Crusaders player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific
The Crusaders played host to the Highlanders on Friday night and were looking to avoid the ignominy of suffering two straight defeats at home.
In a tit-for-tat affair, the Highlanders burst out of the trenches early but ever blow they fired was countered by one from the home team. With the Crusaders holding a slim 17-14 lead at halftime, it was still very much anyone’s game.
While there was plenty of industry on defence in the second spell, the incisiveness from both teams fell to the wayside and the score remained unchanged for the final 40 minutes, with the Crusaders holding firm despite having to make more than twice as many tackles as the visitors.
How did the Crusaders rate in the win?
1. Joe Moody – 6.5/10
Earned his side two penalties at scrum time and put his hand up on defence. A fairly standard performance from the All Blacks front-rower. Off in 55th minute.
2. Codie Taylor – 5
Yet to find his form in 2022. Made a name for himself with his explosiveness but we’ve not seen his running game at all this season and dropped the ball cold early in the second quarter. Also had some lineout yips, which seem to have drifted into his game in recent teams. Still industrious on defence. Penalised once for not releasing in the tackle. Off in 67th minute.
3. Fletcher Newell – 7
Made a great mini-run to score the Crusaders’ opening try of the match. Earned one penalty at the breakdown but was also caught out for advancing in front of a kick. Quickly growing into a starting tighthead prop at this level. Off in 55th minute.
4. Scott Barrett – 6
Like many of his teammates, you can credit his work on defence but there wasn’t a lot else to crow about. A step down from the physicality of last weekend. Took his two lineout deliveries.
5. Quinten Strange – 4
Struggled to have any significant impact on the game, only making six tackles and one carry. Pinged once for getting himself offside at the lineout. One of a number of players caught out for the Highlanders’ second try. Off in 59th minute.
6. Ethan Blackadder – 8.5
In a game that never really caught alight, Blackadder was perhaps the one bright spark. Topped the tackle count for the Crusaders with 24 to his name and was also the key lineout jumper. A reminder of what the 2021 All Blacks debutant is capable of.
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7. Tom Christie – 6
Put in his usual shift on defence and was the biggest metre-eater of the Crusaders forwards. Off in 62nd minute.
8. Cullen Grace – 7
Ever-willing on attack, often getting himself off the ground quickly for some solid back to back efforts. Chalked up 16 tackles throughout the match, including one or two stingers.
9. Mitchell Drummond – 6
Played his part when the forwards got rumbling in the first half. Didn’t put a foot wrong. Off in 52nd minute.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 5.5
In a game like this, probably needed to assert himself more as the Crusaders’ key shot-caller. Kicked all his goals. Stepped on the sideline when attempting a clearing kick – whoops. Couldn’t do anything to stop Andrew Makalio rampaging to the line early in the match.
11. George Bridge – 5
Had limited involvement – it wasn’t really a game for the outside backs. Took one high ball under pressure. Moments later, a good chase and tackle earned the Crusaders a turnover. Knocked on shortly before halftime when the Crusaders were on the attack. Off in 52nd minute.
12. David Havili – 7
Used to regularly hit the ball up in the midfield, as has become custom, despite the presence of a bigger, stronger body outside him. Made the most tacles of any back on the park with 15. Dipped, ducked and dived inside the Highlanders 22 to get his team some momentum en route to the Crusaders’ first try of the evening and then threw a nice short pass for Leicester Fainga’anuku for the team’s second. Also threw one dreadfully poor pass in the second half which handed possession over – although the Crusaders forwards instantly stole it back. Penalised once for getting offside.
13. Leicester Fainga’anuku – 6.5
Crashed through the tackle of Scott Gregory to score. Threw himself into countless breakdowns and was tidy in all aspects of his game.
14. Sevu Reece – 7
His biggest contribution was securing two important breakdown penalties in the final quarter to shut down two Highlanders skirmishes. Wanted to get involved but struggled to do so.
15. Will Jordan – 6.5
Was well covered, even when gifted attacking ball from errant Highlanders kicks. It wasn’t a great opening quarter from one of the form players in the competition. Made the mistake of going on his own from the breakdown early, losing his support and losing possession at the ensuing breakdown, knocked on once from a high ball, and then copped a penalty for getting overzealous at the breakdown. Was safe as houses under the high ball for the remainder of the game. Nabbed another breakdown turnover this week after his three against the Chiefs, but knocked the ball on immediately.
Reserves:
16. Shilo Klein – 2
On in 67th minute. Rightly red-carded for a poor tackle attempt.
17. George Bower – 6
On in 52nd minute. Scrum lost its potency but Bower put in a strong defensive showing once on the park.
18. Tamaiti Williams – 6
On in 55th minute. Pinged for overextending at the scrum but then won one back moments later.
19. Zach Gallagher – 6.5
On in 59th minute. A solid cameo off the bench for the debutant lock, taking three lineouts. Penalised for getting offside.
20. Pablo Matera – 6
On in 62nd minute. Didn’t add huge impact but kept up the defensive standards.
21. Bryn Hall – 5
On in 52nd minute. Knocked the ball on at the base of the ruck when the Crusaders were hot on attack inside the 22. Unsurprisingly, couldn’t find his target when tasked with throwing the ball in once Klein left the park.
22. Fergus Burke – N/A
Unused.
23. Braydon Ennor – 5
On in 52nd minute. Didn’t get a touch on the ball.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
37 Go to comments