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Crusaders player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Aotearoa

By Nick Turnbull
David Havili. (Photo by John Davidson/Photosport)

The Crusaders entered Friday night’s clash with the Highlanders in Christchurch undefeated since the start of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition and many expected the home side to roll the visiting southerners – but the reality was the complete opposite.

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The Highlanders raced out to a 16-0 lead and despite the Crusaders starting to put more passes together as the game wore on, they never really came within touching distance of their opposition. It was certainly the least succinct performance from the red and blacks in 2021, with the Highlanders ultimately prevailing 33-12.

How did the Crusaders players rate in the defeat?

1. Joe Moody – 6/10
Things didn’t go his way as expected at the set piece and found it hard going at times, subsequently the Crusaders didn’t get their consistency of platform. As usual, worked tirelessly in the contact zones.

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All Blacks Dane Coles, Sevu Reece, Shannon Frizell, and Scott Barrett share who their favourite teammates are and who their toughest ever opponents have been in a test match. Brought to you by Healthspan Elite. #AllBlacks #TeamTalk

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All Blacks Dane Coles, Sevu Reece, Shannon Frizell, and Scott Barrett share who their favourite teammates are and who their toughest ever opponents have been in a test match. Brought to you by Healthspan Elite. #AllBlacks #TeamTalk

2. Codie Taylor – 7
Was one of the better Crusaders out there with some telling runs and was faultless in defence. Nabbed a try just before half time to give his side some momentum going into the sheds.

3. Michael Alaalatoa – 6
Similar to Joe Moody, had a tough time of it at the scrum at times and that frustrated the Crusaders. Worked hard off the ball but like many of the Crusaders, came second in the collision.

4. Scott Barrett – 7
He and Sam Whitelock were the shining lights for the Crusaders tonight. He was physical on both sides of the ball and was trying to lift his side yet it didn’t happen. As a skipper needed to abate the penalties early in the game as they were robbing his side of momentum and pressure.

5. Samuel Whitelock – 7
Was enormous in a losing side but it just didn’t click for the Crusaders tonight despite a staunch effort from the former skipper.

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6. Ethan Blackadder – 5.5
The effort was there but the execution was not at times be it a late pass or a tad high at the clean out it. Didn’t dent his All Black ambitions significantly but will need to respond next week and tighten up in defence.

7. Sione Havili Talitui – 5.5
Busy but outplayed by former Crusader Billy Harmon tonight.

8. Cullen Grace – 5.5
Was part of a back row that was outplayed tonight despite working hard off the ball as usual.

9. Mitchell Drummond – 5
Started poorly with a substandard box kick and he never appeared to find his rhythm probably due to the fact his side were getting dusted at the breakdown. He has had better games

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10. Richie Mo’unga – 5.5
Moments of Mo’unga magic wrapped inside a forgettable performance really. In matches when things are not going your way, decision-making becomes paramount and he put his side under some unexpected pressure tonight due to some of his options. This in turn put pressure on himself and his execution faltered.

11. Leicester Fainga’anuku – 5
Had his moments but was caught out a bit in defence tonight.

12. David Havili – 7
Was holding that backline together for his side and was a handful at times for the Highlanders and thoroughly deserved his second-half try. Didn’t let the team down in defence.

13. Jack Goodhue – 5.5
Uncharacteristically absent tonight. For a player of his ilk he should have had a greater influence on proceedings and at times wondered where he was.

14. George Bridge – 5.5
Not the return he was looking for. Despite putting himself in some promising attacking positions he was off the pace slightly and failed to execute by overrunning the pass. Showed glimpses of his ability and will be better for the run.

15. Will Jordan – 5
Had some nice touches but the pace of the Highlanders defence line caught him off guard at times as he got caught looking at what was on for himself as opposed to other attacking options. Probably cost his side a try in the second half by failing to secure possession whilst under pressure and that is no befitting of his intelligence and talent. Had better games.

Reserves:

16. Brodie McAlister – 5.5
On in the 66th and had a crack but didn’t quite have the impact sought.

17. George Bower – 5
On in the 50th Wasn’t on his best tonight either be it in the set piece or general play.

18. Oliver Jager – 5
On in the 50th and did Ok, but nothing to write home about.

19. Mitchell Dunshea – 6
On in the 55th and really tried to impose himself on proceedings.

20. Whetukamokamo Douglas – N/A
On in the 77th.

21. Bryn Hall – 6
On in the 46th and his service was better than that of Drummonds tonight. The Crusaders appeared more composed when he was on.

22. Fergus Burke – N/A
On in the 77th.

23. Sevu Reece – 5
On in the 50th and didn’t do enough. His team needed impact but it didn’t come from Sevu tonight.

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J
Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

32 Go to comments
A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

32 Go to comments
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