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
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
11 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
11 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments