Chiefs player ratings vs Hurricanes | Super Rugby Pacific
The Chiefs have held on to defeat a late rolling Hurricanes 30-29 at Sky Stadium in Wellington this afternoon. Going into the match, the Chiefs were sitting in 6th place on the table with the hosts 8th. This encounter was a seminal fixture for both sides finals aspirations.
Chiefs Head Coach Clayton McMillan selected a strong forward pack that welcomed back All Black back rower Luke Jacobson, starting from the bench. It was those men that set the platform bringing both a physical and intelligent performance that enabled to the Chiefs to set up the result.
This is how the Chiefs rated;
1. Aidan Ross – 6.5/10
Solid performance in the set piece that allowed his side the all-important momentum and front foot ball. In general play contributed nicely and didn’t lapse in defence.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho -6.5
Really took it to the Hurricanes on the carry and put himself into some tough situations. Exactly what was required. Would have liked to have seen a greater assertion of himself in defence but all things considered a respectable day out.
3. Angus Ta’avao – 6
A strong set piece performance however was guilty of several venial sins in general play that either relived pressure off the Hurricanes or increased pressure on his own side. Not expected from a player of his experience.
4. Laghlan McWhannell – 6
Late call up to the starting XV and put himself to work from the get-go. Appeared to know his role and was executing it well until he was forced from the field in the 24th minute.
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 6.5
He was strong off the ball and imposed himself around the breakdown. Was busy all afternoon doing the grind and the accumulative affect his efforts were vital to his sides result today
6. Kaylum Boshier – 7.5
Strong, strong performance today. Was a handful on the edges in attack and scored a deserving try. Enjoyed his accuracy at the breakdown and despite a couple of defensive indiscretions he was one of the Chiefs best today.
7. Sam Cane (cc) – 7.5
Another Sam Cane performance. He gave his opposition almost nothing. Defensively he was tireless and ensured that the Hurricanes backrow were challenged in the breakdown area. An area that the Hurricanes are strong in.
8. Pita Gus Sowakula – 7.5
He damaged the Hurricanes on the carry, bulldozed his way through them on several occasions. Such an integral part of the Chiefs attacking arsenal as his micro skills and vision to pass in concert with his power made him an absolute nightmare for the Hurricanes to handle.
9. Brad Weber (cc) – 6.5
A measured performance today. Didn’t overplay his hand and played the distributor role very well.
10. Josh Ioane – 6.5
Had a hand in the Hurricanes first try by not engaging the defence and simply passing to a player is a lesser position than himself. But as all quality players do, they get themselves back into the match and he had several influences on the Chiefs opening try.
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 5.5
He has had better days and although he was solid on the carry and threatened on several runs his defence at times was questionable.
12. Quinn Tupaea – 5.5
Wasn’t on his best today. He had some strong carries as expected by wasn’t as dominant today as we know he can be. In the collision as he appeared to play a little too tall into the contact. This couple with some defensive lapses hindered more than helped.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown – 8
Pound-for-pound probably the most effective rugby player on the park today. When there was a line to run, a tackle to be made or an inside clean to be done – he was there. You take ALB out of today’s match, there’s a fair chance the Chiefs don’t win.
14. Alex Nankivell – 5.5
Just didn’t really find his way into the match despite several nice touches. Some questions about his defence when playing wing.
15. Emoni Narawa – 6
Was exciting to watch with the ball-in-hand at times but did he make a tackle?
Reserves
16. Tyrone Thompson – 5.5 – Did as expect, made an impact off the bench and looked for work.
17. Atu Moli – 5 – Didn’t let his side down when he came on.
18. George Dyer – 5 – Chiefs didn’t lose much up front when he came on.
19. Josh Lord – 6.5 – Came on earlier than expected and had a fair crack today. Looked to get involved and lead by example. Enjoyed his work off the ball.
20. Luke Jacobson – 6 – Some intelligent touches during his cameo but his experience no doubt would have assisted in the Chiefs grinding this one out.
21. Cortez Ratima – 5.5 – He looked handy today despite some blemishes around the ruck.
22. Bryn Gatland – 7 – His vision and execution were on display today, particularly that 50/22 at the death to really take the wind out of the Hurricanes at the death.
23. Chase Tiatia – 7 – Such a talent and we saw that talent on display today, especially on the counter attack down the left edge.
Comments on RugbyPass
1. Heard this so often over the yrs. One Warriors CEO even claimed future kids wouldnt know which came first, the ABs or the Warriors. Always keen to talk themselves up. 2. That fella Barakat who says he will drop HBHS sponsorship because HBHS quite rightly wants its players to focus on rugby is an odd fit as a sponsor in the first place. As a recruitment official for the Warriors he seems to regard his sponsorship as a paid licence to help to select players from HBHS for the league side. Maybe he should find a league school to fund.
1 Go to commentsNZ U20s are the team to beat this year for sure. And how nice after so long that NZRFU is actually taking this seriously. For far too long they have been sending woefully coached and woefully underprepared teams to the U20 WCs. That Wrampling boy is a star in the making.
2 Go to commentsI agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
2 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to comments