Crusaders player ratings vs Chiefs | Super Rugby Pacific
Super Rugby Pacific welcomed the 2023 season with the reigning champions hosting their fierce rivals from Waikato, the Chiefs.
The pace of the match was rapid from the get-go, the new laws undoubtedly contributing to a flowing game that saw a healthy dose of running rugby from both sides.
Tactical kicking suited the dewy Christchurch conditions and the Chiefs looked to pin the Crusaders back with some long kicks, but the Crusaders showed more intent with their attack early and profited to lead 10-7 at the half.
The second 40 was a different story though, the Chiefs started taking their opportunities with ball in hand and scored 24 unanswered points. Execution on their exits won the territory battle for the Waikato side and they ultimately played to their strengths with X-factor outings from Damian McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson and replacement Josh Ioane.
The pressure that the Chiefs managed to pile on in the second half pushed the Crusaders’ tackle count to north of 200 with an uncharacteristically high number of missed tackles from the defending champs.
Here’s how the Crusaders rated:
1. Joe Moody – 6.5
Had the Crusaders scrum marching forward in the few scrums that the game produced. Showed good enthusiasm in the contact whether it was in the tackle or at the breakdown. Overall a solid return for the All Black with more to come.
2. Codie Taylor (vc) – 7
One of the big All Black matchups of the game saw Codie Taylor come up against Samisoni Taukei’aho. Both had early jitters with the lineout but Taylor looked to make up for it with opportunistic snipes around the ruck. Off at the half.
3. Fletcher Newell – 6
A physical presence in the limited contacts he found. Scrummaging is his party piece but those contests were a rarity in the match.
4. Scott Barrett (c) – 9
Barrett’s ability to be at the right place at the right time to disrupt and make the Chiefs’ attack awkward was superb. Doesn’t quite possess the same accuracy as his brothers when it comes to the grubber but two efforts in the first half came off well.
5. Mitchell Dunshea – 4
Filling a limited role in a forward pack stacked with All Blacks. Showed decent ability to contest at lineout time and chase some high balls, but struggled against the class of his opposites.
6. Ethan Blackadder – 8
Absolutely immense work rate in a rampaging return for the All Black, chewing through carry meters and constantly turning every tackle into a turnover threat with his ability to bounce back to his feet in an instant. Tested his shoulder plenty of times with some heavy hits, one of which was awarded a yellow card. Regardless, Blackadder’s chances at claiming the All Blacks No 6 jersey are off to a fine start in 2023.
7. Tom Christie – 5.5
A tackling machine who put in a big shift, but, the Chiefs ultimately profited off some of the Crusaders’ disconnection in the defensive line and Christie’s focus on his defensive assignment left some gaps inside him.
8. Cullen Grace – N/A
Early exit with a shoulder injury.
9. Mitchell Drummond – 6
Initiated some varied attack throughout the first half. Was clearly conscious of the new rules, looking a bit rushed to clear from the ruck at times but scrambling well under pressure for the most part.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 5
Provided a handful of his typically unpredictable moments but was ultimately lacklustre. Kicking was subpar with the Chiefs earning the upper hand in the kicking duels. That loss of territory was key in the Crusaders’ demise tonight.
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku – 6.5
Strong under the high ball and showed good timing and instincts in defence. Physicality around the ruck was like another forward at times. While his strength is in the physical game, the pace of the other outside backs had Fainga’anuku a step behind in some scramble play.
12. Jack Goodhue – 6
Had some subtle and productive touches. His defensive positioning and communication was sorely missed when he left the field.
13. Braydon Ennor – 5.5
injected himself into the game well with some dominant tackles early but disappeared in the second 40.
14. Sevu Reece – 7.5
Typically reliable in getting in position to contest the high balls, regardless of the meters and effort required. Energetic on both sides of the ball. A mixed bag in broken play,
15. David Havili (vc) – 8
Richie Mo’unga handled the majority of the Chiefs’ tactical kicking game at the back. However, Havili’s few exits drove his opposition further back and ultimately handled that aspect of the game better. Havili slotted back into the fullback role seamlessly, positioning himself well as the last line of defence and seeking some nice lines on attack, claiming the first try of the season.
Reserves:
16. Brodie McAlister – 7
Sured up the lineout, playing the full second 40.
17. George Bower – 7
Proved an active defender but a mixed bag in the scrums.
18. Tamaiti Williams – 5
Shows good agility for his frame and cut down Damian McKenzie when the elusive flyhalf nearly broke the line.
19. Zach Gallagher – 4
His opposites started to shine in the final minutes and Gallagher was unable to return the favour.
20. Christian Lio-Willie* – 9
On early and put in a superb performance. Proved an energetic and agile defender with excellent discipline.
21. Willi Heinz – 6
Snappy and accurate with his deliveries from the ruck and provided some good leadership with his defensive communication. Gave away a couple of penalties late.
22. Fergus Burke – 5
Had limited impact but made good contact on his one clearance under pressure.
23. Macca Springer* – 6
Was unfortunate to be on the receiving end of so much scrappy ball in his debut. Only upwards from here for the 19-year-old.
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments