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
Good 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.
17 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.
7 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.
17 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?
7 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.
7 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.
26 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 🤐
17 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….
26 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….
17 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….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
17 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
17 Go to comments