Jacobson also ran the ball 11 times for 55 metres.
Replacements:
- Bradley Slater – 6.5
- Ollie Norris – 6.5
- John Ryan – 7
- Josh Lord – 6
- Kaylum Boshier – 7
- Cortez Ratima – 6.5
- Bryn Gatland – 8 – Came on after just 18 minutes. Played a key role in some of the Chiefs tries, and also kicked quite well around the park.
- Alex Nankivell – 6.5
Comments on RugbyPass
“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
3 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.
2 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 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)
3 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?
2 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.
4 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 commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments